HÖRMANN ECX
| HÖRMANN ECX | |
| |
| Company | HÖRMANN Warnsysteme |
|---|---|
| Produced | 1977-present |
| Type | Directional Electronic |
| Sound output | 106-123 dB @ 100 ft |
| Frequency | 50/60 Hz |
The HÖRMANN ECX is a series of electronic sirens produced by HÖRMANN Warnesysteme. Introduced in 1977, the ECX series has since gone on to pave the way for many other manufacturer's sirens and can be found throughout the world as part of a wide variety of siren warning systems.
History and Design
ECL
The ECX series came to be in 1977 with the introduction of the ECL, which ran alongside the HLS series. The ECL series is visually reminiscent of the HLS X73 and HLS 381, which it was intended to replace. They are relatively simple in design, consisting of several 100 W speaker drivers which have rectangular horns attached to them. The siren has an operating voltage of 12 V and a supply voltage of 220 V, running on 50 Hz by standard. The throat of the horns points upwards, in a similar fashion to the HLS X73 and HLS 381. The ECL series has an operating temperature range of -20°C (-4°F) to +90°C (+194°F).
The design of the sirens are inconsistent; some units have a cap above the siren (which also serves as a mount for the antenna sitting on top of it), which the drivers are housed under and connect to the horns via long tubes, protecting them from the elements, and each speaker is connected to a thin pole with a circular base, while others instead have the horns connected to a wider mount which has a triangular base, in a similar fashion to the E 57. These were likely later units, as they share a similar design with the ECN. ECL 800 units which came in the 1st configuration mentioned's pipes connecting the horn to the driver had the top row of horns extend fully, reaching the cap, while the bottom row's pipes only extended about halfway. Lightning rods are installed on some units; though weather this was a factory option is unknown. 5-speaker units are also known to exist, though no documentation regarding them is known to exist. The ECL series came in 3 options, these being the ECL 400, ECL 800, and ECL 1600, ranging from being rated 106 to 118 dB at 100 ft.
| Model | Speakers | Sound output | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECL 400 | 4 | 106 dB @ 30 m | |
| ECL 500? | 5 | N/A | |
| ECL 800 | 8 | 112 dB @ 30 m | |
| N/A | ECL 1600 | 16 | 118 dB @ 30 m |
The signals were stored in EPROM memory chips and thus any signal tone could be programmed and played with the help of analog amplifiers. The series was also capable of voice announcements. Uber RCS 256 modules located in the siren's control enclosure allow it to be activated remotely via radio, as well as for silent tests and status updates to be performed. Solar powered units were also offered. With the brand-new ECN series offering various superior qualities, the ECL series was discontinued by 1989 at the latest, alongside most of HÖRMANN's other offerings. Not many units are known to remain.
ECN
The ECN was the 2nd generation of sirens in the ECX series, being introduced in 1985. The ECN series improved on the design of the ECL series, doing away with the HLS-like style, instead opting for a thin, rectangular horn design that also featured newer 150 W drivers. The horns are arranged in a way that the sound is propagated omnidirectionally, with the principle being based on gap diffraction, also called Huygens' principle. The ECN's horn design was licensed (and in some cases copied) to several European companies during its production, resulting in many other sirens looking similar, if not identical to the ECN series, with the only changes being the logos on the sides of the horns. This makes telling the sirens apart quite difficult, and many assume that sirens that share the same horns and drivers are ECNs, or vise versa.
ECI
WIP
ECN-D
WIP