Operational Description; System Activation/Control Methods; Timing Selection And Duration; Audio Characteristics Of Warning Signals - Whelen Engineering Company IPS 400 Product Manual

2.2 Operational Description

As previously mentioned, the IPS is a self-contained, microprocessor-controlled warning system capable of generating
six standard siren warning signals, public address broadcast, and strobe light signaling. The standard warning signals--
WAIL, ALERT, ATTACK, AIR HORN, HI/LO, AND WHOOP--are described in detail in Section 4.1.1.
The IPS is powered by a 115 VAC, 1.5 Amp service. A battery charger maintains two, 12 VDC, Gel type batteries, wired
in series, at an optimum charge level. The IPS actually operates from the 24 volts provided by the batteries. Fully charged
batteries will run an IPS for at least thirty minutes.

2.2.1 System Activation/Control Methods

The IPS may be controlled through local or remote means, as follows:
Local Control. Pushbuttons on the front panel, of the ESC-864, provide immediate activation of warning tones, public
address and SI TEST®. A microphone, for PA announcements, may be plugged into the microphone jack on the
controller front panel. Detailed descriptions of each control on the front panel of the ESC-864 is provided in Section
4.1.1.
Remote Control. Remote control of an IPS may be accomplished by landline or radio transmission. The standard
communication protocol is a ten digit DTMF (dual tone multi frequency) format. For landline control, an encoder is
required at a central control point. For radio transmission, an encoder, connected to a transceiver, is used at the central
control point. In either case, an optional interface must be selected for the IPS.

2.2.2 Timing Selection and Duration

The timing of each activation, local or remote, is controlled by the ESC-864 controller. The ESC-864 is capable of
timing any remote station activation for a duration of one second to ten minutes. The factory-standard for activation time
durations is three minutes. Any activation in progress may be canceled by pressing the CLR (clear) pushbutton on the
ESC-864 front panel or by sending a CLEAR or CANCEL command.

2.2.3 Audio Characteristics of Warning Signals

The audio characteristics (frequency and sweep rate) for the IPS warning signals/tones are provided in Section 4.1.1.
Overall output sound pressure levels are dependent on the types of speakers and speaker layouts. All IPS warning signals
are United States Standard Warning Signals.
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