Elmdene prima? Are they still decent to use?

[stuartR1963]

Hi, I managed to get my hands on elmdene prima 300 complete unit, I would like to fit to my alarm system. I know these are old and obsolete. I gave it a bench test and I am pretty impressed with this sounder, bright strobe,Nice comfort leds, very loud, and the internal batteries are still holding a charge. I believe this sounder also has the in built cut off timer (unlike the 200) so should comply with noise regulations.

What is your opinion on these elmdene sounders are they reliable and should I fit it? (bear in mind this is only for my house)

I have tried a lot of today's modern sounders on the market and too be honest I'm not impressed, New led strobes are far too dim (eg novagard), texecom have too many sounder failures, deltabell is just an embarrassment, not that loud and again led strobe (no good) clearly untested. I could go on. I find it very hard to find decent equipment these days. Sorry if I have offended anyone but it needs to be said.

Anyway let me know your opinion on the elmdene prima.
thanks

 

[Europlex]

Get yourself "C" Type bell box and then fit whatever you like to make the sounder and strobe to your liking.

Simples.

 

[stuartR1963]

Is that one of those vented sounder? I think I will pass I don't want a big ugly thing. Is the elmdene prima 300 a good sounder despite its age? thanks

 

[sparkymarka]

I believe the HS 500 is the same unit inside with extra options

 

[stuartR1963]

Thanks spark, I was not aware of that, i will have a look, my question still stand however, is the prima 300 good?

 

[sparkymarka]

Very loud ....only annoying thing was the soldered in battery ....

 

[stuartR1963]

Thanks man I shall fit it then. I can see how the internal batteries can be a pain, luckily for me the batteries still work. I guess its possible to solder replacements if you are handy with the solder iron.

 

[stuartR1963]

Is this HS 500 like the newer version of the 300? I suppose its got the bright strobe, disco (fast flashing red/green comfort leds) and the same volume? thanks

 

[sparkymarka]

The 300 evolved to the 500 in the prima , the hs 500 had the same module ...but the housing was a clear / not opaque plastic as it was housed internally in the hs 500

 

[stuartR1963]

Hi, one more thing I am curious to know which you may be able to answer, What is the deal with sound travel distribution from bellboxes? Say you have two external sounders both rated to 118db, mounted in the same area, but have different tones, One is very fast whoop and the other is slower warble type, can the tone effect the overall travel distance?, or is it all too do with weather and wind directions?.

I remember my parents had an elmdene prima 500 which i believe is 118db and I tested it one day, you could hear it from miles away almost, every part of the neighborhood it had good sound distribution. It was replaced with a flashguard which is also 118db, When I tested that it sounded a lot more intense closer to the property than the elmdene did but you could barely hear it down the road? Why is that

sorry if its confusing but its quite interesting when you think about it. thanks

 

[stuartR1963]

Do slower warble type tone sounders naturally travel further than other sounders with fast whooping tones, even tho they are they same volume?
thanks

 

[stuartR1963]

What are your experiences regarding this?, do slower tone sounders travel further than others with faster tones? even if they are both in the same place/area and have same decibel ratings?, or is it entirely weather dependent? thanks

 

[M1Chanical]

Why are you going into some much depth its just a bell box?

 

[stuartR1963]

Why are you going into some much depth its just a bell box?

I find it interesting, do you know the answer?

 

[stuartR1963]

bump?