WHELEN SA350MB1 Siren Speaker Bracket Installation Guide
- June 17, 2024
- WHELEN
Table of Contents
WHELEN SA350MB1 Siren Speaker Bracket
DANGER! Sirens produce extremely loud emergency warning tones! Exposure to these tones without proper and adequate hearing protection, could cause ear damage and/or hearing loss! The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (www.osha.gov) provides information necessary to determine safe exposure times in Occupational Noise Exposure Section 1910.95. Until you have determined the safe exposure times for your specific application, operators and anyone else in the immediate vicinity should be required to wear an approved hearing protection device. Failure to follow this recommendation could cause hearing loss!
Warnings to Installers
Whelen’s emergency vehicle warning devices must be properly mounted and wired
in order to be effective and safe. Read and follow all of Whelen’s written
instructions when installing or using this device. Emergency vehicles are
often operated under high speed stressful conditions which must be accounted
for when installing all emergency warning devices. Controls should be placed
within convenient reach of the operator so that they can operate the system
without taking their eyes off the roadway. Emergency warning devices can
require high electrical voltages and/or currents. Properly protect and use
caution around live electrical connections.Grounding or shorting of electrical
connections can cause high current arcing, which can cause personal injury
and/or vehicle damage, including fire. Many electronic devices used in
emergency vehicles can create or be affected by electromagnetic interference.
Therefore, after installation of any electronic device it is necessary to test
all electronic equipment simultaneously to insure that they operate free of
interference from other components within the vehicle. Never power emergency
warning equipment from the same circuit or share the same grounding circuit
with radio communication equipment. All devices should be mounted in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and securely fastened to
vehicle elements of sufficient strength to withstand the forces applied to the
device. Driver and/or passenger air bags (SRS) will affect the way equipment
should be mounted. This device should be mounted by permanent installation and
within the zones specified by the vehicle manufacturer, if any. Any device
mounted in the deployment area of an air bag will damage or reduce the
effectiveness of the air bag and may damage or dislodge the device. Installer
must be sure that this device, its mounting hardware and electrical supply
wiring does not interfere with the air bag or the SRS wiring or sensors.
Mounting the unit inside the vehicle by a method other than permanent
installation is not recommended as unit may become dislodged during swerving;
sudden braking or collision. Failure to follow instructions can result in
personal injury. Whelen assumes no liability for any loss resulting from the
use of this warning device. PROPER INSTALLATION COMBINED WITH OPERATOR
TRAINING IN THE PROPER USE OF EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICES IS ESSENTIAL TO INSURE
THE SAFETY OF EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND THE PUBLIC.
Warnings to Users
Whelen’s emergency vehicle warning devices are intended to alert other operators and pedestrians to the presence and operation of emergency vehicles and personnel. However, the use of this or any other Whelen emergency warning device does not guarantee that you will have the right-of-way or that other drivers and pedestrians will properly heed an emergency warning signal. Never assume you have the right-of-way. It is your responsibility to proceed safely before entering an intersection, driving against traffic, responding at a high rate of speed, or walking on or around traffic lanes. Emergency vehicle warning devices should be tested on a daily basis to ensure that they operate properly. When in actual use, the operator must ensure that both visual and audible warnings are not blocked by vehicle components (i.e.: open trunks or compartment doors), people, vehicles, or other obstructions. It is the user’s responsibility to understand and obey all laws regarding emergency warning devices. The user should be familiar with all applicable laws and regulations prior to the use of any emergency vehicle warning device. Whelen’s audible warning devices are designed to project sound in a forward direction away from the vehicle occupants. However, because sustained periodic exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing loss, all audible warning devices should be installed and operated in accordance with the standards established by the National Fire Protection Association.
Safety First
This document provides all the necessary information to allow your Whelen
product to be properly and safely installed. Before beginning the installation
and/or operation of your new product, the installation technician and operator
must read this manual completely. Important information is contained herein
that could prevent serious injury or damage.
- Proper installation of this product requires the installer to have a good understanding of automotive electronics, systems and procedures.
- Whelen Engineering requires the use of waterproof butt splices and/or connectors if that connector could be exposed to moisture.
- Any holes, either created or utilized by this product, should be made both air- and watertight using a sealant recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
- Failure to use specified installation parts and/or hardware will void the product warranty.
- If mounting this product requires drilling holes, the installer MUST be sure that no vehicle components or other vital parts could be damaged by the drilling process. Check both sides of the mounting surface before drilling begins. Also de-burr the holes and remove any metal shards or remnants. Install grommets into all wire passage holes.
- If this manual states that this product may be mounted with suction cups, magnets, tape or Velcro®, clean the mounting surface with a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water and dry thoroughly.
- Do not install this product or route any wires in the deployment area of your air bag. Equipment mounted or located in the air bag deployment area will damage or reduce the effectiveness of the air bag, or become a projectile that could cause serious personal injury or death. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for the air bag deployment area. The User/Installer assumes full responsibility to determine proper mounting location, based on providing ultimate safety to all passengers inside the vehicle.
- For this product to operate at optimum efficiency, a good electrical connection to chassis ground must be made. The recommended procedure requires the product ground wire to be connected directly to the NEGATIVE (-) battery post (this does not include products that use cigar power cords).
- If this product uses a remote device for activation or control, make sure that this device is located in an area that allows both the vehicle and the device to be operated safely in any driving condition.
- It is recommended that these instructions be stored in a safe place and referred to when performing maintenance and/or reinstallation of this product.
- FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE PRODUCT OR VEHICLE AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY TO YOU AND YOUR PASSENGERS!
INSTALLATION STEPS
- Slightly loosen the center nut which holds the speaker bell in place (Fig. 1).
- Looking at the speaker from the back, rotate the bell so that the two mounting holes on the bell are at the 12 and 3 o’clock position, while “DOWN” (the drain hole indicator on the speaker) is located on the bottom. (Fig. 1).
- With the mounting holes in the proper position, retighten the center nut on the bell.
- Using the 5/16 Split Lock Washer and 5/16 – 18 X 1/2 Hex Head Bolt secure the speaker bracket to the back of the speaker making sure the holes on the speaker bell are lined up with the mounting holes on the bracket (Fig. 2).
- Secure the top and outside of the speaker bracket to the siren speaker bell using the supplied 1/4 – 20 X 3/4″ Hex Head Machine Screws, 1/4″ Flat Washers and Bonded Sealing Washers. The rubber side of the sealing washers must face the speaker bell (Fig. 2).
- Secure the top and side of the mounting bracket to the front crash bar of the motorcycle using the 5/16 – 18 x 1-7/8 U Bolt, 5/16 Flat Washer and 5/16 – 18 Hex Lock Washer (Fig. 3).
- Extend the speaker wires to power and installation is complete. Be sure all wires are properly dressed and away from any heat or moving parts. Refer to the speaker manual for proper connection and operation.