Vulcan Autosonic PVR Mk. II Smoke Detector | Unbox & Overview

Unboxing and review of a vintage Vulcan Autosonic smoke detector.
This smoke detector was made by Tempasonic and rebranded by the U.S. Safety & Engineering Corporation Vulcan Headquarters under their model name Vulcan Autosonic in 1979. Casady Engineering also rebranded these units for their AC powered Gard•Site models. It utilizes early incandescent photoelectric technology, using an incandescent lamp as the photo beam and indicator. This particular unit is a fairly late variant with a unusual design. Whereas the earlier models had the transformer, horn, and sensor chamber out in the open this version has it encased in a plastic housing. The horn is a Kobishi CLB-27 which is unusual as most of these had Edwards horns, and some Delta-Larm. Test lever located on the bottom side of the base. The photo beam lamp is unfortunately burned out and I need to purchase a replacement, so this video does not include testing of the unit.
Update: • BA&F Short | Vulcan Au...
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#smokedetector #vulcan #vintagesmokedetectors #vulcanautosonic #tempasonic #vintageelectronics #vintagesmokealarms #vintage #retro #1970s

[@janeaton3417]

Wow that is a rare base and a thick unit. I hope you can get a new bulb and get it to work. Also with it being from 1979 this would have been one of the last to use the Kobishi CLB 27 squealer horn. Nice to see it ended up in good hands!!! :)

[@Alarmo05221]

Insane how these are *B I G A S H E L L*

[@BAFVintage]

T H I C C

[@Jon-hx7pe]

maybe it wasn't designed to have the lamp replaced - a early planned obsolescence measure. now a days the sealed battery measure works far better especially when they often don't make it 10 years and people don't bother with warranty.

[@BAFVintage]

The lamp is replaceable. Right after I finished filming this video I spent about 3 hours trying to take the whole damn thing apart only to find out that the lamp just slides out of the holder. It is one of those small miniature military grade indicator lamps although I am not sure of the voltage. I bought a pack of 12 volt ones that just arrived yesterday and they don't work; I tried and they're so dim you can't barely even see that there's light emitting. I am going to probably have to end up buying a bunch of different voltages and doing trial-and-error to find the correct one. There is a part number for the lamp but it is a Vulcan exclusive part number that has no archival history and means nothing today as Vulcan no longer exists.

[@Jon-hx7pe]

@@BAFVintage can't you check the the voltage output with a meter or is the socket too small for that?

[@BAFVintage]

@@Jon-hx7pe i did measure and it's 19 volts coming from the lamp contacts. 12 volts ideally should work. I am posting a short right now that should give more detail about the issue.

[@Jon-hx7pe]

@@BAFVintage would think a 12v light would glow too brightly on 19v and burn out pre-maturely. unless open circuit voltage is different from when there's a lamp in there.