Whelen BETA1 User Manual

®

ENGINEERING COMPANY INC.

51 Winthrop Road
Chester, Connecticut 06412-0684

BETA1™ Series Control Head

Installation Guide:

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Internet: www.whelen.com
Sales e-mail: [e-mail]
Canadian Sales e-mail: [e-mail]
Customer Service e-mail: [e-mail]

DANGER! Sirens produces 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!

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.

• 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 any 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.

• If this product uses a remote device to activate or control this product, make sure this control is located in an
area that allows both the vehicle and the control to be operated safely in any driving condition. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO ACTIVATE OR CONTROL THIS DEVICE IN A HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATION.

• 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!

ACTIVATION OF THIS
SIREN MAY DAMAGE
UNPROTECTED EARS!

CAUTION

Loud siren noise can cause
hearing damage and/or loss.

Wear

Refer to OSHA Section 1910.95 prior

Protection!

to putting ANY siren into service!

Automotive: Sirens/Switches

For warranty information regarding this product, visit www.whelen.com/warranty

©1997 Whelen Engineering Company Inc.
Form No.13279G (050608)

Page 1

WARNING!

DISCONNECTING THE VEHICLE BRAKE LAMP
CIRCUIT USING ANY SIRENS WITH RELAY OUTPUTS
OR SWITCH CONTROLLERS COULD CAUSE
VEHICLE OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, SERIOUS INJURY
OR EVEN DEATH.

DISABLING THIS CIRCUIT IS A VIOLATION OF THE
FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD
FOR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, AS WELL AS REAR
BRAKE LIGHTS.

FUNCTIONS THAT BLACK OUT THE REAR BRAKE
LIGHTS (SOMETIMES CALLED “BRAKE LIGHT CUT
OUT”) MAY INTERFERE WITH THE BRAKE SHIFT
LOCK MECHANISM, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO
MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY AND DANGEROUSLY.

DISCONNECTING THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN ANY WAY
IS AT YOUR OWN

RISK AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED

BY WHELEN.

Page 2

Introduction...

This manual outlines the procedures necessary for the installa­tion and operation of the BETA1™ Series Control Head. It is
essential to read through this manual carefully before beginning
the installation process.

Mounting the BETA I

1. Locate a suitable mounting location for the BETA1™ Series

control head. Be sure that the control head fits properly and
does not interfere with any dashboard components.

READ BEFORE INSTALLING!!!

TM

On/Off
Switch

Volumn
Control
Screw

O

N

V

O

L

P

O

W

E

R

Rotary
Switch

M

A

N

H

PA

F

WA

R

A

IL

D

A

IR

Y

H

E

O

L

R

P

N

TO

N

E

3

R

BETA

T

M

S

E

R

IE

S

M

IC

Airhorn Override/
Manual Siren Switch

Mounting

Holes

Fig. 1

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 airbag deployment
area.

The User/Installer assumes full responsibility to
determine the proper mounting location, based on
providing ultimate safety to all passengers inside
the vehicle. Whelen Engineering Co. assumes no
liability or responsibility for determining individual
applications or exact installationlocation criteria.

2. Position the control head on the proposed mounting
location. Using a pencil or other suitable tool, scribe the
mounting surface where the holes are to be drilled. (Fig. 1)

CAUTION! As mounting the BETA1™ will require drilling, it
is absolutely necessary to make sure that no vehicle
components could be damaged by the mounting process.
Check both sides of the mounting surface before starting
and if damage is possible, select a different mounting
location.

3. Drill the 2 mounting screw holes.

4. Position the control head onto the mounting surface. Using
the sheet metal screws, secure the control head to the
mounting surface.

Wiring for the Control Head...

To hook up the BETA ITM control head simply plug the 17 ft.
cable (supplied) into the control head then route the other end
of the cable to the amplifier. (Fig. 2)

Connecting to your Horn Relay:

1. Locate your vehicle’s horn relay. Now locate the wire that
connects the vehicle horn to the horn relay output and cut
this wire. (Fig. 2)

2. Extend each end of the cut wire (using a minimum 16
gauge wire) to the control head.

3. Connect the wire coming from the horn relay output to the
white wire of the 12 pin connector.

4. Connect the wire coming from the horn to the gray wire of
the 12 pin connector.

Operating the Control Head...

Power Switch

This switch has two positions: Down (BETA1 - Off) and Up
(BETA1 - On). When this switch is in the Off position, the BETA1
will not function. When the switch is in the On position the siren
is functional and may be activated at the operator’s discretion.

NOTE: If the BETA1
circuit, the vehicle horn is disabled when the BETA1 power
switch is in the ON position. The horn ring will now function as a
manual siren switch.

Microphone

Pressing the microphone button will allow you to broadcast
public address over the siren loudspeaker regardless of the
rotary switch position. NOTE: This will override all other siren

functions.

Airhorn Override / Manual Siren Switch

The airhorn override switch will activate the simulated airhorn
tone when pressed and will terminate upon release. Note: The

Airhorn will override all of the BETA1 control head functions
except the microphone.

is connected to the vehicle’s horn ring

Page 3

Rotary Switch

The rotary knob controls the siren and PA (public address)
functions of the BETA1™. There are 7 positions that may be
selected. Each position and it’s function is outlined below:

RAD (Radio Repeat) - When the rotary knob is in the RAD
position, any signal that is received by the vehicle’s two-way
radio will be simultaneously broadcast over the vehicle’s
loudspeaker (the BETA™ remote amp must be connected to the
two-way radio as outlined in its manual). If the horn ring is wired
as shown and the horn ring is pressed, an “airhorn” siren tone
will be generated by your vehicle’s loudspeaker.

PA (Public Address) - When the rotary knob is in the PA
position, public address functions are operational. Messages
may be broadcast over the vehicle’s loudspeaker when the
BETA1 microphone is in use. The volume level of PA
transmissions is controlled by the volume adjustment screw. If
the horn ring is pressed while the rotary knob is in this position,
an “air horn” siren tone will be generated by your vehicle’s
loudspeaker. This tone is generated until the horn ring button is
released.

MAN (Manual Siren) - When the rotary knob is in the MAN
position, pressing the horn ring generates a tone that rises in
pitch to a pre-set level. This tone is generated for as long as the
horn ring is pressed.

HF (Hands Free Operation) - When the rotary knob is in the HF
position, the siren functions of the BETA I are placed in a stand­by mode. Siren tones are activated by a single “tap” on the
vehicle’s steering wheel horn ring button (if the vehicle’s horn
has been wired to the BETA I). The first “tap” produces a Wail

tone (a steady, rise and fall tone). A second tap produces a Yelp
tone (a fast, rise and fall tone). A third tap produces a Piercer™
tone (an extremely fast, rise and fall tone). The next tap returns
the siren to a Wail tone and the cycle repeats itself. Two quick,
successive taps will stop the siren.

WAIL (Wail Tone) - When the rotary knob is in the WAIL
position, a steady, rise and fall tone is produced. A single tap on
the vehicle’s steering wheel horn ring button (if the vehicle’s horn
has been wired to the BETA1), changes the siren tone to a Yelp
pattern (a fast, rise and fall tone). A second tap, and the siren
returns to a Wail tone. Please note that the BETA1 microphone
will override the siren function.

YELP (Yelp Tone) - When the rotary knob is in the YELP
position, a fast, rise and fall tone is produced. A single tap on the
vehicle’s steering wheel horn ring button (if the vehicle’s horn
has been wired to the BETA1), changes the siren tone to
TONE3. A second tap and the siren returns to a Yelp tone.

TM

TONE3 (Piercer

Tone in default configuration) - When the

rotary knob is in the TONE3 position, an extremely fast, rise and
fall tone is produced. Pressing on the steering wheel horn button
(if the vehicle’s horn has been wired to the BETA1), changes the
siren tone to a simulated air horn tone for as long as the button is
pressed. Releasing the button causes the siren to return to the
Piercer™ tone.

Volume Adjustment Screw

The Volume Screw controls the volume of public address
function. Volume is increased by rotating the screw in a
clockwise direction and decreased by rotating the screw in a
counter-clockwise direction. The volume screw has no effect on
any siren tones produced.

10 AMP

FUSE

(+FEED)

(H/R)

(CTRL 1)

(CTRL 2)

(CTRL 3)

(AIRHRN)

(PTT)

(MIC-)

(MIC+)

RADIO

+

BATTERY

BETA

REMOTE

AMPLIFIER

RED/WHT

P2-1

WHT/GRN

P2-2

WHT/BRN

P2-3

WHT/RED

P2-4

WHT/ORG

P2-5

WHT/YEL

P2-6

WHT/VIO

P2-7

WHT/BLK

P2-8

P2-9

WHT/BLU

BLU RADIO

P1-6

BLU

P1-5

P1-4

ORG

BRN

P1-3

P1-2

BLK

P1-1

RED

WARNING: All customer supplied wires

that connect to the positive terminal of
the battery must be sized to supply at
least 125% of the maximum operating
current and FUSED
carry that load. DO NOT USE CIRCUIT
BREAKERS WITH THIS PRODUCT!

at the battery to

17 ft. Cable Assembly

(Supplied)

WHITE

GRAY

HORN

RELAY

FROM
HORN

SWITCH

100 WATT

SPEAKER

Input Voltage
Input Current (OFF)
Input Current
Output Voltage
Output Current
Operating Temperature
Operating Humidity
Output Short Protection

SPECIFICATIONS

8.6 volts to 30.6 volts

95% Non Condensing

+12V

CUT HERE

AND SPLICE

500ma Poly Fuse

J2-10

10 TO 32 Volts

0ma

500ma (max.)

500ma (max.)

-30c to +60c

RED/WHT

J2-1

WHT/GRN

J2-2

WHT/BRN

J2-3

WHT/RED

J2-4

WHT/ORG

J2-5

BLK

J2-6

WHT/VIO

J2-7

WHT/BLK

J2-8

WHT/BLU

J2-9

J2-11

HORN

VEHICLE

BETA

CONTROL HEAD

Fig. 2

ACTIVATION OF THIS
SIREN MAY DAMAGE
UNPROTECTED EARS!

CAUTION

Loud siren noise can cause

Wear

Protection!

hearing damage and/or loss.

Refer to OSHA Section 1910.95 prior
to putting ANY siren into service!

Page 4