AEBN: 120307

Date:

12/3/07

Subject: Beacon Inrush Current

In addition to the nominal current rating for a beacon, often times there is an inrush
current and, for flashing beacons, a repetitive surge current. These currents can play a
factor in the design of a system.
Inrush current is the current drawn by the beacon when it is first turned on. Inrush
current can be very high, but usually only lasts for a short duration, typically less than a
few milliseconds.
Repetitive surge current is drawn by the beacon each time it flashes after it's powered up
(so a steady beacon would not have a repetitive surge, but may have an inrush current).
Repetitive surge currents can also be quite high and last up to a few milliseconds, but
usually not as high as the initial inrush.
Although a beacon may have a relatively small nominal current rating, sizing your power
source just based on that can cause problems. A 3 amp power source, for example, may
appear capable of handling six beacons with a 500mA nominal current rating, but if those
beacons have a substantial inrush or surge current, and the power source is not "stiff"
enough or capable of handling the higher currents for short durations, the beacons may
not work properly, if at all. This can also affect wire run distances. A beacon near the
source may work, but one at the far end may not.
Generally, one or two beacons on a circuit with an inrush or repetitive surge current
substantially higher than the power source's rating is usually Ok. A 120VAC strobe with
a 30A inrush, for example, will probably still work on a circuit rated for 15 amps. This is
because the duration of the inrush is very short.
However, if you have a situation requiring multiple beacons turning on at the same time
and your power source cannot handle the inrush or surge currents, there are a couple
things you can try:
1. If it's an AC powered beacon, try reversing the hot and neutral connections to half
the units. This way some will fire off the positive side of the wave, the others the
negative.
Edwards Signaling & Security, Part of GE Security 41 Woodford Ave, Plainville, CT, 06062
Phone: 860-793-5300 Web: www.edwardssignaling.com - E-mail: signaling.techsupport@ge.com

2. Don't power all the beacons from the same circuit (this might require a multi-pole
switch, one pole per circuit, to turn them all on).
3. Use time delay relay(s) set for different times so that the beacons do not all turn
on at exactly the same time. Even a fraction of a second difference could be
enough to separate the firing times and alleviate the problem.
On the following pages is a list of most of the beacons we offer and their respective
current ratings. We have not, to date, tested all of our beacons for inrush and repetitive
surge currents, so some values may be blank. Do not assume there is no inrush or surge
if it's blank. You can call Tech Support if you want to verify a value or if a beacon is not
on the list. Also refer to the beacon's installation instructions for additional information.

Edwards Signaling & Security, Part of GE Security 41 Woodford Ave, Plainville, CT, 06062
Phone: 860-793-5300 Web: www.edwardssignaling.com - E-mail: signaling.techsupport@ge.com

Current Ratings for Edwards Beacons

Current Rating

Voltage Rating

48FIN*-N5-25WH

0.20A

120 VAC

48FIN*-G5-20WH

0.80A

24 VAC

2.2A SD 8mS (1Hz)

1A

12 VDC

3.5A ED 100mS (1Hz)

48FIN*-E1

Peak Inrush Current

Repetitive Surge Current

48FIN*-G1-20WH

0.80A

24 VDC

48FLED*-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

0.070A

48FLED*-N5

0.025A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

48SIN*-N5-25WH

0.20A

120 VAC

0.8 SD 8mS (60Hz)

48SIN*-G5-20WH

0.80A

24 VAC

1.25A SD 8mS (60Hz)

48SIN*-E1
48SIN*-G1-20WH

1A

12 VDC

1.1A

0.80A

24 VDC

0.90A

48SLED*-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

0.070A

48SLED*-N5

0.025A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

49*-N5-40WH

0.30A

120 VAC

49*-R5

0.1A

240 VAC

50*-N5-40WH

0.30A

120 VAC

50*-R5

0.1A

240 VAC

0.47 SD 8mS (60Hz)

50*-G5-20WH

0.80A

24 VAC

50SIN*-N5-40WH

0.29A

120 VAC

51*-N5-40W

0.29A

120 VAC

0.9A SD 8mS (1Hz)

1A

12 VDC

3.5A ED 100mS (1Hz)

51*-G1

1.1A

24 VDC

3A ED 100mS (1Hz)

51SIN*-G5-20W

1.1A

24 VAC

51*-E1

2.2A SD 8mS (1Hz)

51SIN*-G1

0.80A

24 VDC

51SIN*-N5-40W

0.29A

120 VAC

52*-N5-40WH

0.35A

120 VAC

0.47 SD 8mS (60Hz)

52*-G5-20WH

0.80A

24 VAC

1.25A SD 8mS (60Hz)

52*-R5

0.1A

240 VAC

53*-E1

1.8A

12 VDC

2.0A

53*-G1

1A

24 VDC

1.1A

53D*-GW

1A

24-28V

57EDF*-G1

2.2A

24 VDC

57EDF*-N5

0.2A

120 VAC

57EDF*-R5

0.1A

240 VAC

1A

120 VAC

58*-N5-100WH
89STR*-AQ

0.158A

24 VAC

89STR*-AQ

0.219A

24 VDC

89STR*-N5

0.09A

120 VAC

89SMSTR*-AQ

0.158A

24 VAC

89SMSTR*-AQ

0.219A

24 VDC

89SMSTR*-N5

0.09A

120 VAC

90*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

91B-*

0.5A

12 VDC

0.90A

40A @ 100uS

4.5A @ 100uS
20A ED 300uS (1Hz)

50A ED 1mS (1Hz)

92*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

92*-R5

0.05A

240 VAC

50A ED 1mS (1Hz)

92PLC*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

20A ED 75uS (1Hz)

92PLC-DF*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

20A ED 75uS (1Hz)

93*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

93*-R5

0.05A

240 VAC

93DF*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

93DF*-R5

0.05A

240 VAC

40A @ 70uS

12A @ 500uS

94*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

94*-R5

0.05A

240 VAC

94DF*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

94DF*-R5

0.05A

240 VAC

40A @ 70uS

12A @ 500uS

94DDV2*-G1

1.2A

94DV2*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

95*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

96B*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

96B*-R5

0.02A

240 VAC

98B*-E1

0.5A

12 VDC

0.6A

98B*-G1

0.3A

24 VAC

0.33A

98B*-FY

0.3A

36 VDC

96DV2*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

50A ED 1mS (1Hz)

2.1A @ 1mS
2A @ 1mS

0.33A
30A @ 25uS

2.1A @ 1mS

75A @ 100uS

.7A @ 35mS

97*-EK

1.2A

12-48 VDC

97*-MP

0.2A

75-125 VDC

97DF*-EK

1.2A

12-48 VDC

97DF*-MP

0.2A

75-125 VDC

99B*-E1

0.5A

12 VDC

100SB*-N5

0.8A

120 VAC

101BS-E1

0.05A

12 VDC

101BS-G1

0.05A

24 VDC

2A @ 1ms

101BS-N5

0.05A

120 VAC

2A @ 1ms

101FIN*-E1

0.6A

1A

12 VDC

3.5A ED 100mS (1Hz)

0.32A

24 VDC

1.2A ED 100mS (1Hz)

101FINH*-N5

0.11A

120 VAC

1.15A SD 8mS (1Hz)

101FLED*-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

.07A @ 1mS

101FLED*-N5

0.025A

120 VAC

.09A SD 8mS (60Hz)

101FINH*-G1

101SIN*-E1

1A

12 VDC

1.1A

0.32A

24 VDC

.36A @ 1mS

101SINH*-N5

0.11A

120 VAC

.5A SD 8mS (60Hz)

101SLED*-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

.07A @ 1mS

101SLED*-N5

0.025A

120 VAC

.09A SD 8mS (60Hz)

101ST*-E1

0.5A

12 VDC

0.6A

101ST*-G1

0.3A

24 VDC

.33A @ 1mS

101ST*-N5

0.12A

120 VAC

30A @ 25uS

102LS-SINH-G1

0.32A

24 VDC

0.36A

102LS-SINH-N5

0.11A

120 VAC

0.5A SD 8mS (60Hz)

102LS-SIN-G1

0.32A

24 VDC

0.36A

102LS-SIN-N5

0.08A

120 VAC

0.15A SD 8mS (60Hz)

101SINH*-G1

2.1A ED 1mS

102LS-FINH-G1

0.32A

24 VDC

102LS-FINH-N5

0.11A

120 VAC

1.2A ED 100mS (1Hz)

102LS-FIN-G1

0.32A

24 VDC

1.4A ED 100mS (1Hz)

102LS-FIN-N5

0.08A

120 VAC

0.3A SD 8mS (1Hz)

102LS-ST-G1

0.3A

24 VDC

0.33A

102LS-ST-N5

0.12A

120 VAC

50A ED 1mS (1Hz)

102LS-SLED*-G1

0.062A

24 VDC

0.070A

102LS-SLED*-N5

0.022A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

102LS-FLED*-G1

0.062A

24 VDC

0.070A

102LS-FLED*-N5

0.022A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

102TBS-DN-G1

1.75AA

24 VDC

102TBS-DN-N5

0.6AA

120 VAC

102SIGST-G1

0.05A

24 VDC

102SIGST-N5

0.07A

120 VAC

102SIGMT-G1

0.05A

24 VDC

102SIGMT-N5

0.07A

120 VAC

0.24A SQ 0.2mS (1.2KHz)

0.35A ED 0.5mS (60Hz)

30A @ 4uS

0.35A ED 0.5mS (60Hz)

102SIGMT-DN-G1

0.05A

24 VDC

102SIGMT-DN-N5

0.05A

120 VAC

103I-RGA-G1

0.055A

24 VDC

0.070A

103-RGA-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

0.070A

103I-RGA-N5

0.045A

120 VAC

0.100A SD 8mS (60Hz)

103-RGA-N5

0.055A

120 VAC

0.100A SD 8mS (60Hz)

103I-RBA-G1

0.055A

24 VDC

0.070A

103-RBA-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

0.070A

103I-RBA-N5

0.045A

120 VAC

0.100A SD 8mS (60Hz)

103-RBA-N5

0.055A

120 VAC

0.100A SD 8mS (60Hz)

104FINH*-G1

0.77A

24 VDC

1.2A ED 100mS (1Hz)

104FINH*-G5

0.77A

24 VAC

1.2A SD 8mS (1Hz)

104FINH*-N5

0.25A

120 VAC

1.15A SD 8mS (1Hz)

104FLED*-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

0.070A

104FLED*-N5

0.025A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

104SINH*-G1

0.77A

24 VDC

0.36A

104SINH*-G5

0.77A

24 VAC

0.5A SD 8mS (60Hz)

104SINH*-N5

0.25A

120 VAC

0.5A SD 8mS (60Hz)

104SLED*-G1

0.065A

24 VDC

0.070A

104SLED*-N5

0.025A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

104ST*-N5

0.12A

120 VAC

105SLED*-G1

0.062A

24 VDC

0.070A

105SLED*-N5

0.022A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

105FLEDA-G1

0.062A

24 VDC

0.070A

105FLEDA-N5

0.022A

120 VAC

0.090A SD 8mS (60Hz)

105SINH*-G1

0.80A

24 VDC

0.90A

105SINH*-G5

0.80A

24 VAC

1.25A SD 8mS (60Hz)

105SINH*-N5

0.20A

120 VAC

0.8 SD 8mS (60Hz)

105FINH*-G1

0.80A

24 VDC

105FINH*-G5

0.80A

24 VAC

2.2A SD 8mS (1Hz)

105FINH*-N5

0.20A

120 VAC

1.3A SD 8mS (1Hz)

2.1A @ 1mS

2.2A ED 100mS (1Hz)

105ST*-G1

0.3A

24 VDC

4.4A @ 300uS

0.20A

105ST*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

30A @ 25uS

2.1A @ 1mS

105ST*-R5

0.02A

240 VAC

105DHIST*-FJ

1.08A

20-30 VDC

3.14A @ 1.27mS

2.24A @ 450mS

2A @ 1mS

105HIST*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

50A ED 1mS

50A ED 1mS (1Hz)

105HIST*-R5

0.05A

240 VAC

50A ED 1mS

50A ED 1mS (1Hz)

105HIST*-EK

1.2A

12-48 VDC

65A @ 50uS

4.2A @ 500mS

107DDV2(+)ST*-G1

1.4A

24 VDC

107DV2(+)RINH*-N5

0.35A

120 VAC

107DV2(+)RINH*-R5

0.1A

240 VAC

107DV2(+)ST*-N5

0.1A

120 VAC

107DV2(+)ST*-R5

0.05A

240 VAC

107DV2(+)ST*-EK

1.2A

12-48 VDC

65A @ 50uS

4.2A @ 500mS

107DV2(+)ST*-S1

0.1A

250 VDC

108I-RGA-N5

0.115A

120 VAC

30A @ 2uS

0.45A @ 2mS (120Hz)

108I-RGA-G1

0.105A

24 VDC

5A @ 1mS

0.275A @ 2mS (500-1KHz)

108I-RBA-N5

0.115A

120 VAC

30A @ 2uS

0.45A @ 2mS (120Hz)

108I-RGA-G1

0.105A

24 VDC

5A @ 1mS

0.275A @ 2mS (500-1KHz)

108IP-RGA-N5

0.045A

120 VAC

13A @ 2uS

0.10A @ 4mS (60Hz)

108IP-RGA-G1

0.055A

24 VDC

5A @ 1mS

55mA

108IP-RBA-N5

0.045A

120 VAC

13A @ 2uS

0.10A @ 4mS (60Hz)

108IP-RBA-G1

0.055A

24 VDC

5A @ 1mS

55mA

108ID-RGA-N5

0.045A

120 VAC

13A @ 2uS

0.10A @ 4mS (60Hz)

108ID-RGA-G1

0.055A

24 VDC

5A @ 1mS

55mA

108ID-RBA-N5

0.045A

120 VAC

13A @ 2uS

0.10A @ 4mS (60Hz)

108ID-RBA-G1

0.055A

24 VDC

5A @ 1mS

55mA

108-DN-RGA-N5

0.12A

120 VAC

108-DN-RBA-N5

0.12A

120 VAC

108-DN-RGA-G1

0.105A

24 VDC

108-DN-RBA-G1

0.105A

24 VDC

109*-G1

0.475 A

24V AC/DC

109*-N5

0.140 A

120 VAC

110FIN*-N5

0.96 A

120 VAC

110ST*-N5

0.03 A

120 VAC

111SIN*-B

0.08 A (100 Watt)

120 VAC

111SIN*

0.08 A (100 Watt)

120 VAC

111SFL*-B

0.36

120 VAC

111SFL*

0.36

120 VAC

111SIN*-CM-B

0.08 A (100 Watt)

120 VAC

111SIN*-CM

0.08 A (100 Watt)

120 VAC

111SFL*-CM-B

0.36

120 VAC

111SFL*-CM

0.36

120 VAC

111SIN*-WM-B

0.08 A (100 Watt)

120 VAC

111SIN*-WM

0.08 A (100 Watt)

120 VAC

111SFL*-WM-B

0.36

120 VAC

111SFL*-WM

0.36

3@ ED 30mS

120 VAC

112DV2BFL*-N5

120 VAC

112DV2CFL*-N5

120 VAC

112DV2PFL*-N5

0.96A SD 8mS (60HZ)

120 VAC

113SP-RGA-AQ

0.24 A

24 VAC/VDC

2.5A @ 5mS

113SP-RGA-N5

0.062 A

120 VAC

0.5A @ 5mS

113FP-RGA-AQ

0.24 A

24 VAC/VDC

2.5A @ 5mS

113FP-RGA-N5

0.062 A

120 VAC

0.5A @ 5mS

113SS-RGA-AQ

0.24 A

24 VAC/VDC

2.5A @ 5mS

113SS-RGA-N5

0.062 A

120 VAC

0.5A @ 5mS

113FS-RGA-AQ

0.24 A

24 VAC/VDC

2.5A @ 5mS

113FS-RGA-N5

0.062 A

120 VAC

0.5A @ 5mS

114SST*-EK

0.35 A

12-48 VDC

22A @ 200uS

.450A @ 20uS.

114PST*-EK

0.35 A

12-48 VDC

22A @ 200uS

.450A @ 20uS.

114SSIN*-G1

0.61A

24 VDC

0.68A

114PSIN*-G1

0.61A

24 VDC

0.68A

114SSIN*-N5

0.15A

120 VAC

0.3A SD 8mS (60Hz)

114PSIN*-N5

0.15A

120 VAC

0.3A SD 8mS (60Hz)

114SFIN*-G1

0.61A

24 VDC

114SFIN*-N5

0.15A

120 VAC

0.5A SD 8mS (1Hz)

114PFIN*-G1

0.61A

24 VDC

2.5A ED 60mS (1Hz)

114PFIN*-N5

0.15A

120 VAC

116EXMST*-N5

0.10 A

120 VAC

50A ED @ 1mS

50A ED @ 1mS

1.2A - 0.38A

12-48 VDC

65A @ 50uS

4.2A @ 500mS

116EXST*-EK

2.5A ED 60mS (1Hz)

0.5A SD 8mS (1Hz)

116DEGEX-FJ

.520A - .505A**

16-33VDC

Negligible

Negligible

** UL RMS worst case values

116DEXSTC-FJ

1.104 A - 0.802**

16-33 VDC

1.45A @ 323mS

0.85A @ 130uS

** UL RMS worst case values

116DEXMST*-FJ

0.95A - 0.55A

16-33 VDC

1.45A @ 323mS

0.85A @ 130uS

116EXMRINH*-N5

0.35A

120 VAC

116DEXMRINH*-GW

0.8 A

24-28 VDC

116EXMSINH*-N5

0.35A

120 VAC

116DEXMSINH*-GW

0.8 A

24-28 VDC

117*-EM

0.35A

10-110 VDC

117*-N5

0.02 A

120 VAC

117*-R5

0.015 A

240 VAC

867STR*-N5

0.111 A
0.462
0.412

120 VAC

867STR*-AQ
868STR*-N5
868STR*-AQ
869STR*-N5

0.111 A
0.462
0.412

0.47A SD 8mS
3A @ ED 30mS
3A @ ED 30mS

24 VAC/DC
120 VAC
24 VAC/DC

869STR*-AQ

0.111 A
0.462
0.412

120 VAC

869DSTR-G1

0.145 A

24 VDC

3000SD*-EK

0.13 A

12-48 VDC

24 VAC/DC
30A @ <.3mS

0.63A @ <650mS