Strobe Beacons

Strobe Beacon Series Guide

Flash Energy and Visibility

For xenon strobes, flash energy in joules (J) is the main sizing figure: more energy produces a brighter flash that can be seen farther away. Pfannenberg publishes these figures for the PYRA range:

Sprecher + Schuh Modular Beacons M strobes scale with diameter: 7 J in the 90 mm MFS, 15 J in the 120 mm MFM, and 30 J in the 160 mm MFL. Lens color also matters: clear and amber lenses generally appear brighter than red, blue, or green at the same flash energy.

Ordering Notes That Prevent Returns

• Reading Sprecher + Schuh strobe part numbers. 847 is the MFS (90 mm), 848 the MFM (120 mm), and 849 the MFL (160 mm). The next two digits give the mounting: 10 horizontal base mount, 30 pole base mount with M20 thread, 31 pole base mount with 1/2 in NPT. The sixth digit is the lens color (1 amber, 2 red, 4 clear, 5 blue, 6 green, 7 yellow), and the last three are the voltage: 405 for 12-24V AC/DC (24V AC/DC on the MFL), 310 for 110/120V AC, 313 for 230/240V AC.
• Keep spare xenon tubes. Xenon tubes are a wear item. Sprecher + Schuh replacement tubes are 890 107 900 (MFS, 7 J), 890 115 900 (MFM, 15 J), and 890 130 900 (MFL, 30 J). LED multi-strobes have no tube to replace.
• PYRA lens and housing are separate choices. Each PYRA comes with a lens color and a housing color (grey, red, or white). Check both in the product name before ordering, especially when matching existing units.
• PYRA flash rate depends on size. The PY X-S runs at a fixed 1 Hz. The PY X-M and PY X-L offer an adjustable flash rate of 0.1, 0.5, 0.75, or 1 Hz.
• Mounting accessories are sold separately for Sprecher + Schuh Modular Beacons M, including brackets, magnetic mounts, and mounting plates sized to each diameter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a strobe and a flashing beacon?

A flashing beacon switches a lamp or LED on and off in a repeating pattern. A strobe fires a very short, very bright pulse of light, which catches attention faster in bright or busy areas. Use a strobe for alarms and hazards that must be noticed immediately, and a steady or flashing beacon for status signals.

Should I choose a xenon or an LED strobe?

Xenon strobes discharge a flash tube to produce a very intense flash and are rated by flash energy in joules, so they suit long viewing distances. The tube is a wear item and needs periodic replacement. LED strobes, such as the Sprecher + Schuh PFH and PFL, produce a strobe effect with LEDs, so there is no tube to replace, and they offer more than one strobe pattern.

How much flash energy do I need?

Higher flash energy means a brighter flash seen from farther away. Pfannenberg rates its PYRA strobes at about 164 m maximum viewing distance for 5 J, 283 m for 10 J, and 320 m for 15 J. Size up when the strobe must be seen across a large floor, in direct sunlight, or with a red, blue, or green lens.

Can several strobes flash in sync?

Pfannenberg PYRA PY X-M and PY X-L strobes support synchronized flashing across multiple units, so several beacons in one area flash together instead of at random. This reduces visual confusion where more than one strobe is in view.

Can I combine a strobe with a horn?

Yes. The Sprecher + Schuh QBS LED strobe mounts together with a Multi-Tone Sounder A using the AMK mounting kit (874 010 900). For a single pre-wired sounder and strobe, see Combination Horn & Strobe.