Introduction
When a Wheelock fire alarm horn strobe fails in your building, fast replacement is critical — not just for code compliance, but for life safety. Wheelock (now part of Eaton) has been producing fire alarm notification appliances for decades, and their E70, E90, and MT series devices are among the most widely installed in commercial buildings across North America. This guide helps technicians, facility managers, and fire alarm contractors identify the correct replacement device.
Understanding the Wheelock E70 Series
The Wheelock E70 series horn strobes are compact, multi-candela notification appliances designed for wall or ceiling mounting in standard commercial applications. Key specifications include:
- Voltage: 12/24 VDC (filtered or unfiltered)
- Candela output: Selectable — 15, 30, 75, and 110 cd (wall) or 15, 30, 75, and 95 cd (ceiling)
- Tone: Temporal-3 (T3) or steady, field-selectable
- Mounting: Standard single-gang or double-gang electrical box
- Colors: Red or white
When replacing an E70, match the candela setting to the original device. Over-strobing or under-strobing can affect NFPA 72 compliance in the space. The E70 series has been largely succeeded by the Eluxa ELHS series (LED-based), which offers the same candela range with lower power consumption.
Wall vs. Ceiling Mount: Choosing the Right Configuration
NFPA 72 specifies distinct requirements for wall-mounted and ceiling-mounted notification appliances:
Wall-Mount Horn Strobes
Wall-mount devices (e.g., E70-24MCW-FR, ELHSW, ELHSR) are installed with the bottom of the lens between 80″ and 96″ above the finished floor (AFF). The strobe lens faces outward horizontally. Wall mount strobes use the T-candela ratings (15–185 cd depending on model).
Ceiling-Mount Horn Strobes
Ceiling devices (e.g., ELHSWC, ELHSRC, HSRC) must be mounted with the lens pointing downward and must meet the ceiling candela spacing tables. Ceiling units are typically labeled “C” in the SKU (ELHSWC = Eluxa LED Horn Strobe White Ceiling). Ceiling candela values differ from wall (e.g., 95 cd ceiling vs. 110 cd wall at the same spacing).
Candela Selection Guide
Selecting the wrong candela output is a common mistake during Wheelock horn strobe replacement. Use this quick reference:
- 15 cd: Small rooms, private offices, hotel rooms (up to ~200 sq ft)
- 30 cd: Medium offices, patient rooms (~400 sq ft)
- 75 cd: Large open spaces, corridors
- 110 cd (wall) / 95 cd (ceiling): Large rooms, assembly areas
- 135–185 cd (Eluxa): Very large spaces or high-ambient light environments
E90 Series: Speaker Strobes for Voice Evacuation
The Wheelock E90 series integrates a UL-listed speaker with a synchronized strobe, making it the preferred device for voice evacuation systems. The E90 supports 25 Vrms and 70 Vrms distributed audio at wattage taps of 1/4W, 1/2W, 1W, and 2W. When replacing E90 units, verify the audio distribution voltage and wattage tap settings match the existing system design.
MT Series Mini-Horns
The Wheelock MT series provides audible-only notification without a strobe. Common models like the MT-24MCW are used in hotel corridors, stairwells, restrooms, and other spaces where strobes are not code-required. They operate on 12/24 VDC and produce up to 99 dBA at 10 feet.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Models
For outdoor or wet locations, Wheelock offers weatherproof appliances rated NEMA 3R, NEMA 4X, and IP66:
- Eluxa 3R series (EL3R-): NEMA 3R, suitable for covered outdoor locations, parking structures
- Eluxa 4X series (EL4X-): NEMA 4X / IP66, suitable for washdown areas, exterior walls
- RSSWP / ASWP series: Legacy weatherproof xenon strobe devices for retrofit applications
Xenon vs. LED Strobes
Legacy Wheelock devices (E70, RSS series, SpectrAlert) use xenon flashtubes. Modern Eluxa series devices use LED technology, offering longer service life, lower power consumption, and synchronization without an external sync module. When replacing xenon devices with LED equivalents, verify system power budget calculations — LED devices may draw less current but have different inrush characteristics.
Shop Wheelock Replacement Parts
Life Safety Consultants stocks the complete Wheelock notification appliance line — including discontinued and hard-to-find models. Browse our full Wheelock fire alarm parts catalog to find your replacement by model number, or call our technical team at 1-888-557-0558 for assistance.
