LED Lightbars...UGGGHH!!!!

[losangelescop]

Hey all,

I was just wondering who likes LED lightbars, of course in the way they produce less amps, but as you can tell in the title im not a big fan of them. For me nothing can beat halogen rotators and flashers (Especially on a fully loaded and pimped out Code 3 MX7000) I don't mind using LED's for aux or lower level lightbar warning (after all they are brighter and last longer), and in some cases im fine with seeing them as primary warning in Federal Signal Visions and *I think* the new MX7000's, Even though I dont like any of the flash patterns a lot. Nothing will replace the look and attention-getting power of the flash of a 175 FPM rotator. What I don't like the most about the majority of LED bars is how they're all these futuristic space-age looking things that are all 1 inch tall and can barely be seen (until they are switched on). They're starting to not even look like lightbars anymore, but rather something out of some sci-fi movie! Sure they may be good on lowering wind resistance and upgrading top speed on a Crown Vic or any other car by a couple of mph, or making it hard for the highway speeder to see the cop until the car is lit up like a christmas tree, but for me, I'd take a halogen lightbar with clear domes and colored filters anyday. Call me old fashioned (although I'm not that old) but I just don't like the way these days they are trying to make all the new technology look like something out of the year 3000 on Futurama. (Who knows, I might start to like them a lot more in 10 years when there's nothing but LED low profile bars around). It's the same with new technology in cars, they are making hybrid and electric cars look very space age and weird, instead of trying to put the technology in existing current model cars. Maybe It's just me, I'm not sure....does anyone agree with me on this one?? ....haha

Well I've had my little rant now (maybe it's not really that little lol), so now I spose it's time for me to go off into lightbar land and start polishing some domes! Bye everyone!

[mancow]

Some of those LEDs are pretty wicked anymore. A County to the north of me has them. They have a pattern that will occasionally hit the red and blue just right to produce the wildest violet color. It really grabs your attention at night since you don't expect to see that crazy color.

[FireCpt809]

Halogen rotator may have been the best thing 10 yrs ago. LEDs are by far a better choice. They draw a fraction of the power. Far brighter, better areodynamics , longer life and less maintance. A fully loaded MX bar up to 65 amps full tilt. a Fully loaded LED bar may draw 15 or less. When a squad is sitting at a scene with the air going, Radios, modems and camera running, every extra amp counts. I like the looks of an MX but in a pratcial sense LEDs make more sense.

I cant remember the last time I installed a new halogen bar. In the last year we have sold nothing but hideaway strobes and LED bars.

[w8cmi]

Nothing beats a Federal Beacon Ray Model 175.

The infamous 'hill light'.

Clear lens. Alternating clear and red sealed beams. Aircraft landing light bulbs work great!



Rock on.

[FireCpt809]

That is a classic.... that and a Q siren

[Pj]

LED's are pretty much the way to go, but each type of warning has their place/application.

[w8cmi]

That is a classic.... that and a Q siren

How far the mighty have fallen.

It used to be Federal as the clear and indisputable industry leader ... and then all the also-rans lagging way behind, like North American, Smith & Wesson, Dietz, Mars, Signal-Stat, et. al.

Now it's a crap shoot, with Federal losing out on many of the cutting edge innovations, especially to Code 3 and Whelen. And some of the new "upstart" players have developed really cool stuff!

[FireCpt809]

North american is stil alive and well. They sell alot of amber and industrial lighting. Mars name lives mostly because of the 888 light.

[Jonathan KC8RYW]

Even Michigan SP is moving (slowly) to LED.

I've seen slick-top MSP cars with nothing but LEDs inside and hide-a-way strobes.

Though I don't expect to see the fall of the "Big Red Gumball" anytime soon.

The local PD here has a few cars out in the past month or so with LED bars replacing the ol' MX7000s.

[w8cmi]

North american is still alive and well.

North American used to make a helluva electronic siren. 58 watts, on par with the Federal Interceptor and the Dominator, but it had the "Riot" sound -- sort of a yelp superimposed on hi-lo. Very distinctive. And cool.

I never cared for anything from Mars. Too clunky looking, too "heavy", too much chrome and not enough lens and light.

Who makes the twirling lollipop light you sometimes see on the front of fire trucks? Myrtle Beach uses them. You could lose a finger (or a hand) in one of those things ...

[N7TRZ]

The LEDs carry quite a bit farther, especially when backlit by the Sun, or when its dusty or foggy. Just thinking about it, it might be the single-wavelength type light they produce. You couldn't see a police motorcycle in traffic to save your life until they went to LEDs here. You can tell they're there a mile away now, even with only little glimpses between passing traffic.

No burnouts, low amps, 3-watt retina-scorchers...as soon as they get used to designing better optics for them, you'll be saying "What's not to like?"

[Hightower]

When a cop pulls up behind me with his LED light show, I don't know if i'm being pulled over OR being invited to a rave.

Some squad cars have so many LEDS, it hurts to look at their lights, and for the next 10 minutes your still feeling the effects of their LEDS. I understand their need to be seen, but its getting rediculious now.

[resqguy911]

Who makes the twirling lollipop light you sometimes see on the front of fire trucks? Myrtle Beach uses them. You could lose a finger (or a hand) in one of those things ...

Roto-Rays, Inc. of Herndon,VA makes the Roto-Ray warning lights. They used to be made by the Buckeye Company in Ohio. If they are installed properly, they shut off when the vehicle is stopped.

[wkr518]

I know a few Fire guys who only buy halogen rotator bars because they melt the snow off thier lightbars faster when going to calls in the winter.Not sure if that justifies staying in old school technology but there it is.
I prefer strobe or LED technology when it somes to lighting here.Swapped out at least 25 apparatus rotator and halogen bars this year alone to conserve on power issues alone on apparatus.1 Dept alone projects that thier battery replacement budget has already gone down by 25%.
line testing amp draws on a Liberty bar between halogen alley ot takedowns and comparing it to draw of LED is quite a noticeable difference.
NYSP switched to LED liberty for cars and LED Ultra Freedom here for Tahoes and Special Service SUVs/Vans.
Having that 1 or two blue lights in the back is way much more notcieable than just the red to the rear these days.
Code 3 did not even try hard to get NYSP Fleet to thier products,only Whelen and Federal and maybe Star tried.
Same in thier home state of MO.Whelen got State Police Fleet contract over Code 3.That must suck when Code 3 factory and HQ has to call SP for a incident and a Vic pulls up with fully loaded Liberty bar on the car.
I would just die!! hehe hehe
Wayne

[CAPTLPOL]

North american is still alive and well.

North American used to make a helluva electronic siren. 58 watts, on par with the Federal Interceptor and the Dominator, but it had the "Riot" sound -- sort of a yelp superimposed on hi-lo. Very distinctive. And cool.

I never cared for anything from Mars. Too clunky looking, too "heavy", too much chrome and not enough lens and light.

Who makes the twirling lollipop light you sometimes see on the front of fire trucks? Myrtle Beach uses them. You could lose a finger (or a hand) in one of those things ...

Oh yeah, the Riot sound, I haven't seen that in years. That was distinctive. I used to be with a police explorer and rode with an officer that installed on of those in his car. He had two sirens the one installed by the PD and the siren he installed. Man you would see the cars clear with that combo. That lasted until the day when another explorer got tangled up in the wiring and shorted the thing out. That was his last ride.

[losangelescop]

Hi all,

Thanks for all of your responses. Sorry it's been a while since I looked at this topic, kinda forgot I had posted it until now. Well its been quite a while since I posted it, and I don't really mind LED's now for undercover car lighting, grille lights, and aux. (lower level) warning on lightbars. I'm still not a fan of the flat, more futuristic designs though, especially those really weird looking new Code 3 bars. I would prefer to use LED as primary lightbar warning in high-profile bars like MX7000's, or even NYPD's new FS Visions. LED still wouldn't be my first choice for primary warning on a lightbar though, because even though its bright, I still believe a large sized fast halogen rotator throws more light and gets more attention than a small stationary LED module. That's just me I spose, but my opinions are constantly changing. What do y'all think about what I just said?

As a secondary thought, I saw a security vehicle the other day that had dash and deck mounted LED's. They looked like Whelen's or Mini-Phantoms. The front had green/amber and the rear had amber/white....couldn't decide which combo would look better/attract more attention for that application. Any opinions?

As I said, thanks for all your responses, and keep them coming. It's nice to know there are people out there that know their stuff when it comes to vehicle lighting and sirens.

Nic.

[akardam]

The front had green/amber and the rear had amber/white....couldn't decide which combo would look better/attract more attention for that application. Any opinions?

Screw that, go green/white... can double as a landing field beacon while you're at it, too

[EPC_1111]

The front had green/amber and the rear had amber/white....couldn't decide which combo would look better/attract more attention for that application. Any opinions?

Screw that, go green/white... can double as a landing field beacon while you're at it, too

Only if you light the landing field. Green and White is a lighted land airport.