Emergency lights
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Coastal North Carolina
Emergency lights
Hey everyone,
I'm a volunteer firefighter and I want to put some sort of light system on my truck (strobes, LEDs, etc.). I don't know what works best though. Dash mounted lights, hideaways, or maybe something else. I spoke to my fire chief and the only restriction is that I can't have any white lights on the back of my truck (but I have seen construction workers with white). I'm pretty good at wiring and all that stuff so installation shouldn't be a problem.
Basically I'm wondering what kind of options are out there for a volunteer on a budget, and what do you guys have that you like or don't like.
Thanks alot.
I'm a volunteer firefighter and I want to put some sort of light system on my truck (strobes, LEDs, etc.). I don't know what works best though. Dash mounted lights, hideaways, or maybe something else. I spoke to my fire chief and the only restriction is that I can't have any white lights on the back of my truck (but I have seen construction workers with white). I'm pretty good at wiring and all that stuff so installation shouldn't be a problem.
Basically I'm wondering what kind of options are out there for a volunteer on a budget, and what do you guys have that you like or don't like.
Thanks alot.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Slatington PA
If you want a dash mount, you wont need to worry about the white lights in the rear. If you want a bar on top, they go for about $160-300. the dash mounts can be anywhere between $25-100.
What colors are you going to/ allowed to run? just red, or red and blues.
What colors are you going to/ allowed to run? just red, or red and blues.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Kansas City, KS
What colors are you allowed to run? I'm only familiar with the bars on top but depending on the color you should be able to get the non-led's fairly cheap. Most PD's and security companies are going to LED's. The Rangers can handle the bars without frieing the alternators. The Escapes we use at my current company isn't holding up as well. I know in order for the headlights to flash is a simple plugin operation but I don't know cost etc.
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Posting Guru
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From: Coastal North Carolina
I can run red and white up front, but just red out back. I don't really like bars on top. I'd rather have something a little smaller. I do like the idea of the headlights flashing back and forth though. I was kinda leaning toward LEDs for the reason that there is less draw on the alternator, but aren't they normally more pricey?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Greenvile, SC
Originally Posted by 99xlt4.04x4
I can run red and white up front, but just red out back. I don't really like bars on top. I'd rather have something a little smaller. I do like the idea of the headlights flashing back and forth though. I was kinda leaning toward LEDs for the reason that there is less draw on the alternator, but aren't they normally more pricey?
I had two light bars (plus everything else) on my '99 Ranger (not at the same time). The first one was a Halogen based lightbar... whenever i used one or more functions, it would nearly suck every bit of juice that was in "reserve". I eventually found a 200 Amp alternator and a Optima Yellow top which was 110% better. The LED bar was the last one I had, that was fully loaded, Take-downs, alleys, Traffic stick on the rear. But by then I had nearly everything on the truck either strobes and or LEDs Not counting the 4-halogen bulbs for the take-downs and alleys.
SO before with everything on (including sirens) I was Trying to rob my charging system of 75+amps
After the Big change I was hovering @ 35-50 amps
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
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From: Greenvile, SC
IMHO- for a Ranger to be well seen (on a budget)...
I'd go with
-A 4-6 head Strobe kit (buy a 8 head pwr supply- spares) 75$-230$
-LED shorty or full size light bar, No take downs or alleys -$90-$1150
-then a simple Wig-wag kit $30-$35
I'd go with
-A 4-6 head Strobe kit (buy a 8 head pwr supply- spares) 75$-230$
-LED shorty or full size light bar, No take downs or alleys -$90-$1150
-then a simple Wig-wag kit $30-$35
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
I'd just say a 6 strobe kit (easily found on eBay or a whole mess of websites, search on Google), red and white in each front turn signal and red in each rear turn signal. They're very easy to hook up, and not too expensive. Plus they tend to last a fairly good amount of time if installed correctly, and installation isn't too difficult.
Then a red/white dash strobe to finish it off, only about $10.
That way you won't break the bank buying everything, and installation will be clean and simple. Most strobes, the LED kind anyways, pull very little amperage, so a small switch could run them all and allow you many mounting choices, whether you want the switch obvious or hidden.
Then a red/white dash strobe to finish it off, only about $10.
That way you won't break the bank buying everything, and installation will be clean and simple. Most strobes, the LED kind anyways, pull very little amperage, so a small switch could run them all and allow you many mounting choices, whether you want the switch obvious or hidden.
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Colorado
I run a red mini bar with 2 rotators ontop and white strobes in the grill, as soon as the snow melts here in southern colorado i am going to install a set of the red led strips under the the botom edge of my tailgate and wire them to my 4 way flashers. I also run a siren I tucked behind the license plate, 300 watts.
The under cover stuff looks cool but you need to be seen when responding to a call and on sceen. Responding to a call is the most dangerous thinf a fire fighter will do. Setting the side of the interstate you can not have too many lights.
The under cover stuff looks cool but you need to be seen when responding to a call and on sceen. Responding to a call is the most dangerous thinf a fire fighter will do. Setting the side of the interstate you can not have too many lights.
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Post Fiend
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Originally Posted by 99Trigger3_0
Jus' have to keep count of that amperage draw and start-ups on those "stock" Rangers! 
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
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From: Greenvile, SC
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
Just to build the knowledge base a little bit...'bout how much amperage does a starter draw? I've always wondered that.
I was referring to the start-up of the halo- light bar, which caused a short but Immediate voltage draw/current-amp spike...along with everything else.. lightbar alone was 46-47amps+directionals 12-15amps+.....
Last edited by FTE Trigger; Jan 28, 2007 at 12:20 AM. Reason: improper smiley?
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Coastal North Carolina
RangerPilot,
Where can you get a dash strobe for $10?
I have euro clear taillights on the back so I can pretty much put the red strobes anywhere, but where would I put them on the front? The turn signal has a yellow lens. The corners are clear but they are kinda small to put a red and a white strobe in. I guess I could put one in each corner and put the other two in either the headlights or fog lights. I was kinda wondering about the wig wag system. How is that on your bulbs? I would think that flashing them o and off like that would make a headlight bulb blow out. I have two 100W off road lights on the bumper (wired to a switch that only lets them come on when the key is on so I don't leave them on) do you think I could put the wig wag in those?
BTW thanks for all your help.
Where can you get a dash strobe for $10?
I have euro clear taillights on the back so I can pretty much put the red strobes anywhere, but where would I put them on the front? The turn signal has a yellow lens. The corners are clear but they are kinda small to put a red and a white strobe in. I guess I could put one in each corner and put the other two in either the headlights or fog lights. I was kinda wondering about the wig wag system. How is that on your bulbs? I would think that flashing them o and off like that would make a headlight bulb blow out. I have two 100W off road lights on the bumper (wired to a switch that only lets them come on when the key is on so I don't leave them on) do you think I could put the wig wag in those?
BTW thanks for all your help.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
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From: Greenvile, SC
Originally Posted by 99xlt4.04x4
RangerPilot,
Where can you get a dash strobe for $10?
I have euro clear taillights on the back so I can pretty much put the red strobes anywhere, but where would I put them on the front? The turn signal has a yellow lens. The corners are clear but they are kinda small to put a red and a white strobe in. I guess I could put one in each corner and put the other two in either the headlights or fog lights. I was kinda wondering about the wig wag system. How is that on your bulbs? I would think that flashing them o and off like that would make a headlight bulb blow out. I have two 100W off road lights on the bumper (wired to a switch that only lets them come on when the key is on so I don't leave them on) do you think I could put the wig wag in those?
BTW thanks for all your help.
Where can you get a dash strobe for $10?
I have euro clear taillights on the back so I can pretty much put the red strobes anywhere, but where would I put them on the front? The turn signal has a yellow lens. The corners are clear but they are kinda small to put a red and a white strobe in. I guess I could put one in each corner and put the other two in either the headlights or fog lights. I was kinda wondering about the wig wag system. How is that on your bulbs? I would think that flashing them o and off like that would make a headlight bulb blow out. I have two 100W off road lights on the bumper (wired to a switch that only lets them come on when the key is on so I don't leave them on) do you think I could put the wig wag in those?
BTW thanks for all your help.
The typical wig-wags on the headlamps won't be an issue (unless you have Syl. Silver stars) as they are wired into the hi-beam side of the circuit. If your worried about blowing bulbs, you could carry spares like I did. ( buy in bulk
) Seems like Ford went out of thier way on these (newer?) Rangers to have such things wired in fairly easy. Just finding a spot in the cab for all the switches and boxes could be an issue. That is unless you purchased a sw. box as well.On edit: forum Mods might want to move this to Elect./Wiring or Appearance forums?
Last edited by FTE Trigger; Jan 28, 2007 at 07:39 PM. Reason: addind edit for Mod move?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: missouri
.
Should be able to help ya out here,at the least put my 2 cents in here.
Im a vollie ff/emt also in missouri.Here were allowed to run blue,clear and amber and red as long as the red is in the stock location.Aka rear hideaways.First i took out my stock altenator and put in a 130 amp unit just for my own personal state of mind.(does that make any sense??). I have a dual led dash light plus 2 single led talons hangin in the rear window also a set of wig wags and 6 hideaways 2 up front in the corners,and one in each of the taillights and backup lights.So far im only using up bout 10 amps. My big draw is my 6 strobe mini lightbar up top with rear flashers and alley lights. just my figurin but think its bout 25 amp draw.along with the siren is another 10 or 15.......
And if ya want to talk about the hella fog and driving lights well thats another story....but Im in a rural area and use my truck to respond to accidents in the middle of nowhere so the extra lights come in handy and with everything going my battery gauge barely moves from the middle.Also helps that the truck has been modified all around too.........
Im a vollie ff/emt also in missouri.Here were allowed to run blue,clear and amber and red as long as the red is in the stock location.Aka rear hideaways.First i took out my stock altenator and put in a 130 amp unit just for my own personal state of mind.(does that make any sense??). I have a dual led dash light plus 2 single led talons hangin in the rear window also a set of wig wags and 6 hideaways 2 up front in the corners,and one in each of the taillights and backup lights.So far im only using up bout 10 amps. My big draw is my 6 strobe mini lightbar up top with rear flashers and alley lights. just my figurin but think its bout 25 amp draw.along with the siren is another 10 or 15.......
And if ya want to talk about the hella fog and driving lights well thats another story....but Im in a rural area and use my truck to respond to accidents in the middle of nowhere so the extra lights come in handy and with everything going my battery gauge barely moves from the middle.Also helps that the truck has been modified all around too.........
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Posting Guru
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From: Coastal North Carolina
OK, now I'm starting to get a little scared. I have already installed Hella Driving lights and I got some fog lights from a buddy that wrecked his truck (mine came without them). Add to that I have a 10" sub in the back seat, and now I'm wondering about my stock altenator. So where can I get a bigger one? And do you think I should just get a dash light for now and an alternator, or will it be ok to go ahead and get a strobe kit and get the alternator later whenever I can?