Is this a good setup for simple rear warning?

Lammrover

I'm still trying to decide of a rear warning package for my SUV.

A large roof rack obscures the mini-bar used to the front and sides.

I am not needing a ton of rear warning, just some. I won't be responding to scene so no stopped on the side of road and stuff...

Setup Plan Is:
-50 Watt hide-a-ways in red portion of taillights (Whelen)
-3 TIR3s exterior mounted on rear of roof rack.
Outers red, center amber.

Sound decent?

Also, how does the synch function work with the TIR3s?

Could I have the reds flash left right with a tripple flash type pattern while the center amber flashes a slow on/off pattern? They would all be one one switch. I know very little about TIR3s except they are cheap and bright.

Thanks!
Lammrover

tvsjr · Banned user Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 1501 Location: DFW

Sounds good. I'd look at a Code3 NarrowStik or similar gen-3 LED Arrowstick to go in the rear window as well...

The TIR3s have four wires: +, Gnd, Sync, and Pattern. To sync, you just tie the sync wires together (no additional setup required). You take Pattern to +12 to change patterns. Sounds like you want to sync the reds, leave the amber unsynced, set the reds to alternating, and the amber to SignalAlert to achieve the pattern you desire.

PaLightFreak

im not sure about the 50 watt deal that might be a little weak but with your idea of the Tir3's yes you are able to do that.....they are very easy to wire up and get things sync. all ya have to do is grab the pattern you want for the reds get them sync and alternating....and then find the pattern ya want for the amber and leave it....all the reds together and your off...

Mark Meftah

[quote:7bacbcabbf=\"Lammrover\"]I won't be responding to scene so no stopped on the side of road and stuff...

Posted: Sat 19-Nov-2005 23:21 Post subject:

Well, 3 reasons as I see it: -due to the location of my firestation there is a good chance of me using a 2/3 lane freeway and/or onramps to get there. I don't wan't it to be any harder than it allready is to merge, and I don't want passed on the highway either. I don't speed like crazy o it like most do. -I would like to have 360 visibility of some sort. Future plans call for 2 extra side mounted TIR3s -I stop to assist motorits a lot, mostly pull them out of the ditch after a bad snowstorm. I would like something better than 4-ways. (coming back from my brothers house last winter I pulled out 6 vehicles on the freeway, including one state trooper that was on the shoulder when the snowplow went by and blocked him in) Lammrover

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 07:17 Post subject:

I've had the same problem with minibars and roof racks on various SUV type vehicles. What I wound up doing was taking a Federal 100 beacon (permanent mount version) and using epoxy to attach 4 thick HD ceramic ring magnets to the base. The height of the magnets plus the height of the light itself lifts the rotator up above any roof racks I've had to deal with. Attach your own wire and cig lighter plug and you're all set. The TIR's on your roof rack sound good too.

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 07:39 Post subject:

Definately go with a 90 or 75 watt power supply if you want the HAWs to be bright.

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 15:28 Post subject:

If all you are running off the strobe power supply is 2 hideaways in the rear, and it is an unregulated PS (haven't seen too many regulated 50 watters) then you will have 25 watts per tube. the maximum reccommended for Whelen FLANGE mount tubes. If this is the case then: Warning power will be as good as you are going to get for hide aways. make sure your taillight lenses are large enough to handle the heat generated DO NOT use pop in style tubes!

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 16:26 Post subject:

put the 2 strobes in the brake lights....... and put tir 3's on the roof rack... and put a set on the license plate...

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 16:43 Post subject:

What kind of vehicle? These best that I have seen done (and I am a Whelen boy) is the 911ep arrow mounted between the two luggage rack mounts. Looks very nice, blends in with the vehicle. Of course, they are not the cheapest things around, but very, very nice. As for HAW's, use the biggest power supply you can find. I'll see if I can dig an install with it.

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 16:58 Post subject:

we are putting full liberty bars on our new 2006 expeditions, so we are running in to the same problems. With the budget that I had to work with, i ordered two single talons and plan on putting them in the back windows on each side of our existing halogen arrow stick. The halogen probably wont punch through the tint very well, but this is the plan now. We are also putting HAWs in the rear brake light housing with a 90 watt whelen supply, and two more up in the front. Not sure if the supply is regulated. I would prefer to go with a little more in the rear, like a couple TIR6s mounted on the rear bumper or somewhere back there. But, budget wouldn't allow. hope this helps.

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 17:19 Post subject:

This is my vehicle, its a little bit different when it comes to roof racks. The TIR3s are a perfect fit for the little uprights on the rack however. The hide-a-way system I am looking at is this, http://www.lshlights.net/catalog/4__50_watt_hide-a-way_strobe_kit_whelen_s450cccc_2121294.htm I'm pretty sure I will need the lowest profile power supply possible to fit it under my seat (there is less than 3\" to work with) and the flying leeds will be a big help when it come to running the wires. Additional halogen beacons on the roof are out of the question due to the avalible space to run wires, so are strobe cables, hence, the LEDs. Whats the big deal with push in strobes? Do they not work well comapred to flange/screw in style? Also, Wheken offers hide-a-ways from 20 to 90 watts, of course 90 is best, but if 20 is even an option how bad can 50 be? Thanks for all the help, I'm not a noob to vehicles and stuff, just warning equipment. Lammrover

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 17:42 Post subject:

Screw-in's handle up to 25 watts Plug-in's - 20 watts Colors are only available in screw

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 17:53 Post subject:

So would it be OK to run 2 sets of hide-a-ways off of a 50 watt 4 outlet PS? I don't need colors.

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 18:18 Post subject:

Yup. Bigger supply, brighter the flash. I run mine with a 180 watt P/S which maxes out at 22.5 watts per head. Depending on the flash pattern, your looking at around 8.33 to 25 watts per head depending on configuration. (All lamps flashing, alternating etc). Faster the flash pattern, less light per flash.

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 20:09 Post subject:

DO NOT put strobes in your taillights! You are leaving yourself wide open to litigation as it is a violation of both state and federal laws to modify them (although so many people are ignorant of that). Taillights need to be used for stop and turn signals...period. Check out my slick top installation on my '05 Suburban http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/96e35a6108.jpg http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/2ad741adcc.jpg http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/1228513b42.jpg

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 20:18 Post subject: Re:

[quote:e1ae6cda66=\"mcsar1\"]DO NOT put strobes in your taillights! You are leaving yourself wide open to litigation as it is a violation of both state and federal laws to modify them (although so many people are ignorant of that). Taillights need to be used for stop and turn signals...period. Check out my slick top installation on my '05 Suburban http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/96e35a6108.jpg http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/2ad741adcc.jpg http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/1228513b42.jpg

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 20:53 Post subject:

mcsar1 - where in standard 108 of the fmvss is it?? I just took a few minutes to read it, and I only find requirements for minimum output and total square inches...??

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 21:02 Post subject: Re:

[quote=\"mcsar1\"]DO NOT put strobes in your taillights! You are leaving yourself wide open to litigation as it is a violation of both state and federal laws to modify them (although so many people are ignorant of that). Taillights need to be used for stop and turn signals...period. Check out my slick top installation on my '05 Suburban http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/96e35a6108.jpg http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/2ad741adcc.jpg http://www.uploadraid.com/uploads/1228513b42.jpg[/quote ok so let me get this straight: its illegal to put stobes in taillights ok.. so EVERY SINGLE police dept, fire dept and FEDERAL agency in the Dallas Fort Worth area is doing something illegal? hmmm

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 21:03 Post subject:

Basically, as long as you don't lower the effectiveness of the lamps after you put the lights in, your good. IF there was such a problem, you would have seen a major reduction in hide-aways by now. The problem is that there are a lot of salesmen out there who have some wires crossed and are repeating stuff that they heard over a coffee table. There was even a smaller fire app manufactuer that was telling the customer that they would not release their truck to them with the colored lights that they wanted. The FD told them by state law they had to have x color, but the manuf kept saying \"NFPA says this\". I am sure its just more of a holdover from somewhere.

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 22:07 Post subject:

Obviously you didnt read ALL of my post. Check your state and federal DOT laws as they say you are not to modify or hinder the taillights, turn signals or headlights of a vehicle. Many of these laws are antiquated but as long as they're on the books, they're the law. Just because most LE department or ems are putting strobes in their taillights doesn't make it legal or even smart. I've seen too many sharp attorneys bring litigation against an agency for things less obvious than strobes in a taillight. In days past, strobes in taillights and halogens in the rear window were about the only rear lighting you could have on an undercover vehicle. Those days are now gone since LED packages are available. The point I'm trying to make is that strobes in taillights hinder or negate the usefulness of brakelights and turn signals and I strongly suggest against the practice; and please don't give me that BS that no vehicle is supposed to closely follow an emergency vehicle during a call. That law is broken every day!

Posted: Sun 20-Nov-2005 22:20 Post subject:

Ok boys and girls, it was not my intention to stir up a @*$& storm on this subject. I thought the whole idea of this forum was to put forth ideas and opinions and to especially help Newbees. I've been a LEO for over 30 years and I've seen pretty much everything and I'm talking from experience, both mine and others. I'm not a \"salesman repeating something I heard across the table\". I'm simply opposed to strobes in taillights as I think it's dangerous if used WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. On scene is a whole different ball game. Typically, you want the majority of your warning power facing front and sides while you are in motion. Remember, you're trying to clear traffic and keep some moron from smacking into you. The guy \"illegally\" following too close to you needs to see your brakelights and turn signals. Once you're on the scene and your vehicle is stopped, blast 'em with everthing you've got.

Posted: Tue 22-Nov-2005 00:40 Post subject:

Lammrover---try the 911EP Stars--they are cheaper than the famous TIR3s and brighter. Good luck.

Posted: Tue 22-Nov-2005 01:23 Post subject:

and finally heres james with the 911ep reference

Posted: Tue 22-Nov-2005 03:25 Post subject:

cheaper? yes. Brighter? no. As bright? ... yes.

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