Thread: Fire Apparatus Steady burn mode

One of our members came up with this idea at a committee meeting. He posed the question- Can you switch the warning lights from emergency mode to a steady burn mode. What his thought was to be able to go from all lights flashing to steady so in the middle of the night we wouldn't have to wake up the neighbors with the bright lights, but were able to be seen and identified that we were an emergency vehicle. I equate it to cruise lights on a police car. I did see this done on a Chevy Tahoe chief vehicle in the next county over. I was told his vehicle was specially programmed by the local Whelen rep on a Cantrol? system. Any thoughts on this? Can it be done, and if so, I wonder if it would be a huge price tag.

Also, our current rig has a Whelen light bar set up with (3) 24" bars set up in a FDNY type configuration on the roof. We have the new spec written to have the new truck with the same configuartion, but with (3) 22" Federal Aerodynics (LED of course). What are your opinions on these 2 bars? Me personally, I would like to stick to Whelen. Maybe bump up from the 24" to the 28". They are made in the USA (less than an hour from here), the rep for them is close to us and very helpful, we already have 100% Whelen in the department and lastly, I think the Aerodynics are UGLY!

I know here in Florida, specifically referring to Hillsborough County Sheriff...I've seen some of their cars with Whelen Liberties and they have the outer-most modules set to dim steady burn while just driving normally. Are you asking would it be a good idea to do this on a fire engine/ambulance to have the lights set to a dim steady burn while just driving normally or when going to a call in emergency mode? If just driving normally, I think this would confused other drivers whether they are supposed to yield or not. But if you're talking about when in emergency mode having the lights steady burn....I personally think flashing lights grab attention better than steady burn lights but then again, I've never seen an apparatus with all the lights on steady burn so it may be effective?? Sorry if I'm way off as to what you were asking, you just got my mind going now lol

It can be done, but you would need to invest in a new Whelen CanTrol system. The entire lighting set up would need to be rewired/reconfigured by a certified CanTrol provider... most likely a costly endeavor.

We at more interested in stay burn while parked at a house in a neighborhood, pretty much so we can turn off warning and not bother the people in the neighborhood if we don't have to.

Originally Posted by jasonefd19

We at more interested in stay burn while parked at a house in a neighborhood, pretty much so we can turn off warning and not bother the people in the neighborhood if we don't have to.

I dont know about your area, but everyone here rubbernecks even if an ambo is sitting in a driveway with NO lights on
Also, I've never seen an LED Aerodynic, I now need to search for that... I've seen LED Jets, but not Aeros...

Back to the topic: Depending on the truck and the lighting arrangement, I think a whole engine lit up on steady, would be just as bright and distracting as the fire its at...
Dave is right you would have to rewire the whole truck into an all in one system, Which wouldn't be worth the $$$ it would cost IMO

In NY you have to have flashing lights in order to be considered an emergency vehicle. If you have all your lights steady burning (no flashing) you are not an emergency vehicle and open yourself up to greater liability.

Remember that the safety of your crews and limiting your liability should be among your top priorities, far above possibly annoying someone with flashing lights.

Also: flashing lights bother but the same lights in steady burn do not? Doesn't seem to make sense. Doesn't seem worth the expense, either.

If you don't want to bother the neighbors then you better plan to shut the rig off as well.

People will come out to see what is going on no matter what you do, The rigs idling is alot more anoying at night then the flashing lights. On a recent call we had people from 2 streets away walked over to see what was going on just by following the noise of the engine in pump gear the lights just made it easier to find.

I'm fascinated but the northeast's fascination with cruise lights. Never heard of them and never seen them before coming to this site. Probably because here it would be illegal to run around with colored lights on for shits and giggles that aren't amber to the front and red to the rear. The exception, of course, would be blinky mode during emergencies.

Originally Posted by markko

I'm fascinated but the northeast's fascination with cruise lights. Never heard of them and never seen them before coming to this site. Probably because here it would be illegal to run around with colored lights on for shits and giggles that aren't amber to the front and red to the rear. The exception, of course, would be blinky mode during emergencies.

I think they are great when one wants to be "high profile."

Say I'm patrolling in my cruiser a shopping plaza or sub division... or I'm sitting on the side of the road writing a report with not intention of pulling anyone over.... If I flip on my cruise lights then more people notice me. If they notice me they will remember "seeing cops" in the area and it will stick with them.

Or perhaps I'm investigating something and I have backup coming... throw on the cruise lights so they can find me more easily.

In the case of Fire/EMS (and even PD)... Cruise lights can be a great tool to stand out at a large event. Say you have a night time activity that draws a lot of people (like sporting events, fireworks, etc). If you set up and put on your cruise lights, people will be able to find you in a hurry if they need service. (But you don't get the same "gawking" one would with have the full warning lights on.

When used smartly, they provide a fantastic tool.

I remember some Wheeled Coach ambulances had strobe lights in the clearance lights. Of course, as soon as a Wisconsin EMS department showed them to the ambulance inspector, he quickly ruled them illegal because Wisconsin ambulances cannot display amber flashing lights except for turn signals. So much for your $2000 option, sucker.

Dave, this system would be for a new truck were specing. So it sounds like a large wiring job even for a new rig being built at the factory.

Originally Posted by jasonefd19

Dave, this system would be for a new truck were specing. So it sounds like a large wiring job even for a new rig being built at the factory.

If you want to spec it into a new piece of apparatus, it can be done. Be prepaid to pay for the work, though. CanTrol is a very versatile platform and serves its purpose in different applications - but the installation/application is very detailed and very involved.

The M series lightheads can be ordered with the "Nerm" mode that switches the light to steady burn and you can set how bright you want the light in that mode.

Originally Posted by Marc M

The M series lightheads can be ordered with the "Nerm" mode that switches the light to steady burn and you can set how bright you want the light in that mode.

The NERM function has been discontinued for a while now.

An alternative is to spec all steady burn lightheads and a flasher that includes "cruise" patterns such as the Whelen ULF44.

Saw where someone said they have never seen the LED version of an AERO from Federal Signal so here is one on our new Rescue Engine.
We Also have them on our ladder truck shown at the end of the video.

Originally Posted by fireman616wfd

Saw where someone said they have never seen the LED version of an AERO from Federal Signal so here is one on our new Rescue Engine.
We Also have them on our ladder truck shown at the end of the video.

Awful flash pattern on that light bar.

You would also have to spec a Whelen WeCan lightbar in order to get the ability to steady burn the bar in conjunction with the other lightheads on a CanTrol system. CanTrol is a great system with endless possibilites!

This truck does exactly what you are talking about.

Video:


Silver Lake State Park Ranger by alundborg, on Flickr

The new CHP cars are set up so they have the normal warning patterns, and then can set all (or almost all) of the lights to steady burn when stopped. Lightbar, pushbumper, mirror lights - almost everything. Very visible without all the flashing. There's some videos floating around. Not sure if it's in the lightbar controller, or they're using external flashers wired up.

Originally Posted by Andy L.

You would also have to spec a Whelen WeCan lightbar in order to get the ability to steady burn the bar in conjunction with the other lightheads on a CanTrol system. CanTrol is a great system with endless possibilites!

This truck does exactly what you are talking about.

Video:


Silver Lake State Park Ranger by alundborg, on Flickr

Had to bring out the W porn, didn't you?! Love those pieces - AWESOME work!

Cruise Lights are probably a Whelen innovation, and New England is Whelen Central.
Honolulu has, or had, Cruise Lights built into their police lightbars, at least on the retail cars they used as patrol cars and their 3-wheel Cushman scooters. And as I recall, those were Whelen bars.