Thread: Power Arc Ambulance

No split fail or pattern fail on the 9x7 lights +1
Oscillating lights +1

Split flash on the rear center amber -1


The only other thing I would say is that it will be hard to wash. I'm a sucker for oscillating lights and therefore really like this truck... thanks for posting it.

Oscillating LEDs. A novel idea.

Yuck. It's a novel concept, but the lights really aren't that bright and not very attention getting. An EMS squad I volunteer with has 2 PowerArcs on the back corners of the box. A clear lense with 1/2 oscilating red, and the other 1/2 non-moving amber. The rest of the box has standard Whelen 9x7s. It's a novel idea, but not a very good use of space in my opinion in terms of bang vs. buck.

I like it. First time seeing the Powerarcs stationary LEDs - looks good to me. I wonder if the Fed Sign SLR will further eat into PowerArcs market though?

My eyes caught on to the oscillating LED's and nothing else mattered!

Originally Posted by crash_over-ride

Yuck. It's a novel concept, but the lights really aren't that bright and not very attention getting. An EMS squad I volunteer with has 2 PowerArcs on the back corners of the box. A clear lense with 1/2 oscilating red, and the other 1/2 non-moving amber. The rest of the box has standard Whelen 9x7s. It's a novel idea, but not a very good use of space in my opinion in terms of bang vs. buck.

You've obviously never been stuck behing our newest pump with powerarcs on the rear. It's almost overwhelming they are so bright.

Originally Posted by Bigassfireman

You've obviously never been stuck behing our newest pump with powerarcs on the rear. It's almost overwhelming they are so bright.

Correct... the new power arc bars are very effective.....and these are the same technology. This video was shot with an unknown camera in bright sun. look at the 900 series lights as a reference. These lights are plenty bright and attention getting in person.

Lost me with the Sprinter chassis; otherwise,

Originally Posted by jprleedy4680

Lost me with the Sprinter chassis; otherwise,

Have you ever driven one? I'd take a sprinter hands down over an e series ford any day. Sprinters are fast becoming the only dependable diesel of their size. Besides the fact that the e series is now gas only, the sprinter accelerates, corners, rides better than any other "e" sized truck I have ever driven. I have run EMS out of everything from a non raised roof gas van to an extended cab international, and sprinters are hands down the best all around vehicle. That said, they simply cannot meet the needs of some agencies. If you need anything bigger than a "mini" modular then you should look elsewhere. They are not pretty...


they are like carrying a European man purse....

useful and practical as hell.......

but you still think the cool guys might make fun of you....

Originally Posted by JohnMarcson

Have you ever driven one? I'd take a sprinter hands down over an e series ford any day. Sprinters are fast becoming the only dependable diesel of their size. Besides the fact that the e series is now gas only, the sprinter accelerates, corners, rides better than any other "e" sized truck I have ever driven. I have run EMS out of everything from a non raised roof gas van to an extended cab international, and sprinters are hands down the best all around vehicle. That said, they simply cannot meet the needs of some agencies. If you need anything bigger than a "mini" modular then you should look elsewhere. They are not pretty...


they are like carrying a European man purse....

useful and practical as hell.......

but you still think the cool guys might make fun of you....

I don't doubt the practicality, I just think they're ugly; same as almost any Type II.

European man purse reference was priceless, I must add.

Originally Posted by jprleedy4680

I don't doubt the practicality, I just think they're ugly; same as almost any Type II.

European man purse reference was priceless, I must add.

Or if the purse idea is too hard on the man card.....

.....think of them as the moped of the ambulance world....

Good on fuel... practical for a specific set of jobs... economical... maneuverable.... cool in every other country, dorky in the US...

Also, looking again, the rear should have 3 whelen 900 series primary lights, not power arcs used in place of them....

Originally Posted by crash_over-ride

Yuck. It's a novel concept, but the lights really aren't that bright and not very attention getting. An EMS squad I volunteer with has 2 PowerArcs on the back corners of the box. A clear lense with 1/2 oscilating red, and the other 1/2 non-moving amber. The rest of the box has standard Whelen 9x7s. It's a novel idea, but not a very good use of space in my opinion in terms of bang vs. buck.

Never accept a video as proper proof of a warning light's effectiveness. Cameras cannot reproduce images exactly as our eyes see them. This video also wasn't taken at a good angle to show how it actually looks from a driver's perspective; the lights are all too high. If the video was taken from farther away, like 100 feet away or so, it'd be a lot better.

Originally Posted by johnmarcson

have you ever driven one? I'd take a sprinter hands down over an e series ford any day. Sprinters are fast becoming the only dependable diesel of their size. Besides the fact that the e series is now gas only, the sprinter accelerates, corners, rides better than any other "e" sized truck i have ever driven. I have run ems out of everything from a non raised roof gas van to an extended cab international, and sprinters are hands down the best all around vehicle. That said, they simply cannot meet the needs of some agencies. If you need anything bigger than a "mini" modular then you should look elsewhere. They are not pretty...


They are like carrying a european man purse....

Useful and practical as hell.......

But you still think the cool guys might make fun of you....

It's not a purse, it's a satchel!

CMT(Cooperstown Medical Transport) has i think 3 of these sprinter vans. however they are not equipped with powerarc lights. nor are they Whelen. i believe i was told they had either code 3 or Federal Signal versions of the 900 series Whelen heads. but regardless. John is right. these Sprinters are becoming more and more popular with the EMS profession. Hobart has 2 1998 E-series vans that are literally 1 number apart on the VIN. they are equipped with strobe/halogen whelen advantedge bars and older model halogen 900 series heads. i have tried to talk them into getting a sprinter but no one wants it. even if its roomier than either of the vans we have.

The number of deisel options in the "e" size chassis are shrinking fast... Sprinters are really the best all around option now for the van and small mod market.

both of our ambulances have the powerstroke diesel engine. so does our mini pumper and our rescue. however our rescue is nutless. could be because of the amount of equipment we have in it. the ambulances are slightly different. 1863 is a little more responsive than 1862, but then again 62 is used a lot more. 1813 is the mini pumper and i have never driven it as i dont know how to drive a stick. so i dont know how it is performance wise. but what i hear from CMT is they love those Sprinters and plan on getting more of them

The E-Series will be getting a Diesel motor again very shortly esp after this. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/highway-dies.../420f12025.pdf

How Ford plans to phase out the best-selling E-Series

We have oscillating power arcs on the front of our fire truck and the stationary power arcs on the side bumpers and slow flash and they are super bright. Power Arc makes a great product and regardless of some here, they do get attention!

Originally Posted by JohnMarcson

The only other thing I would say is that it will be hard to wash.

Huh?

Originally Posted by WS224

Huh?

Hard to wash... like scrub bugs off...

Originally Posted by nerdly_dood

It's not a purse, it's a satchel!

Indiana Jones had one!