New Michigan State Police Package
- Thread starter TheZach
- Start date
Why did someone tape donut boxes to the vehicle? The duct tape will leave adhesive.
I also thought they were gonna use stupid LED beacons as opposed to stupid rotating beacons. That one looks like a halogen.
I also thought they were gonna use stupid LED beacons as opposed to stupid rotating beacons. That one looks like a halogen.
Its an annual parade that as far as I know celebrates nothing and is full of nonsense and humor.
Here is the cities official description on the web page
Here is the cities official description on the web page
I've seen that light first hand down @ priorty 1 and let me tell you that thing is extremely bright.The L.E.D.S are something else I dont know i think my hands are still up in the air about the light I know the price tag on that light is expensive though. 
would like to see some video on the parade, either clips or the parade entirely.
anybody have a link they would care to post?? (not you tube)
anybody have a link they would care to post?? (not you tube)
Whelen is making a LED inside for the rotating beacon.
MSP Goes LED: Traditional Patrol Light Receives Modern Upgrade
Under Red "Bubble" Cover (Old): The old MSP beacon used motor-driven technology from the 1950s.
Since the 1950s, Michigan State Police (MSP) patrol cars have been adorned with a unique rotating red light on the roof. As the only state police department in the country to use this design, the single overhead red light is unmistakably identifiable to both Michigan residents and other law enforcement agencies. Many people often inquire about the "bubble" or "gumball" light and usually assume it is used today solely as tradition.
While the department is accustomed to this look, the benefits go beyond tradition. The single overhead light has been proven to enhance acceleration and performance. The nationally recognized Police Vehicle Evaluation, conducted by the MSP Precision Driving Unit, has found that vehicles with a full overhead light bar accelerate slower than vehicles with a single overhead light. Additionally, the reduced forward-facing surface area of the single light provides greater fuel savings when compared to the larger surface area of a light bar.
Just recently, the MSP "bubble" light underwent a makeover to improve its energy efficiency. Working with Whelen Engineering, a Brighton, Mich.-based firm, a prototype using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) was developed. After nearly four years of research, development and testing, Whelen Engineering and the Precision Driving Unit produced a light kit that fits in the existing overhead light shell.
Under Red "Bubble" Cover (New): The new LED-based MSP beacon provides enhanced performance and has a longer lifespan.
The new LED overhead light produces an intense, wide-angle red light in all directions that only requires three amps to operate. Each kit uses 12 light heads, nine LED bulbs per head, for a total of 108 lights in each car; far more than most standard light bars. The LED bulbs have an 100,000-hours-of-use rating and a five-year warranty from date of service.
To reduce installation costs, current MSP patrol cars will be fitted with the new LED overhead light kits when there is a light failure. Since the LED lights are maintenance free and eliminate the need for heavy-duty wiring and special switches, the MSP estimates this will ultimately result in a cost-savings.
MSP Goes LED: Traditional Patrol Light Receives Modern Upgrade
Under Red "Bubble" Cover (Old): The old MSP beacon used motor-driven technology from the 1950s.
Since the 1950s, Michigan State Police (MSP) patrol cars have been adorned with a unique rotating red light on the roof. As the only state police department in the country to use this design, the single overhead red light is unmistakably identifiable to both Michigan residents and other law enforcement agencies. Many people often inquire about the "bubble" or "gumball" light and usually assume it is used today solely as tradition.
While the department is accustomed to this look, the benefits go beyond tradition. The single overhead light has been proven to enhance acceleration and performance. The nationally recognized Police Vehicle Evaluation, conducted by the MSP Precision Driving Unit, has found that vehicles with a full overhead light bar accelerate slower than vehicles with a single overhead light. Additionally, the reduced forward-facing surface area of the single light provides greater fuel savings when compared to the larger surface area of a light bar.
Just recently, the MSP "bubble" light underwent a makeover to improve its energy efficiency. Working with Whelen Engineering, a Brighton, Mich.-based firm, a prototype using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) was developed. After nearly four years of research, development and testing, Whelen Engineering and the Precision Driving Unit produced a light kit that fits in the existing overhead light shell.
Under Red "Bubble" Cover (New): The new LED-based MSP beacon provides enhanced performance and has a longer lifespan.
The new LED overhead light produces an intense, wide-angle red light in all directions that only requires three amps to operate. Each kit uses 12 light heads, nine LED bulbs per head, for a total of 108 lights in each car; far more than most standard light bars. The LED bulbs have an 100,000-hours-of-use rating and a five-year warranty from date of service.
To reduce installation costs, current MSP patrol cars will be fitted with the new LED overhead light kits when there is a light failure. Since the LED lights are maintenance free and eliminate the need for heavy-duty wiring and special switches, the MSP estimates this will ultimately result in a cost-savings.
You could build that beacon with 12 leds for under $900.00. It is much cheaper than a led light bar. I know it doesn't have the coverage of a full light bar, but it keeps with MSP's tradition...RMBROWN said:I've seen that light first hand down @ priorty 1 and let me tell you that thing is extremely bright.The L.E.D.S are something else I dont know i think my hands are still up in the air about the light I know the price tag on that light is expensive though.
They're only replacing the halogen lights with LED ones when the halogen ones break down in one way or another - the filament burns out or the light quits rotating. Personally I think they should quit transferring the old Unity beacon onto newer vehicles and start using modern halogen beacons, like the Code 3 550 or the Whelen RB6. The FedSig Sentry is extremely bright at 80,000 candlepower, but I think the Whelen and Code 3 competition just look better, and the old-school FedSig Model 14 isn't particularly bright, at 35,000 candlepower.
The reason they use the single beacon on the roof is partly out of tradition, but they also did tests with roof beacons and fullsize lightbars, and they found that a full-size lightbar reduces acceleration and can reduce top speed by as much as 10 MPH, but a single roof beacon - even a giant chunk of a light like the one they use - is much more aerodynamic. The hood-mounted shark fin is there just for tradition; before flashing lights were used, the cop would pull up alongside the people they wanted to stop and the "stop" sign would light up to tell them to stop.
Most of all , lets not forget that someone selling the leds to msp has a friend in the capital with deep pockets that
are being filled with cold cash and the right partys know who I am talking about.
Come on, $1.000 each, I am not really impressed with the led beacon for as much as the tax payers
are paying for them. I have seen many of them in action and the single talons in the back window
really make the new beacons look like shit.
Jim Rogers
Northern Lights/Sirens
Pods are the future :mrgreen:
are being filled with cold cash and the right partys know who I am talking about.
Come on, $1.000 each, I am not really impressed with the led beacon for as much as the tax payers
are paying for them. I have seen many of them in action and the single talons in the back window
really make the new beacons look like shit.
Jim Rogers
Northern Lights/Sirens
Pods are the future :mrgreen:
nerdly_dood said:
When was this test done? 1980? I can't believe those Unity beacons produce less drag than an Liberty or Blade bar...
Heres an interesting conversation (with financial information from MSP) on the lights
http://forums.radioreference.com/michig ... -save.html
http://forums.radioreference.com/michig ... -save.html
I had always thought that they just took the old Unity beacons off older vehicles and put them back on top of new ones, but recently I was looking on the manufacturer's website - they're real big on A-pillar spotlights - and I found that they do still make the rotating halogen beacons. And now they've lost their biggest (only?) customer.
http://www.unityusa.com/Revised%20New%2 ... 20Page.htm
http://www.unityusa.com/Revised%20New%2 ... 20Page.htm
I can easily believe they produce less drag - they have a continuous curve that provides no bluff, flat surface to catch air, or exposed mounting bracketry. No matter how slim an LED bar is, it still presents a relatively flat frontal surface and when the mounting feet morph into alley lights and take downs, the square inches add up.
I too would be more than happy to run a single beacon, or pair. There are already PAR36 LEDs on the market, with a little more work on optics or reflectors, if the demand was there I'm sure that 2 or 4 fixture beacons could make a resurgence.
The major problem with beacons, at least in LE, hasn't been light output; it's been the inability to successfully integrate alleys and takedowns. The Whelen Vader was the only beacon I've seen that had takedowns built in, and it got mixed reviews. But with the smaller LED lights that can be mounted on grille guards and partitions or side windows, who knows? There have been plenty of high-skirt beacons with TDs and alleys bolted to the base, but then you start adding drag and hardware.
B&W cars were gone for a couple decades, then came back strong, who knows, maybe in 10 years I can have a car with a single FS 184, or a genuine MARS bar with twin Skybolts and cans, the actual chromes metal ones, all using LED technology in traditional housings.
I too would be more than happy to run a single beacon, or pair. There are already PAR36 LEDs on the market, with a little more work on optics or reflectors, if the demand was there I'm sure that 2 or 4 fixture beacons could make a resurgence.
The major problem with beacons, at least in LE, hasn't been light output; it's been the inability to successfully integrate alleys and takedowns. The Whelen Vader was the only beacon I've seen that had takedowns built in, and it got mixed reviews. But with the smaller LED lights that can be mounted on grille guards and partitions or side windows, who knows? There have been plenty of high-skirt beacons with TDs and alleys bolted to the base, but then you start adding drag and hardware.
B&W cars were gone for a couple decades, then came back strong, who knows, maybe in 10 years I can have a car with a single FS 184, or a genuine MARS bar with twin Skybolts and cans, the actual chromes metal ones, all using LED technology in traditional housings.
Stendec said:
And for those who want a more aerodynamic LED lightbar at the cost of a higher-profile light...
http://star1889.com/products/signal-veh ... htbars.asp
I still like rotating beacons a lot more than that, even if it is available with a strobe/LED combo.
I found this YouTube video of a MSP Crown Vic with the LED beacon mounted... Obviously, it doesn't rotate, but it's a bright light!
Whats with that plate "AR50"? Must be some special unit as they are usually the post number with car number (i.e. 2502 is Post 25, Car 02),
MSP could purchase enough Sound Off Pinnacle Lightbars to get the price well under $1000. Then they would have a product that is COMPLETELY made in Michigan by a company that has been here for decades. Sounds like a good idea to me, since our economy is in shambles.
Well I can say that someone in the capital is filling some deep pocket with a bunch of
over rated leds as beacons, like I said the rear talons are way brighter than the leds
in the beacon, someone is really getting rich off of the tax payers and later on down the
road we'll hear of some problems that will develop with these boat anchors.
I have many friends that are state troopers and they really are not impressed with the
get rich scheme leds that they are getting stuck with . At least someone is getting a
pay check for these worthless beacons and will stay employed for a while until the
shit hits the fan. Now the msp cars look like a over rated tow truck with single beacon
I am wondering if there will be a new msp beacon at the whelen table this sept at the
firemens memorial in Roscommon for viewing?????????????? Time will tell
Jim Rogers
Northern Lights/Sirens
Pods are the Future :mrgreen:
over rated leds as beacons, like I said the rear talons are way brighter than the leds
in the beacon, someone is really getting rich off of the tax payers and later on down the
road we'll hear of some problems that will develop with these boat anchors.
I have many friends that are state troopers and they really are not impressed with the
get rich scheme leds that they are getting stuck with . At least someone is getting a
pay check for these worthless beacons and will stay employed for a while until the
shit hits the fan. Now the msp cars look like a over rated tow truck with single beacon
I am wondering if there will be a new msp beacon at the whelen table this sept at the
firemens memorial in Roscommon for viewing?????????????? Time will tell
Jim Rogers
Northern Lights/Sirens
Pods are the Future :mrgreen:
It would seem like someone could come up with an LED replacement that fits into a sealed beam bulb housing that would just replace the sealed beam and still rotate as normal in their old Unity beacons. It would surely cost a lot less. The new Federal Signal bar and PowerArc products have solid burning LED's that have been motorized.
How about Whelen's new LED spotlight bulb? Would that give the same pop or would you need a longer dwell than you get from a rotator to get the same effect from an LED?
Dan
Dan
I think the object with rotating LEDs is to focus the light in such a way that it looks about the same as a rotating halogen light. My impression is that currently-available rotating LED lights have a longer dwell time and don't have quite as much of that "pop" that halogen gives, but PowerArc oscillating lights seem to be better. I've only seen one crappy video of the Vision SLR so I wouldn't know very well how effective its "pop" is.dmathieu said:
But I would absolutely love to see more rotating LED lights around.
Northernlights/siren said:
I've seen the LED beacons on MSP cars at night and during the day. They are impressive. Their light burst is WAY brighter than the revolving beams'. But I STILL would like to see a return of the rotators using LED par-36s beams.
Love my powerarc led... wont use anything but for primary warning... The "pop" off it is excellent
Well at least someone likes them, wait until they go to the hands free system as its being tested on a few
selected msp cars in Lansing, our taxes will really be going up as the pockets(local) will get deeper and a
local company will really make the dough. At least its staying local.
Jim Rogers
Northern lights/Sirens
Pods are the Future and don't draw moisture :mrgreen:
selected msp cars in Lansing, our taxes will really be going up as the pockets(local) will get deeper and a
local company will really make the dough. At least its staying local.
Jim Rogers
Northern lights/Sirens
Pods are the Future and don't draw moisture :mrgreen:
I just seen one of these beacons in action at night time,
the talons in the back windows were alot brighter and more
effective than the over priced bubble
Jim Rogers
Northern Lights/Sirens
the talons in the back windows were alot brighter and more
effective than the over priced bubble
Jim Rogers
Northern Lights/Sirens
It sounds like the troopers may use low power, because the light is so bright. This may be why the Talon is brighter. :?: Note, I've never seen one in person.
Dan
Dan
dmathieu said:
Here's a great daytime vid of the beacons activated in BOTH the traditional rotator and the new LED version on side-by-side cars. Unfortunately the part I'm referring to isn't seen until 7:45 of the video. But check it out. The new LED is DAMN impressive.
-
That LED beacon is KILLER! When people say it doesn't appear bright, it must be on low power. Obviously, in this video, it's on high power. There's a video out there of a trooper showing off the light, and he 1st has it on in low. Then he switches to high, and states that when it's in high, people complain that it's too bright. Nice beacon!
Dan
Dan