Out of Service 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Firefighter POV

[Mattdecker]

Went through some changes so I'll list them off.

Added a new dash light and siren. Adding lightbar today. Also added mobile radio.

Equipment includes:

911EP older style dash light in R/W

Code 3 MX7000 on roof with 5 slow rotators and intersection sweeps

Whelen 295HFS1A siren with Federal Signal AS124 speaker

That's all I have planned right now since hopefully after the first of the year I will be getting a new vehicle.

Pics will follow.

Dash light cord is run around and under the dash to the cigarette plug and the MX will be wired into 2 heavy duty metal toggle switches on the dash.

Edit: New pics posted. Will share video once uploaded to YouTube.

Note: Replaced the dash light with a Whelen Dash King 2000 dual strobe set on Action Flash

 

[nerdly_dood]

Holy flashback, Batman!

 

[Mattdecker]

Holy flashback, Batman!

Actually not much flashback to it. I'll see if I can take a video tonight at work.


Been wanting to see if I could find something that I could fabricate a shield for it.

 

[Station 3]

That will work looks good

 

[Mattdecker]

That will work looks good

It definitely works better than I had it before. It was blocked by the wiper blades before.


I'm still debating on leaving it red/red or taking the lens off the right side and making it red/clear.

 

[tsquale]

It definitely works better than I had it before. It was blocked by the wiper blades before.


I'm still debating on leaving it red/red or taking the lens off the right side and making it red/clear.

If you want red clear, please get a clear lens haha I think it looks tacky without. Clever idea with the temp mounting solution though

 

[Mattdecker]

If you want red clear, please get a clear lens haha I think it looks tacky without. Clever idea with the temp mounting solution though

I probably will. I'm gonna test both ways tonight at work. The only thing I don't like about the red/clear is it seems that the clear over powers the red.


I'll try to get a video both ways.

 

[Mattdecker]

Well I have 2 videos but can't install them until I have a wifi connection. Tapatalk won't let me upload them anymore.


If I do red/clear I'm not sure if the red will be on drivers side or passengers side.

 

[tsquale]

I'd keep it driver's side

 

[Mattdecker]

I'd keep it driver's side

Well I was having an issue with that cause if I left red on drivers side it, the clear would flash first then red.


But I realized what an idiot I was and just went and swapped plugs around on the power supply/heads and took the cover off again so now red flashes first and is on drivers side.

 

[FireMedic129]

What siren are you using with the old school strobe setup???

 

[Mattdecker]

What siren are you using with the old school strobe setup???

Picked up a Code 3 RLS on here. Debating on running a dual set up.


If I run a dual set up it'll be the RLS and the Whelen 295hfsa1 I have.

 

[Mattdecker]

deleted post

 

[firebuff17]

Looks good.


I love the converta-coms. I had one in my old truck. Having the external mounted antenna helps out a lot. Charging capability while between places. Louder and clearer audio. All good stuff.


It looks/sounds like you have a control box only with no amplifier for transmitting. Do you transmit a lot? If you do transmit currently your only using the power of your portable but using the external antenna. Which works pretty good. You can get a control box with built in amplifier specific to your band. Or you can put an external amplifier in line with your antenna connection to make your portable radio the power of a mobile.


I hardly transmitted but I ended up getting a band specific control box to boost my transmitting power.

 

[Mattdecker]

I don't really transmit a lot. Department rule is no one talks on the radio unless they absolutely have to unless we are on a scene or something like that.


I may eventually get one that is band specific but this works for right now for just listening. I don't usually use this radio much anyway unless my dept issued Kenwood is charging or I'm around my old dept so I can listen to them.

 

[firebuff17]

I hear you. It definitely makes a huge improvement the way it sits now.

 

[Nathan R]

I have merged a couple threads, as it (appears to be) separate installs on the same vehicle. It is really better instead of forcing members to go to multiple threads to see your install, if it is the same vehicle, keep one thread for the vehicle and just update it.

 

[Mattdecker]

Nathan,


Thanks for that. It didn't cross my mind for some reason. I will update it shortly because I no longer have the dashmiser.

 

[Nathan R]

Nathan,


Thanks for that. It didn't cross my mind for some reason. I will update it shortly because I no longer have the dashmiser.

No problem, just helps clean up the forums, keep similar items together, and easier to search and navigate!

 

[Jarred J.]

i hope those power and grounds are temporary....

 

[Mattdecker]

Jarred,


They are temporary. I'm going to get either some bigger o rings or some spade terminals and find different points of contact for the power and ground. Really unsure on how I'm going to re wire the ignition wire.

 

[Mattdecker]

So I took my speaker and swapped the location. I got to thinking at work if I left it in the center console, I'd have no where to put my siren. So the Converta-com section is updated to the new location of the speaker.

 

[Mattdecker]

i hope those power and grounds are temporary....

  

Jarred,


They are temporary. I'm going to get either some bigger o rings or some spade terminals and find different points of contact for the power and ground. Really unsure on how I'm going to re wire the ignition wire.

Jarred,


Once I get the chance I'm going to run the yellow ignition switch wire to a toggle switch and run the switch to the battery.


I will also be getting some bigger spade terminal to put on the power and ground wires. At the time I was working with what I had at the house as I was stuck there waiting on a brake line to be replaced.


As far as the ground I will be pulling the door trim off and attempting to find a ground connection there.


Side note: in the picture of the wires ran to the fuse box; the red one is to the toggle switch that powers my radiator fan. I had to run a lighted toggle switch to the fan cause it wouldn't kick on when sitting in traffic causing it to overheat.


I ran the power for it to the fuse for my car stereo that way it would be killed when I turned the key off. That way if I forgot to turn it off it wouldn't run my battery dead.

 

[Mattdecker]

Updated to reflect changes. 

Installed siren speaker and uninstalled the converta-com

 

[Mattdecker]

Took a siren bracket and installed it where the MTVA was. The siren will be mounted with heavy duty Velcro to the bracket. This way it will be easy to remove it if I need to. All wires from the lightbar will be ran under the seat to the plugs on the siren. All wires from the siren will be ran under the dash to the battery and fused. 

 

[Mattdecker]

Some changes about to happen. Will post tomorrow as they come.

 

[Mattdecker]

Edit: info added to the original post with pics to follow shortly.

 

[SBFD-E-9]

Looks like a good simple set up. If you want to sell that LS12, let me know!

Dan

 

[Mattdecker]

Looks like a good simple set up. If you want to sell that LS12, let me know!

Dan

Thanks. It's a pretty simple setup. The lightbar has intersection sweeps but I don't have them wired up to a different toggle switch.

I would sell it but it actually is property of my fire department. I found it in the attic and am using it until I get me something else.

 

[STT Installer]

I miss my XJ Cherokee - these vehicles are just so versitile for a POV... Mine had a Whelen Ultra 9U on the roof, pair of dual Talons in the window and Whelen HALO LEDs in the rear turn signals. Always wanted to bump up to a Grand Cherokee but needed more cargo space.

 

[Mattdecker]

Update:

Once I get it wired and mounted exactly how I wanted it, I have swapped dash lights.

I now have an old SVP 1166 teardrop. I have to modify the "flashback shield". It's aluminum foil stuck inside the dome to make a mirror/shield.

I will get pics and. Videos tomorrow.

 

[unityrv26]

VERY nice. I love the mix of LED and halogen. Halogen rotators STILL have their place on emergency vehicles....just mix in a little LED. I hate the "blob" effect of too many flashing LED's.

 

[Mattdecker]

My updated video. The SVP is brighter in person. I have to figure out how to angle the dashlight down some. The beam flashes upward instead of straight ahead.

 

[Mattdecker]

Updated. See op.

 

[Mattdecker]

Wanted to share what I decided to do today.

Had an NMO mount antenna for my mobile but have been wanting to get a magnet mount but haven't had the extra money.

So I had an extra cb antenna laying around. I took the antenna and connectors off the base of it and cut the coax out of it.

Then ran my mobile antennas coax through it and hooked all of its connectors up and made a magnet mount antenna from an NMO mount.

Mainly will be used for receiving and maybe some transmitting if I go POV.

 

[Jarred J.]

Could you have not just changed out the whips? Or easily just cut the CB whip down to the other antennas size?

 

[Mattdecker]

Could you have not just changed out the whips? Or easily just cut the CB whip down to the other antennas size?

I tried changing out the whips but they were different sizes. The mounts on the inside were different.

And I don't know enough about them to cut them down or anything like that honestly.

 

[Jarred J.]

You already had the known antenna length.... you just measure and cut....

 

[Mattdecker]

You already had the known antenna length.... you just measure and cut....

I didn't know I could do that. I was told that since it was made to be a cb antenna that it wouldn't work for transmitting on vhf frequencies.

 

[Jarred J.]

In its current configuration it would not have worked.... but once you cut it to the desired frequency then it can be used as long as there wasn't a balun in the housing.... (coiled wire).


But kudos on undertaking a unique project