bigcat
Member
I figure the review area is as good a place for this as any.
I purchased two 3 LED modules from ELS with a specific project in mind: replacing the stock 5mm LEDs in a Whelen 9M.
I'm not sure why but out of all the 5mm lightheads I've owned from Whelen, only blue has given me problems with LEDs failing. Needless to say, it looks stupid when LEDs are out. So I took some measurements and contacted ELS to compare my measurements with those of his lightheads. As it turns out it sounded like they would fit... it would be REALLY close... but they should work. So I ordered a pair but had him make them without a housing. All I wanted was the LED board/LEDs/Optics with a short wire pigtail.
This is what I ended up coming up with:
I used the stock 5mm LED board as a template. I cut out a thin piece of aluminum to size and drilled the mounting holes. I then mounted the bracket into the lighthead, and then using 3M double sided tape I mounted the lighthead on it. Simple right. I might put some silicone to secure the lighthead further to the bracket but so far the thing is solid with just the tape. I then ran the wiring around the side of the lighthead in between the lighthead and the black mount holding it into the bar (fits perfectly). I put a mate&plug connector on the end just like the Whelen lights have for easy removal.
The results speak for themselves. The ELS LEDs blow the Whelen LEDs out of the water. The most notable difference being the off axis light output. The 5mm are good dead on but once you move left/right/up/down they might as well not be on. The ELS are bright from any angle and head on are blinding. I was going to do a blue over amber (Gen III over 5mm) but as you can see in the video, the blue puts the amber to shame. It wouldn't even be worth having them there. I ran these for awhile too (over an hour) and when I came back the boards were still cool to the touch and the blue color was the same.
So pros:
ELS - Great communication, great product
Price - Super cheap compared to if I went with any other 3 LED lighthead
Great light output compared to the alternative
And cons:
Haven't found one yet
Let me know what you think.
~bc
I purchased two 3 LED modules from ELS with a specific project in mind: replacing the stock 5mm LEDs in a Whelen 9M.
I'm not sure why but out of all the 5mm lightheads I've owned from Whelen, only blue has given me problems with LEDs failing. Needless to say, it looks stupid when LEDs are out. So I took some measurements and contacted ELS to compare my measurements with those of his lightheads. As it turns out it sounded like they would fit... it would be REALLY close... but they should work. So I ordered a pair but had him make them without a housing. All I wanted was the LED board/LEDs/Optics with a short wire pigtail.
This is what I ended up coming up with:
I used the stock 5mm LED board as a template. I cut out a thin piece of aluminum to size and drilled the mounting holes. I then mounted the bracket into the lighthead, and then using 3M double sided tape I mounted the lighthead on it. Simple right. I might put some silicone to secure the lighthead further to the bracket but so far the thing is solid with just the tape. I then ran the wiring around the side of the lighthead in between the lighthead and the black mount holding it into the bar (fits perfectly). I put a mate&plug connector on the end just like the Whelen lights have for easy removal.
The results speak for themselves. The ELS LEDs blow the Whelen LEDs out of the water. The most notable difference being the off axis light output. The 5mm are good dead on but once you move left/right/up/down they might as well not be on. The ELS are bright from any angle and head on are blinding. I was going to do a blue over amber (Gen III over 5mm) but as you can see in the video, the blue puts the amber to shame. It wouldn't even be worth having them there. I ran these for awhile too (over an hour) and when I came back the boards were still cool to the touch and the blue color was the same.
So pros:
ELS - Great communication, great product
Price - Super cheap compared to if I went with any other 3 LED lighthead
Great light output compared to the alternative
And cons:
Haven't found one yet
Let me know what you think.
~bc
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