Excalibur technical question

[3smalldogs]

Thanks in advance for your help. I seem to have a problem with several older Code 3 Excalibur bars. After much research on here and two calls to Code 3 I'm stumped. A few weeks ago I refebished a few light bars for a local towing company. They specified clear domes with amber filters. The bars came stock with 795 50 watt bulbs and fast rotators. I installed the parts and after a few days they noted that the inside of the free form reflectors were solid black. Code 3 stated that this shouldn't happen (I'm sure) and that the I should mail all parts to them for investigation. Here's my question; I'm using the half cylinder filters which attach to the reflector using two small screws. Code 3 said that's acceptable. Should I be using full cylindrical filters which mount on the bar ( not reflector)? The domes aren't tall enough to accommodate metal reflectors, so your assistance is greatly appreciated.

 

[chief1562]

Have you got ability show some pics?

 

[lite-em-up]

The small rotator filter holds in heat by design. You will eventually see signs of them melting. If you have the means, it is definitely better to use the 1/2 cylinder filters instead of the rotator filters. The 1/2 cylinder filters allow better heat dissipation and they will make your rotator last longer. Code-3 recommends not using a rotator filter on a hi-speed rotator anyway.


The free-form rotators that you described will also burn off the reflective material and turn black. All of the code-3 free-forms do that eventually but it sounds like yours did that way too quick.


Send them back to get replaced and switch to cylinder filters and they should hold up much better.

 

[3smalldogs]

Have you got ability show some pics?

I do, give me some time and I'll upload some. Thanks

 

[3smalldogs]

The small rotator filter holds in heat by design. You will eventually see signs of them melting. If you have the means, it is definitely better to use the 1/2 cylinder filters instead of the rotator filters. The 1/2 cylinder filters allow better heat dissipation and they will make your rotator last longer. Code-3 recommends not using a rotator filter on a hi-speed rotator anyway.

The free-form rotators that you described will also burn off the reflective material and turn black. All of the code-3 free-forms do that eventually but it sounds like yours did that way too quick.


Send them back to get replaced and switch to cylinder filters and they should hold up much better.

Thanks a million lite-em-up. I had seen some literature where they recommend half cylinders. The crazy thing is that all fast and slow rotators use the same wattage bulb so it baffles me why fast rotators need different filters. Anyway I appreciate the timely response

 

[Shawn L]

I was told that you didn't want to use the rotator filter on high speed rotators due to the speed, it makes the rotator unbalanced and causes additional stress at the higher speeds, it didn't have anything to do with the wattage of the bulb just the speed,

 

[lite-em-up]

I was told that you didn't want to use the rotator filter on high speed rotators due to the speed, it makes the rotator unbalanced and causes additional stress at the higher speeds, it didn't have anything to do with the wattage of the bulb just the speed,

That is correct.

 

[lotsofbars]

I'd just say forget it and get some old metal rotators and use the cylindrical half filters.

 

[chief1562]

If you change them i have 4 old style metal ones.