Found a new Commander II and have a question

[LineSpotter]

Saw a Whelen 5200 Commander Strobe II sitting on a back shelf at a local up-fitters shop.
Snagged it for $40.
It was in the original Whelen box but no paperwork.
Black -
Red +
Purple to - for low power
Easy peasy....

But how is the cruise light wired? There are two white wires exiting the base but I don't want to gank this light up by screwing around with wiring. Does anyone have an idea?

 

[dmathieu]

One white pos, the other white neg. Follow the wires. They should just go to that socket.
Very nice grab!

 

[LineSpotter]

Ahhhhhh that old familiar glow

Thanks!

 

[Nolines]

actually isnt this the same as the Super Strobe?? it says the Grey wire is the Cruise light wire...
install Guide #13023 S360D Strobe Beacon...

 

[tsquale]

actually isnt this the same as the Super Strobe?? it says the Grey wire is the Cruise light wire...
install Guide #13023 S360D Strobe Beacon...

No this is probably three times larger and older. Dan has it correct, two white wires one is positive and one negative

 

[jph2]

Nice find! Forty bucks, NOS, hard to beat that with a stick! I'll bet it's got an awesome windup to the strobe pop.

 

[Nolines]

Hands you a Large Stick..... what about Now!??

 

[LineSpotter]

Now I just have to figure out how to display it......hmmmm

 

[Nolines]

on a rotating display with a rotating light in a different color and used for a dj! LOL

 

[Nolines]

And Actually I just found that the Superstrobe ( under 2 names ) actually talks about the Cruise Light addition, still searching for my old Catalogs going way way back!

 

[dmathieu]

2 names?

 

[kitn1mcc]

nice light

 

[LineSpotter]

Nice find! Forty bucks, NOS, hard to beat that with a stick! I'll bet it's got an awesome windup to the strobe pop.

While running it sounds like The Empire Strikes Back!
I don't remember them being this loud thats for sure

 

[LineSpotter]

actually isnt this the same as the Super Strobe?? it says the Grey wire is the Cruise light wire...
install Guide #13023 S360D Strobe Beacon...

Im actually looking for a SS 360 in red, along with an original pattern control switch.

 

[dmathieu]

These old strobes had a great Whine!
The original SS(Super Strobe) 360 came with a on/Hi power, off, on/lo power switch. The only pattern in the beginning was the Strobe II double flash pattern. Nice bright light!

 

[Nolines]

2 names?

Superstrobe and ss361 ssnf361

 

[dmathieu]

The SS361 is a strobe head only, and requires a separate power supply. The SS363 was also a remote head, but included branch guard cage. The SS360 is self contained.
SS stands for Super Strobe. SS360 was the model number for SuperStrobe 360.
SSNF had a halogen light that flashed in unison with the strobe flash. Sun, Snow and Fog was the advertised use. The added halogen was easier to track and not as distracting in foul weather as strobe alone.

 

[Nolines]

yes but it did come out as separate names.. superstrobe was the beginning then morphed into the ss 360 series and such..

 

[dmathieu]

Just giving you some history....

 

[Nolines]

First the earth cooled, and then came the dinosaurs, but they all got fat and lazy and died and turned into oil, and then came the arabs!

 

[dmathieu]

Heh-heh-heh.......WOW!

 

[dmathieu]

LineSpotter, you've got a beauty there!

 

[Nolines]

well its close to when the superstrobe came out isnt it... so I felt a Lil funny with some History myself... grins... no offense meant!

 

[LineSpotter]

SSNF had a halogen light that flashed in unison with the strobe flash. Sun, Snow and Fog was the advertised use. The added halogen was easier to track and not as distracting in foul weather as strobe alone.

I wouldn't mind finding one of those

Im still looking for a nice pair of SS360D's
The switch Im referring to is the one shown in this PDF...

http://www.fleetsafetysupply.com/whelen360superstrobe.pdf

Im surprised no one has any of these laying around still

 

[Skulldigger]

We had those on our EMS units back in the 80's. Not very effective in the daytime, chirped like crazy through the speakers.

 

[dmathieu]

well its close to when the superstrobe came out isnt it... so I felt a Lil funny with some History myself... grins... no offense meant!

All is good.

 

[dmathieu]

Twin synchronized SuperStrobe SS360s/361 on crossbar. Not sure what the whole bar assembly model number was.

 

[Nolines]

I wouldn't mind finding one of those

Im still looking for a nice pair of SS360D's
The switch Im referring to is the one shown in this PDF...

http://www.fleetsafetysupply.com/whelen360superstrobe.pdf

Im surprised no one has any of these laying around still

Did you check with Whelen for it? they still have some parts around.

 

[LineSpotter]

Twin synchronized SuperStrobe SS360s/361 on crossbar. Not sure what the whole bar assembly model number was.
View attachment 214446

Oh nice pic
Interesting that they used them as primary lighting
Do you happen to know what speaker that is?


I happen to have a NIB SS360 and would love to find a match in order to make up a replica bar similar to what your picture shows

 

[LineSpotter]

Did you check with Whelen for it? they still have some parts around.

No I have not
Do you know of a contact there that might be interested in looking for something small like that
I would think they aren't too interested in small-potato orders/inquiries

 

[LineSpotter]

on a rotating display with a rotating light in a different color and used for a dj! LOL

Back in the 80's our Captan's drove station wagons with a pair of Commanders mounted on a bar along with small front facing strobes and a center speaker. I would love to recreate that but what are the chances of finding another matching NIB commander. I also have no clue what the small strobes were, they were rectangular and relatively wide.

 

[Nolines]

No I have not
Do you know of a contact there that might be interested in looking for something small like that
I would think they aren't too interested in small-potato orders/inquiries

Well I have talked to a few guys there over the years... this is the last one I was dealing with on some small stuff....

Jim Schaefer | Technical Support

Whelen Engineering Company Inc.

860.718.2330

 

[dmathieu]

Sounds like a Model 5800 with a pair of MiniMax strobe heads inboard. The 5800 had a single internal strobe power supply and a slave, and flashed alternately synchronized.

 

[dmathieu]

Oh nice pic
Interesting that they used them as primary lighting
Do you happen to know what speaker that is?


I happen to have a NIB SS360 and would love to find a match in order to make up a replica bar similar to what your picture shows

Primary lighting for sure, these were top end lights, and meant for primary emergency lighting.
Note the special mounts for these lights integrating them onto the ends of the bar. You could mount 2 lights to the bar, but would be missing the Integral mounts. Nice light you have there.
I have some split amber/red domes, and a clear dome for this light, if needed.