Installing Traffic Advisor on Ambulance

[RescueWV]

We’ve got an old Type 1 ambulance that we’ve converted to a multi-purpose squad. Traffic control is a big part of its job, and eventually I’d love to have a full-size arrow board on the roof, but that’s not in the cards right now, so instead I’d like to do a StrobesnMore traffic advisor above the rear doors.

We’ve got several folks in the department comfortable with wiring, myself included, but none of us have any experience with an ambulance. Any tips for keeping this project in house rather than paying an installer?

 

[Dave F]

Ive not installed one, but having knowledge of ambulances and boxes and seeing the installation on our own rigs, best way is through box at top, removing rear panel above the doors and snaking it through the channel above the ceiling mounted hand rail, into the oxygen compartment which has a pass through into the cab. Bear in mind I have not actually attempted this and is merely my SWAG (scientific wild @ss guess)

Nor is this a site/staff recommendation, only my own personnal opinion

 

[JohnMarcson]

So much fun..... This isn't an easy job. The inside of the front console is a rats nest of factory, radio, and other aftermarket wires. First find your power and ground; in the console you should have lugs for ground, constant hot, battery switch hot, and/or hot ignition. Hook to those as desired (constant or ignition or battery switch) and install the controller. Once you are hooked up the "fun" begins. There should be a run of wires from the console to the electric cabinet in the box. There are often a few "pull through" wires. If that main channel is full there is often a separate one for antennas (factory or radio service installed). Bridging the cab to the box is the hard part. You can always punt and just run it through the pass through door or window.... but remember the box and cab move independently in a type 1 and you have to use flexible channels. Once you have gotten to the electrical cabinet the hard decisions are over with. From there you can use the antenna channel in the ceiling. There should be dome lights or plates that can be removed for antenna access. Bridge from the electrical cabinet to that first antenna access spot. From there you can run the antenna channel (or go dome light to dome light) to the back of the truck. Usually the panel above the rear doors removes, or if you have a pointless clock that doesn't work installed there, you can just pull that sometimes. That will get you from console, to electric cabinet and finally to the rear.