Oscillating and traffic clearing lights thread

[JohnMarcson]

I have a updated my edge plus populated with three pierce alerts and two piercers.

http://elightbars.org/forums/f18/pierce-flush-whelen-center-options-edge-plus-bar-updated-pics-11-17-12-a-27893/#post459722

 

[tsquale]

I have a updated my edge plus populated with three pierce alerts and two piercers.

Pop some red lenses on the Pierce Alerts and I would swap this out with our trucks LED Edge Plus in a heartbeat! Very cool!

 

[JohnMarcson]

Pop some red lenses on the Pierce Alerts and I would swap this out with our trucks LED Edge Plus in a heartbeat! Very cool!

Until the wires that run up through the reflectors on the pierce-alerts snap... The same assembly was used in the advantage OSC and were prone to failure unfortunately. I do agree though, it's a real light show.

 

[Phillyrube]

Question:  In looking at Sirenman's website, there are several lights shown that are unfamiliar with:

Carpenter Wig Wag.   I think this is a moving reflector that moves horizontally only.  I knew a guy who had something similar as a dash light many years ago.

Sterling Osci-Lite.

Dorgan HKR.  Frankenlight?

Mars early 888, bulb type.

Thanks.

In keeping with my thing for moving lights, our new ambulance came with 6 front mounted red-white red LED lights, and the center white is a Whelen Rotabeam flush mount, in white.  I'll get some photos.

 

[guy m.]

MARS FL Figure 8 light patent.

http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/patent/2132302.htm

 

[TritonBoulder47]

A throw back if you will...  A custom lightbar I made years ago, and I believe sold it to a member on this forum...

I started with a standard Whelen Responder DXII.  

- First modification i did was change the polarity on the one rotator motor to make it spin in the opposite direction of the other rotator.  

- Second modification I did was remove the front portion of the Diamond Mirror and replace it with a Code 3 Oscilaser.

- Third mod was wiring, I took a length of strobe cable I had laying around and tied all 3 grounds together, then gave individual control to the 2 rotators and the Oscilaser.

 

[894]

I was perusing around this thread and noticed the lack of the mention of a Federal Signal FB4. Since I just came from the "split dome" thread, I figured I would kill 2 birds with one stone by displaying this 2-speed FB4 w/ a split dome!

 

[dmathieu]

Yours is set up as a FB4S side facing reflector, meant for just this application.
The MagnaBeam is, what I consider my favorite, and the most effective dash light out there.
180/280 FPM
Thanks for the video!

 

[894]

Oh, contraire! If you notice, the speed selector switch is located on the rear of this FB4 light w/ the rear black 1/2 filter. The front filter is a split R/B unit (which I used to stock) to meet our color requirements. FB4's WERE available in the side-output option but then you would have one red 1/2 filter and one blue 1/2 filter. I attached a shot of the R/B split 1/2 filters I stocked... I might even have one or two others laying around but I wouldn't hold my breath...

The 1st picture shows a pile of those beacons being taken out-of-service back in the day and how the FB3 w/ the UF7 adorned two of those split filters to achieve what I mentioned in the above post. The other is of those mentioned split 1/2 filters.

I also agree on it being the brightest dash light which is why I saved mine from the swap meet sales table, back in the day, when it was taken out-of-service.

 

[dmathieu]

OHHHHH, Nice. Never saw that before. Special order? If you have extra, I'd like one please!?!?

 

[894]

I can't promise any FB4's but I might have a split filter still buried deep... I'll look later this week if I get over there...

That was the standard FB4 configuration unless you specially ordered the FB4S. If my memory serves correct, I believe ALL FB4's were also dual-speed. The ability to make a FB4 an FB4S was just a matter of pulling the pivot arm and placing it in a different hole in the reflector... no brain surgery whatsoever. I can post some pictures of the guts if anyone wants to see them...

 

[dmathieu]

Correct on all counts!

 

[ERIC6913]

OHHHHH, Nice. Never saw that before. Special order? If you have extra, I'd like one please!?!?

Dans' all about the splits LOL!

 

[dmathieu]

Thanks Bud, LOL.

 

[894]

OK, Here's some more of the guts...

 

[CPSS]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldnt the split red and blue just show up as a purple light from a distance?

I've noticed locally ( on NY State Police ) whelen led bars that have the red and blue leds, that the flash pattern doesnt alternate the colors and from a distance it just looks like a purple light.

 

[lotsofbars]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldnt the split red and blue just show up as a purple light from a distance?

I've noticed locally ( on NY State Police ) whelen led bars that have the red and blue leds, that the flash pattern doesnt alternate the colors and from a distance it just looks like a purple light.

Not so with halogen lights. LED lights generally yes because of the color wavelengths that the LED's produce, but halogen tends to not blend.

 

[894]

From a distance, I remember it actually being a bit "white" if you happen to catch it from directly in front... but purple, no.

 

[OliverD]

Movie "The Lethal Weapons"
What do you think about the red tear drop ?
Does it oscillate ?

 

[dmathieu]

I've been looking hard at this light, and do not believe it is oscillating. It is a trick being played by the eye due to just the right circumstances.
If you look at the top right section of the reflector, you'll see a small flash at each ROTATION of the reflector. This is , in my opinion, rotating, not oscillating.

 

[Maxim2Eng]

You could be right...those of us old enough to remember Saturday morning TV shows like "Sky King" might also recall that the bud wheels on the trucks appear sometimes to be moving backwards. A friend of mine in the film industry explained that the camera shutter is moving at a constant rate and the film at ~24 frames per second, so when the wheel rotation changes, it appears to go backward on film. That may be what we are seeing here...if not, that's a dang narrow oscillating pattern!

 

[dmathieu]

Yeah, I'm sure it's a trick of the eye. There was not a teardrop made that oscillated. It would have had to have been one heck of a customization, and surely not made for the film industry. I've been going back to this video for quite a while now, and am fairly certain of my thoughts.....Watch somebody prove me wrong, LOL.

 

[Skulldigger]

My first ambulance had two fireballs mounted on the hood. the dome was half blacked out, so it would not shine into the cab when they spun. They were permanent factory mounted and shaded. When I saw the one on the roof your discussing, it reminds me of how it looked. I bet it is blacked out to the rear, causing that look.

 

[dmathieu]

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Skulldigger]

Another view

 

[dmathieu]

Same blackout on back....I'm convinced....standard Fire Ball..

 

[jph2]

My first ambulance had two fireballs mounted on the hood. the dome was half blacked out, so it would not shine into the cab when they spun. They were permanent factory mounted and shaded. When I saw the one on the roof your discussing, it reminds me of how it looked. I bet it is blacked out to the rear, causing that look.

I always thought the Fireballs on the ambulance hoods were cool. Good for you thinking about them as the reason for the illusion of an oscillating light in the first video. The last one posted, the light is obviously rotating, but you can see it's blacked out in back and no shroud or cover there.

 

[dakarm34]

It looks like an oscilaser inside of a teardrop housing to me.

 

[lenny77]

..
As it sits on the dash of my 70 polara, its a little noisy but worth it in my opinion

 

[OliverD]

Wooow, great ! Nice tear trop with oscillating reflector, never seen that before! Thanks for sharing

 

[lenny77]

to be 100% fair the above video is a homebrew of mine its a magnabeams internal setup fitted in a fireball housing. just wanted this to be a little different.

 

[dmathieu]

MAGNABEAM....still the best dash light ever!

 

[res1cue2001]

I'd love to get a clear dome for the oscillating whelen commander... it oscillates a lot further than the 174, It oscillates like 180 degrees! I could do red, amber, blue clear bulbs and make it so the clear only showed front and side, and the amber shows rear and side. That would be very cool.


Pimp you know the fact that this setup is even possible pretty much requires you to give me you clear commander dome.:mrgreen:

Hell, I'd love to find a Whelen Commander period!

 

[marslights_IL]

Responding to Southpaw's (locked) thread about mechanical lights.

 

[Phillyrube]

Question: In looking at Sirenman's website, there are several lights shown that are unfamiliar with:

Carpenter Wig Wag. I think this is a moving reflector that moves horizontally only. I knew a guy who had something similar as a dash light many years ago.

Sterling Osci-Lite.

Dorgan HKR. Frankenlight?

Mars early 888, bulb type.

Thanks.

In keeping with my thing for moving lights, our new ambulance came with 6 front mounted red-white red LED lights, and the center white is a Whelen Rotabeam flush mount, in white. I'll get some photos.

Anyone?

 

[dmathieu]

I've seen all of the above. Landon has at least one of each.

 

[marslights_IL]

Anyone?

I have a Carpenter, it does move side to side horizontally. it is buried somewhere. Can post a video if I can find it.

 

[res1cue2001]

Very nice John, I love wobbly and tilted stuff.


I took the guts from a Code 3 oscillazer, and mounted them in a Code 3 #550 beacon for my dash light on my Dakota. It looks great... Old school small round beacon with an oscillator inside.

Can you share the video for that.