The Whelen "Teal" Blue LED Saga

[Zapp Brannigan]

Has anyone had any satisfaction with getting replacements, or "upgrades" if you will? I just purchased a NIB Avenger from a reputable dealer on here, with a Manufactured Date of 8/10. When I lit it up, I was happy how bright it was, but then highly disappointed by how light the Blue was. I put it up against one of my 500 Series LIN6, and noticed how pathetically lighter blue it really was.


I have noticed some items are mass produced with Man. Date: months ahead of time (i.e. the 500 Series LIN6 I bought from EEWLLC last month has a Man. Date of 3/11), but seriously, wouldn't they have fixed that issue by then??


Overall I am disappointed with this product, and I am a big Whelen fan. I am too afraid to put this light into my vehicle when all the other LEDs I plan to install are MUCH deeper blue.


Maybe just a vent session, but looking for some serious opinions. I only bought this light under the impression the "Teal" issue had been resolved.

 

[FreshDave04]

You may want to contact Whelen, but I'm not sure how much they'll do for ya. Also, just to clarify, Whelen puts future dates on ALL their products... it accounts for stocking, shipping, etc. I have NIB Dual Talons that I've purchased that have 04/11 dates on them.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

You may want to contact Whelen, but I'm not sure how much they'll do for ya. Also, just to clarify, Whelen puts future dates on ALL their products... it accounts for stocking, shipping, etc. I have NIB Dual Talons that I've purchased that have 04/11 dates on them.

I understand. But even with a date of 8/10, how far back could it have been produced that the LED's are this crappy shade of teal??

 

[FreshDave04]

I understand. But even with a date of 8/10, how far back could it have been produced that the LED's are this crappy shade of teal??

Honestly, I thought that was an issue back in '08-'09ish and that they'd corrected it. Apparently not. :eyebrowhuh:

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Honestly, I thought that was an issue back in '08-'09ish and that they'd corrected it. Apparently not. :eyebrowhuh:

Exactly my point...

 

[911]

i havent noticed it in a while , one time i had a dual talon with 1 side deep blue,1 side teal and they wouldnt help me out, i wound up ebaying it, b/c nobody local wound want it after seeing it lit.......

 

[Station 3]

If this would of happend in any other company you guys would of had a shit fit and would of filled up two pages on this thread talking shit about it but since its Gods Gift to the world Whelen you guys are not very upset about it and are cool with it. Ahhhh i hate you guys lol

 

[RL1]

I saw a liberty on a neighboring SO's car that had teal on half and blue on the other. Looked like crap.

 

[zacmtz7]

I have a tir6 Slimlighter one side is deep blue and one side is teal, no luck with help from whelen, i've just gotten use to it now. Ha

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

If this would of happend in any other company you guys would of had a shit fit and would of filled up two pages on this thread talking shit about it but since its Gods Gift to the world Whelen you guys are not very upset about it and are cool with it. Ahhhh i hate you guys lol

Who said otherwise? Seeing as this thread is only a couple hours old, I think there's quite a few postings/gripes.

 

[Station 3]

Yeah sorry i dont like them i will keep to myself now

 

[03crownvic]

The South Carolina Highway Patrol used their Edge bars into the late 90s and early 00s with the old style vertical optic lenses that were teal. They looked like crap when seen side by side against newer Edge bars with true blue lenses.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

I would be MORE than elated if I could send this Avenger in and get a DEEP Blue one in trade. Not looking to get a "better/newer model". For all I care, it could be used, and a year or 2 old, but so long as it is DEEP Blue, I would be happy.


Dear Whelen,


Make me that trade, I will send you this brand new product, and all I ask for is a trace with not such a crappy color blue.


Thanks,


-xfirefighter484x

 

[911]

honestly, if both are tealish, nobody will notice..


the only people that will notice is people like us..


and whelen most likely will not do anything, as it passed there color scale test !

 

[nerdly_dood]

One possible benefit is that if you use a combination of halogen and LED, the "teal" blue will better match the color of the halogen rotator if you're not using the darker European-style blue rotators.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

One possible benefit is that if you use a combination of halogen and LED, the "teal" blue will better match the color of the halogen rotator if you're not using the darker European-style blue rotators.

Not for me, my vehicle is going to be all LED...

 

[theolog]

If this would of happend in any other company you guys would of had a shit fit and would of filled up two pages on this thread talking shit about it but since its Gods Gift to the world Whelen you guys are not very upset about it and are cool with it.

Bwahahaha! :hail: :thumbsup:


Neighboring PD just put an unmarked supervisor's vehicle into service with a brand new dual Avenger on the visor. Half of it is blue and half of it is teal. Wouldn't look back at all if at least both heads matched.

 

[JohnMarcson]

If this would of happend in any other company you guys would of had a shit fit and would of filled up two pages on this thread talking shit about it but since its Gods Gift to the world Whelen you guys are not very upset about it and are cool with it. Ahhhh i hate you guys lol

People seem just as upset about it as with any other failure.... ie the fedsig databoard failures, smart siren fuses under the circuit board, code 3 sticking sweeps, mystery unsynching axitechs etc..... I don't see any more or less disappointment / anger on this.


Are the handful of people here that seem to think the rest of the board is crazy for whelen getting even more paranoid? Get out your tinfoil anti-whelen hats guys... :Rumour:

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

People seem just as upset about it as with any other failure.... ie the fedsig databoard failures, smart siren fuses under the circuit board, code 3 sticking sweeps, mystery unsynching axitechs etc..... I don't see any more or less disappointment / anger on this.

Are the handful of people here that seem to think the rest of the board is crazy for whelen getting even more paranoid? Get out your tinfoil anti-whelen hats guys... :Rumour:

Hahahaha

 

[John Smith]

Our (Mine in particular) Code 3 bars are the same way, tealish blue.

 

[ark_firefighter]

Get out your tinfoil anti-whelen hats guys... :Rumour:

NEVER ! :dielaugh:

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

So I guess the long of the short of it is I should just suck it up and accept that this company is unwilling to cater to their paying customers? What happened to "the customer is always right"? Is todays society so degraded that companies feel that customers are either too 'needy' or 'whiny' and they look more at profit margins than exemlary customer service?


Now granted, I have yet to hear a great deal of complaints (if any) about Whelen's Customer Service, and, I am very sure that if I were to stop using/supporting their company, it would be no big loss for them. Compare me as an individual versus fleet service/outfitting, the money I spend on their products comparatively is insignificant, and, understandably "if they do it for one they would have to do it for everyone", which obviously is not beneficial to their company.


I'm no chronic complainer/whiner, this is probably the only real issue I've ever had with any warning produt I've ever had (my 1st TIR6 Slimlighter had a similar lighter color, however I bought that 5-6 years ago). I call it an 'issue' only, seeing as it is not a real PROBLEM per se, but for my personal sanity, and aesthetic's sake, I reallyh wished the hues would match.


So again, basically its sounding like Whelen is not willing to do anything about this issue because as someone stated above the color "fits in their acceptable spectrum" and I am S.O.L.?

 

[rwo978]

I forget the user name, but a European guy posted the 'acceptable' light hues Whelen uses for LEDs. This was back in LBN times. It was a color chart with different areas circled.


If your LED fell within that range, there wasn't much you could do about it.


Anyone have that graphic? I've looked for it several times, but can't find it.

 

[C420sailor]

The lighter Avengers are more attention-getting, IMO. The darker blue isn't as bright.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

I forget the user name, but a European guy posted the 'acceptable' light hues Whelen uses for LEDs. This was back in LBN times. It was a color chart with different areas circled.

If your LED fell within that range, there wasn't much you could do about it.


Anyone have that graphic? I've looked for it several times, but can't find it.

I think I remember that graphic. I mean, the Avenger is not SO light that its almost another color, just light enough that it is a very noticable, and enough to drive me nutty.

 

[calebsheltonmed23]

Yeah sorry i dont like them i will keep to myself now

I'm not to fond of em myself. Had to many sirens break on me. :hissyfit: