I recently acquired a FedSig VAMA LM300 Sputnik magnetic LED beacon:
[Broken External Image]:http://www.emergencyequipmentshop.co.uk/images/lm300_20grande.jpg
It has built-in batteries that you recharge from the cigarette lighter, to make a cordless throw light. There are three magnets and three suction cups on the bottom (as with most VAMA throw lights). EVS - Emergency Vehicle Solutions : Federal Signal Mega Bright Rechargable LED Beacon [20023xx] - £209.99
It had been tossed by another agency, probably beacuse of the following three reasons:
-apparently, the batteries had run flat (would only run for a few seconds)
-one of the magnets had come off, and the bottom is cracked, so no easy way to reattach it
-a crack on the base of the dome
Reason three is nothing a little silicone sealant couldn't fix. I opened it up, and found a little jumper switch inside, that changed it to direct power mode bypassing the batteries - so now it runs straight off the cord, like a traditional throw light. Doing that, I also bypassed the switch on the side. The LEDs work just fine.
The one question is the missing magnet. Do I dare use it as a throw light? I am missing a third of the magnets - but pulled out 8 of the now unnecessary batteries (there were ten standard AA size rechargeable NiMH batteries inside). Two I left, beacuse it looked like they are also part of the structural integrity inside.
The light (without cord) now weighs 675 grams. The 8 batteries that I removed weighed 240 grams - so I've made the beacon 26% lighter than it was.
Is that enough to offset the missing magnet? Do I dare use it as a throw light? VAMA's LE330 strobe beacon has the same three magnets and suction cups, weighs approx. 1000 grams and is rated for speeds up to 250 kmh (155 mph).
[Broken External Image]:http://www.emergencyequipmentshop.co.uk/images/lm300_20grande.jpg
It has built-in batteries that you recharge from the cigarette lighter, to make a cordless throw light. There are three magnets and three suction cups on the bottom (as with most VAMA throw lights). EVS - Emergency Vehicle Solutions : Federal Signal Mega Bright Rechargable LED Beacon [20023xx] - £209.99
It had been tossed by another agency, probably beacuse of the following three reasons:
-apparently, the batteries had run flat (would only run for a few seconds)
-one of the magnets had come off, and the bottom is cracked, so no easy way to reattach it
-a crack on the base of the dome
Reason three is nothing a little silicone sealant couldn't fix. I opened it up, and found a little jumper switch inside, that changed it to direct power mode bypassing the batteries - so now it runs straight off the cord, like a traditional throw light. Doing that, I also bypassed the switch on the side. The LEDs work just fine.
The one question is the missing magnet. Do I dare use it as a throw light? I am missing a third of the magnets - but pulled out 8 of the now unnecessary batteries (there were ten standard AA size rechargeable NiMH batteries inside). Two I left, beacuse it looked like they are also part of the structural integrity inside.
The light (without cord) now weighs 675 grams. The 8 batteries that I removed weighed 240 grams - so I've made the beacon 26% lighter than it was.
Is that enough to offset the missing magnet? Do I dare use it as a throw light? VAMA's LE330 strobe beacon has the same three magnets and suction cups, weighs approx. 1000 grams and is rated for speeds up to 250 kmh (155 mph).