Whelen LED Chevron Striping......WITH VIDEO

[ark_firefighter]

EDIT: Some more information and now the video !


So I am at an EVOC class today and the department that is hosting it is Anti-Chevron Striping... they like the therory but hate duel reflective colors...stating that duel reflective colors are to "busy" and distracting.


So they decided to use LEDs to make a Chevron in Amber / Red with Whelen Strip-Lites...


Flash pattern is a slow 1.9 fpm plan alternating from Amber to Red... The leds come on when the breaks are applied and also applied when the truck is placed into "park" (as we all know it goes into Nutural and air breaks are applied)


As far as some comments from here because the LEDs are not always on...I've never experanced or heard of a Fire Truck / Ambulance being rear ended while the apparattus was going down the road itself...


Here are some pics. NEW VIDEO UPLOADED !


TURN YOUR VOLUME DOWN...THE TRUCK AND THE 2 WEEK OLD EMT ARE ANNOYING

 

[Travelin Man]

So I am at an EVOC class today and the department that is hosting it is Anti-Chevron Striping... they like the therory but hate duel reflective colors...

So they decided to use LEDs to make a Chevron in Amber / Red with Whelen Strip-Lites...

Hate dual color stripes but like dual color LED's? Interesting.

 

[tsquale]

Hmm...not sure that I understand their logic here. With chevrons, you are always seen even without warning lights on. I highly doubt that they will always have those on... :bonk:

 

[ark_firefighter]

They have it set up that anytime the engine is on and the truck is in Neutral ...the air breaks once applied the LEDs turn on ... so basicly if the motor is running and its parked the LEDs are a blinkin'

 

[tsquale]

They have it set up that anytime the engine is on and the truck is in Neutral ...the air breaks once applied the LEDs turn on ... so basicly if the motor is running and its parked the LEDs are a blinkin'

:undecided: Interesting concept...I look forward to the video

 

[ark_firefighter]

When I get 3G cell service I'll upload it...

 

[Shawn L]

the idea of the reflective stripping is that its always there and always "ON" novel idea but they dont meet the requirements with the lights.

 

[BlueLineEnt]

Doesn't look like it would be any good once the doors are open.....

 

[tsquale]

Doesn't look like it would be any good once the doors are open.....

Chevrons typically arent either. :bonk:

 

[nerdly_dood]

Hmm. Is this... :undecided: ...innovation? Something actually new?


I'd have them on a dim steady burn, kinda cruise light function if I was doing it.

 

[chono]

Hmm. Is this... :undecided: ...innovation? Something actually new?

I'd have them on a dim steady burn, kinda cruise light function if I was doing it.

That is what I was thinking to. It would probably be more effective that way.

 

[Core Public Safety]

Can't say I'm really a fan of it. I think it would look tacky when off, and would simply be too much when on.

 

[calebsheltonmed23]

It's a good idea, but like others have said...chevrons are always "on". I do like the innovative thinking though!

 

[Klein]

Why did you capitalize "Anti Chevron Striping"? I thought it was an actual campaign or company. I actually googled it. hahaha


I don't like it.

 

[ISU_Cyclone]

When I get 3G cell service I'll upload it...

Don't hold out on us! I know you have had 3G by now!

 

[JohnMarcson]

hmmmm............ This is another idea that I like in theory..... at low power steady burn in conjunction with actual reflective chevrons it might work...


it seems like over complicating an idea that was meant to be passive/simple.

 

[Zoe]

I must say, I *really* appreciate "innovative" and "out of the box" thinking like this!


However, I also think there is something to be said about mixing "active" warning (flashies and blinkies) with "passive" warning (reflective striping, etc)


I'd be really interested in hearing why they are anti-striping. I know one of the local FDs here have me a wrath of crap for cevroning the hell out of my ambulance... but only because it "wasn't traditional"... and argument I didn't allow to sway my decision in the end.

 

[SafetyLighting]

Chevrons typically arent either. :bonk:

That is why many departments have them installed on the interior of the doors as well.

 

[JohnMarcson]

I guess I just don't see this as a replacement for chevrons..... it's an interesting idea.... juts not a chevron alternative....

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

It's a good idea, but like others have said...chevrons are always "on". I do like the innovative thinking though!

Can't say I'm really a fan of it. I think it would look tacky when off, and would simply be too much when on.

Think about surface area as well. Those tiny strips are NOTHING in comparison with the 50-90% coverage of 'tradtional' Chevrons... :undecided:

 

[theroofable]

It's a good idea, but like others have said...chevrons are always "on". I do like the innovative thinking though!

Yep, less goes wrong with them. They also give an outline of the vehicle.

 

[ark_firefighter]

3G service in western PA sucks ! So I found a USB to Micro USB cord and yanked that file out of my phone...


Video Uploaded...and yes one of the LEDs on the left isin't in sync LMAO...

 

[jprleedy4680]

I want to like them...need a video of the whole back lit up.

 

[jprleedy4680]

I guess they look neat when on...but now that I see the install pictures I suddenly have the urge to vomit.


I like the graphic chevrons; perhaps add these lights on top of a few of the real chevrons?

 

[Klein]

Nope. Still don't like it. Intriguing concept nonetheless but back to the drawing board if they are trying to replace chevron decals.

 

[Hoser]

Doesn't hold a candle to the chevrons.

 

[JazzDad]

Doesn't hold a candle to the chevrons.

Candles! Hmmm, now that's an intriguing idea. :undecided:

 

[parr555]

I guess they look neat when on...but now that I see the install pictures I suddenly have the urge to vomit.

I like the graphic chevrons; perhaps add these lights on top of a few of the real chevrons?

agreed:thumbsup:

 

[LawMan902]

Seeing this kinda got me to thinking, how about something electroluminescent. Kinda like those light up graphics on the police car that were discussed here a while back... EL chevrons operated via a photocell somehow would be pretty cool... and functional day and night...

 

[bigcat]

Why did they try and mimic chevrons? Having them on an angle like that doesn't increase their effectiveness. J.Q. Public isn't going to associate that with a hazard strip.


What did that cost to install? Product cost alone is over $1000 if the strip lights were purchased at online prices. Then labor to have it installed. Holy crap this was probably an expensive venture.


And automatic on/auto off, no user control? Hell no. There is no way I could tolerate those lights on a non-emergent call while onscene pulling/loading the stretcher.


Does this service believe in traffic vests, or are those too distracting as well? A more effective setup would have been to skin the back of the ambulance with a one color reflective surface if they don't like stripes.

 

[JohnMarcson]

Why did they try and mimic chevrons? Having them on an angle like that doesn't increase their effectiveness. J.Q. Public isn't going to associate that with a hazard strip.

What did that cost to install? Product cost alone is over $1000 if the strip lights were purchased at online prices. Then labor to have it installed. Holy crap this was probably an expensive venture.


And automatic on/auto off, no user control? Hell no. There is no way I could tolerate those lights on a non-emergent call while onscene pulling/loading the stretcher.


Does this service believe in traffic vests, or are those too distracting as well? A more effective setup would have been to skin the back of the ambulance with a one color reflective surface if they don't like stripes.

good point... they are mimicking something they claim to not want....

 

[lotsofbars]

I personally think this is overkill in the most terrible way. Reflective chevrons would probably have been much cheaper and easier. Not to mention less overdone-looking.

 

[Outsider]

Am I the only one that noticed that the middle amber on the drivers side is not set to steady burn like the rest of the fixtures? They are being flashed with an external flasher, so they are set to steady burn so they flash properly. All except for that one middle light ohn the drivers side.

 

[JohnMarcson]

Am I the only one that noticed that the middle amber on the drivers side is not set to steady burn like the rest of the fixtures? They are being flashed with an external flasher, so they are set to steady burn so they flash properly. All except for that one middle light ohn the drivers side.

Someone mentioned it a few posts up....

 

[BlueLineEnt]

If they don't want to see them when not needed, maybe they should consider something like the stealth graphics the cruisers use. The ambulance provider for my town uses white on white, so you only see them when they're needed; at night, for reflective purposes.


You can see them on the ambulance on the right a little bit, but the left is how I see them in traffic unless they are hit with lights. Its very un-noticeable until they get lit up by headlights. There is also long horizontal reflective stripes on the top and bottom sides of the non-reflective red stripe. That is a little visible on the right ambu as well.

 

[ryan81986]

I thought that you had to have two alternating colors. On a side note I hate chevrons and I wish they would do away with them.

 

[BlueLineEnt]

The new NFPA 1901 specifies it must be 50% of the rear surface area of the apparatus, and it must be red & yellow, 45 degrees, center out to the bottom, with 6" stripes. I don't think it applies, as in this case, to private ambulance companies.


Source:


Highlights of the New NFPA 1901 | The requirements in the next edition of NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Apparatus take effect for apparatus ordered on or after January 1, 2009 | Oct 2008

 

[Zoe]

The new NFPA 1901 specifies it must be 50% of the rear surface area of the apparatus, and it must be red & yellow, 45 degrees, center out to the bottom, with 6" stripes. I don't think it applies, as in this case, to private ambulance companies.

Source:


Highlights of the New NFPA 1901 | The requirements in the next edition of NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Apparatus take effect for apparatus ordered on or after January 1, 2009 | Oct 2008

6" seems too narrow for my taste... I prefer an 8" or even 10" stripe if it's covering a large area.

 

[Jamey@NNE]

Around here they are red/yellow, orange/white, blue/orange.

 

[NFD-102]

Now that's different. I was exited to see it....but its not so exciting.