Whelen tir3, difference between metal and plastic base versions?

[bluestinger90]

I am currently looking at some steady burn tir3 in amber, and I noticed there is a choice of either metal base tir3, or plastic base tir3. Is there any difference between the two? Is one version supposed to be newer?


Part numbers;





Metal base; 01-02637552-12A


Plastic base; 01-0264451-12A

 

[brooks]

i know on the 4 wire version the metal is the old style before 07 i believe, and the plastic is the newer style 07 and forward...so i guess the same is true for the 2 wire ones

 

[shues]

The plastic base ones are newer. Also, sometime within about a year after the plastic base was introduced, several additional flash patterns were added to the 4-wire version.

 

[shues]

There are two different versions of the install manual for the 4-wire TIR3, unfortunately both numbered 13838.


The original version from 2003 is no longer found on Whelen's web site. It has since been replaced by the new version with the additional flash patterns.

 

[bluestinger90]

Both of the models are from traffic advisers. Is there any specific reason they switched to plastic bases?

 

[shues]

I surmise that it's a cost saving measure. There is no longer a separate base piece. Instead, the plastic housing is now taller. It incorporates a flange, the outside of which is the size and shape of the old aluminum base. Now, a little more clear potting is required, but I imagine that it costs less per piece than it did to use the aluminum base.

 

[SireLite]

The older version with the metal base had a nicer amber. The new version is more a peach color Amber.


Then a lot of the old blue ones are teal.