What do you guys think of a light like this?


Anyone have one like this, does it do the job?

Just wondering if I should get it or not, it's $20. I want something that I can "be seen with" on the icy Minnesota roads in the Winter.

 

It depends on what you want to use it for. If you want to use it on a plow truck, save your money. They're pretty much useless because of the weak bulb and optics. (Try actually plugging one it.) When I'm plowing, I want to get attention and that unit just won't cut it. I recommend Star Warning Systems products because they're built not to far from me and I've had great luck with them, but they're going to cost you a bit more.

If you want to use it "just in case" you break down at the roadside, it might be OK.

 

i dont remember what thread, but a guy posted a link to his gallery where he modified and installed a mini light bar, was all removable with magnets and he used trailer wiring harness style plugs that he ran through the 3rd brake light hole. it was an awsome looking setup.

anyone help me with the link??

 

Try This.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=4373

 

YES! thats it!

AWSOME install!

 

on the equipment at work we use strobe warning lights. the rotating beacon are not very bright.

 

There is a nice site that shows you what not to do with those whacker lights.
http://www.hamsexy.com and search for "whacker". Good laughs will come your way!

 

Yes, that would be my truck. I'm glad you guys liked the install. I'm kind of proud of it too.

As for the strobes vs. halogen rotators thing, I've used both. For our snow plow trucks, we use strobes because of the lower current draw and the fact that the sound of the rotator motors above your head for 12 hours a day (and night) will drive most folks postal.

As for brightness, it depends on many things. There are some pretty weak strobes out there too. If you look closely at my gallery, you'll see how I modify the colored filters in my rotators with a slot that lets out more pure white light. Once you see the effect, you won't believe it. Even my friends in the fire service law enforcement like it. (I've actually got a set of modified red filters going into a local police car as an experiment for them.) I also did a light (Star Mini Bar) for one of our F150 Online members (Tiny) who's a volunteer fireman. Ask him what he thinks!

 

Hi everyone,

Yes, I have a modified Star Mini Bar light on my truck thanks to 2stroked. My light is installed in the same manner as his. I have seen 2stroked's light in person and it is unbelievable as to how bright it is, even during the day!

In New York state, volunteer fireman, unless you are a chief, run with a blue light. Chief's can run with red or a red/white combination. With my setup we ended up working on a few different variations of the slot in the filters. Originally I had a 1/4" slot in each filter... looked great during the day, but at night the blue color was washed out and it was excessively bright. 2stroked worked up a few other configurations and the best setup I have found in my trials is a solid & 1/8" slot. It is still very noticeable during the day and even more so at night.

When you compare my light with two rotators to a full size strobe lightbar, my light is far brighter!

Here are a couple of pictures of my setup.

Slotted filter:

Connection:



To the original poster: One or two guys in my department have either the same light or similair to the one that you are asking about. IMHO, they are a total waste of money because they are not very bright and you need to be within 50' to see it, even less during bad weather.

 

One has to worry about anybody who actually aligns their rotators. Oh wait, I aligned all four in my light bar before putting the pics in my gallery. Maybe it isn't so weird after all. In fact, maybe it's a sign of greatness. Yea, that's it!

 

Gee, I wonder who else does that

 

Am watchin COPS in boston mass. and one of their patrol cars has a clear stripe in the light bar, makes HUGE difference like ya'll say. never seen one with the clean plastic stripe made in the bar.

 

Yes, in theory, adding the slot to the colored filter (in the correct shape, size and location) adds "pop" by not filtering the light. What you end up with is a very bright, white center to the band of light being reflected. Most emergency equipment up here is permitted to run with one or more pure white lights in addition to red and blue while in motion. If you look at the red, blue and white individually, it's the white that really gets your attention. So, I took that theory and ran with it a bit. I hate getting run over when I'm pulling some guy (in a Chevy) out of a snow bank in a blizzard!

PS: Remember the old "blue dot" tail lights? Simply adding one very small dab of blue to an otherwise red lens made for a whole different look.

 

I saw that episode today too.

 

Yup, so this is the same general idea, but I don't run colored outer domes - which are harder to get the effect with. Note the slot in the amber filters. I also think the clear dome makes the light a bit less obtrusive.