Well Im new here and I heard that there are alot of firefighters with POV setups on here. I have an 05 F150 that Im about to start building on so Im just looking for ideas right now. Please don't turn this into an argument over whether POV lights are right or wrong or any of that crap. KEEP IT CONSTRUCTIVE! Thanks!

 

Anyone?

 

Sadly, most places are overpriced since they are mostly government-bought type deals. I'd like to get some grille lights, dash light, rear traffic stick and that should be good

 

I've been meaning to build my truck for some sort of *purpose*, per say. I have a buddy who's a part time forest fire fighter and has a bunch of lighting on his F150 for such work. Most of his lights are Whelen lighting, but he tells me that he shops on ebay for whatever he can find that will work and isn't total garbage. I've been doing the same thing with LED lights, from round spotted and flooded, to bars spotted and flooded. But yeah, for firefighting, I'd have to do some sort of offroad tires, nothing too wide since it's a liability on your power steering system. Of course sirens and lights. Additionally, having a winch bumper and a winch would be great as well. I guess if I had a firefighter POV, I'd build it to handle many off and on road obstacles, enable me to see things at far distances, enable me to be seen and heard from far distances, and have a decent level of communications (UHF, VHF, 10-meter, CB, etc). What are your ideas?

 

I'm a Whelen man, through and through. I'm also a fan of being able to be seen but without being over the top or gaudy.

I run a single Talon (Red/Clear) and two red strobe heads up front and a hide-a-way strobe in each rear red section of my taillights. When I put my system together LED's were still just too expensive for me; especially being a volunteer.

My lights are on two separate switches so I can control the front and back independently. This makes it nice, especially at night, to turn off a strobe light that is not needed.

Strobe lights are tried and true and can be bought for fairly cheap. You can also upgrade to LED's for just a little more and have something that draws far less current, is less prone to failure, and works better (in my opinion). Strobe lights put off such a quick burst of light, so quickly, that it can distort vision at night (IE, turn on a strobe light in a dark room and walk around).

www.galls.com www.sirennet.com and even www.ebay.com are good places to pick up good components.

If I were going to install a new system, I would look at; Whelen Vertex hide-a-way LEDs for the rear (Red and Amber) and an Avenger dash light mounted up high on the passenger side (Red/Red) with a Red Vertex in each corner light housing.

I do not care for warning lights that are mounted in headlights as they are drowned out at night. I do not care for clear lights in the rear of the vehicle as they blind other drivers which can lead to more problems. I do no care for clear lights to be activated in the front after parking on scene as they can also blind on coming drivers (that is why I like to deactivate my fronts).

I do no run a siren as they are only allowed in POV's for the "chiefs and their designated assistant" as per the NC General Statutes. But if I could, I would run the Power Call.

Mickey

 

that seems excessive. I have a VHF radio. A CB/10meter would be pointless for firefighting duties, and using your POV on scene is not only a PR nightmare for the chief's standpoint, I'd bet 100% there is a SOP/SOG against it. Heck, we're not even allowed to respond POV anymore, let alone have lights. Happening upon something is one thing, but if we knowingly respond directly to a scene, we are not only NOT covered by our county insurance, but also in violation of guidelines.

 

well I hate to tell you this but I doubt that you will find anyone who will sell them to you......just about every state has a reg. that requires mfg's & distributors to verify the legal sale only to a public safety entity.

 

Really!?!?! I bought a light bar off E-Bay and it came with red lenses and I had to change them out to clear domes with amber filters. I also have Whelen Hide Away strobes in the heads and tails of my truck and I bought those through a Whelen distributor. You can also buy stand alone flashers to turn regular LED's into strobe LED's for as little as $40 and you can get LED marker lights in any color you want at your local truck stop or heavy truck dealer.

 

He is just using outdated info and/or talking out his rear as usual.

I have bought quite a few things from sirennet.com in the past, and most recently from Amazon ( they carry just about the complete SoundOff signal line ).

Whelen and SoundOff signal are not controlled substances

 

THIS.

 

I know...... I fell into that trap and just couldn't help my self.

And I can't forgot the cardinal rule. Pic's or it didn't happen!!

 

purdy


But now a days, LEDs or bust.

 

Thank's Alex.

I know LED's are where it's at, but for a $100 I couldn't go wrong and knowing I was going to cut it down from 48in to 36in I wasn't going spend a ton of money in case I screwed it up.

Here it is full size with the clear domes and amber filters and it's future twin sitting on top of it.

 

ok....to make your life easy as a technical expert......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_vehicle_lighting

Volunteer Personnel

"Many U.S. states allow volunteer fire and EMS personnel to place emergency warning lights in their personal vehicles for use when responding to emergencies. The laws vary greatly by state. For instance, Virginia state law allows emergency personnel to equip one private vehicle "with no more than two flashing or steady-burning red or red and white combination warning lights".[57]

The degree of lighting is mandated by law and also by local (state regulation) n most areas, and can vary from a single rotating light on the dashboard or roof, to a setup much like modern police cruisers. Some states also allow volunteer use of sirens and air horns to request the right of way. Some over use lighting systems to a point of being nonsensical and confusing to drivers. These vehicles and operators are called the slang term "Whackers".

A New Jersey EMT's vehicle at night with lights flashing
In some states, volunteers are allowed to use the normal red lights, while in other states volunteers must use some other color, usually blue or green. In the latter case, the lights are used as a courtesy to "request" the right of way and generally do not mandate pulling over. Some states, such as Pennsylvania, limit volunteer use of red lights to chiefs and captains of squads.

Separate colors may be used for fire versus EMS volunteers. In Connecticut, Indiana, and New York, volunteer firefighters use blue while volunteer EMTs use green. In New Jersey, volunteer fire and ambulance personnel use blue lights in their personal vehicles while responding to their stations. In NJ red lights are only allowed for emergency vehicles, fire chiefs or other law enforcement vehicles. New York also certifies some volunteer EMTs to use red lights and sirens provided their vehicles carry certain equipment;[58] this is often used by Hatzolah volunteers in the NYC area. Typically in New York state, volunteer firemen use blue lights in their personal vehicles and volunteer EMS use green lights. This may generate confusion, as green lights are also used to signify an incident command vehicle.

The conflicting color assignments can create issues for volunteers who drive their vehicles out of state. While some authorities may be satisfied with covering the lights with an "Out Of Service" tarp, compliance may be more difficult in other jurisdictions. For example, Arkansas bars civilian possession of blue lights on or in a vehicle unless sealed in the manufacturer's original package.[59]"

The point here is that every state (per federal regs) regulates who may purchase what and what color lenses they are allowed to purchase......additionally every state as part of the regulations (fed0 stipulates the seller of those products MUST VERIFY (ie have verification provided to them) they have the authority to make such purchases.....this is also in every supplier contract/agreement by Whelan, Federal, etc.

 

The Wiki page you linked, does not have the word:
1. purchase
or
2. sale
or
3. verify

These are YOUR words.

Kind of reenforces the phrase "talking out his rear as usual" doesn't it ?

Again I know the Whelen dealer sirennet.com, does not have the verification requirements you claim.

I know IL Criminal Code has restrictions on who can Operate what color lenses on the roads.