LEDs, better or worse?

[EngCo29]

Yes, I'm aware LEDs have been discussed alot on these forums. I'm asking anyone with a company that runs any kind of apparatus,command with LEDs, are they better than rotatory lights? I heard they take a few minutes to get full power(brightness). Hopefully the tanker we are getting they have offered to put on LEDs as a gift for buying their tanker. Should we go for this? Even though it is free, is it more productive than the standard rotatory lights?

[Stick533]

Don't worry, I'm not gonna bash you. But to quickly answer, no they do not take a few minutes to warm up (at least not that I've ever heard of), and they are a lot more visable in sunlight as compared to rotary's or strobes. Personally, I prefer them over strobes and halogens, but to each his own

[WaffleHut]

so this is what he ment when he commented on the "de ja vue" remark...

[Dave1983]

Yeah, Ive never heard of the "warm up" thing either. Maybe a certain brand does but our Whelens dont.

LEDs are fantastic, but you need a mix of light types to "cover all the bases". Our Quint has rotators on top and LEDs on the bottom.

On a side note, there was a report on the news tonight that Florida Highway Patrol is changing to LED bars. The interesting thing is they are going to be set up to flash red in the day time and blue at night. This came from some studdy that showed red LEDs are more visible then blue in daylight. So if you have blue on your rigs you might what to consider that.

[lvwrench]

I can truthfully say that I have been around from the old to the new. The old rotaters pulled plenty of power and were prone to vibration, bouncing and everything else. The strobes pulled less power and were nice except that you had power packs and plenty of wire. The LEDS are the only way to go. Less power, less wiring, no power packs to mount andthey really perform on the candellaria end. The power supply of the ones we use are integral to the light. Three wires, one hot , one ground and one to set the pattern.No contest.

[nmfire]

Since we are mirroring the other identical topic...

LED's draw LESS power (like a fraction thereof) and there is no "warm up" time. Rotators are obsolete in my mind.

[TillerMan25]

But the real question is...Who cares?

You know you are a whacker when you gotta start a thread about warning lights.

[nmfire]

Originally posted by TillerMan25
But the real question is...Who cares?

You know you are a whacker when you gotta start a thread about warning lights.

Also a good point. I mean, it is a valid topic of discussion when you are designing an apparatus or planning upgrades to your 1979 engine with a candle on the roof. Hence why topics like this in the Apparatus Innovation forum are more professional and to the point.

I think we all know at this point how usles a light thread is if it is anything but that.

[MemphisE34a]

Quote by Tillerman25:

But the real question is...Who cares?

You know you are a whacker when you gotta start a thread about warning lights.
---------------------------------------------------------

My guess would be the guy that asked the wuestion cares, and everyone that can reply with out being a smart-***. Lights are part of fire apparatus. When your company starts buying apparatus without them or you start making runs without using the ones you already have, maybe then you can call someone a "whacker".

Tillerman, you sound like a "whacker" whacker! Doesn't make much sense, does it?

[TillerMan25]

Thanks Loo, I will go pick up my crying towel now....

What kills me is how people always criticize "another" forum site out there for not being relevant, and this site has THOUSANDS of threads about warning lights and their usage.

It's not so much the thread that is annoying, it is the fact that there are two of them, posted by the same person, and that they are so damn REDUNDANT!

[MemphisE34a]

Tillerman25.

Okay pal. I will quit busting your balls now. We keep cases of "crying towels" here as well, so you won me over.

I see your point. I figured the guy accidently posted duplicate threads, who knows.

I also know that there are alot of similar threads, but new members get on these forums everyday. They may not know to try a search. I am certainly new to these and had no idea at first. I was quickly educated by Weju!!

The poeple are what make the forums work however. I guess because that is how I feel aboit it, I am easy to overlook duplicate and sometimes silly threads.

I am also against the whole "whacker" theory. There are certainly some goofy fireman out there. Most people on these forums however label every volunteer firefighter that has a pager or a light in his car a "whacker". I am not saying its right or wrong, but it is how their department operates, and therefore probably the only thing they know. Can some people go over the top with it? Sure, but its not everyone. I am sure that you know nothing about the man that started this thread, as I really know nothing about you. It is for that reason that I am sorry for starting with you on a bad note.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion as well.

Stay safe.

[TillerMan25]

It's all good. Because your Department uses Pirsch Tractor-Drawn Aerials, I will stand-down with my smart-a-s remarks for a while.

[hwoods]

Yes, LEDs are the most effective warning light system out there for now. AND, Yes, Pirsch made a great Ladder.... TM, you guys looking for a Pirsch?

[buckdog]

How did we ever get to calls before LED's?? Some how we always manage to get there..and by the way how do cops get to their calls without q-sirens??? I always wondered...

[CALFFBOU]

Yo- I had to ask the same question and I think they
were pretty nice to me.

http://cms.firehouse.com/forums2/sho...+LEDS+lightbar

I actually dont care for the new LED bars. They arent as
visible which means someone might hit me. Then I could
land in the hospital AND/OR court.

So there, its not a silly question if youre seriously
doing specs for a vehicle. (I like the MX7000)

-Bou

[codeblue81]

Personally I think that halogen rotators work the best for primary warning lights. A good quality rotator bar (MX7000, Federal Vector, or ViewPoint) works great as it's easily seen day or night.

LEDs as secondary lights work great. The take less power than strobes and are more visilbe than halogen flashers. The combination of LEDs and Halogen rotators are the best bet in my opinion.

code_blue81

[Ten77EMT]

Volunteer Firefighters should be held to the same standards as Reserve Police Officers.

This sounds good until your house is on fire and no one shows!

[MemphisE34a]

This sounds good until your house is on fire and no one shows!

Wow. Your very first post - Paid vs. volly in a thread that is over 3 years old.

Fail.

[Jonnee]

Get him Memphis!! I saw that too and I can't get myself up off the floor laughing at him, to go and find this thread and on his very first post slam my man BOU!!!

Sounds like he is thin skin.......

BTY I still like the Halogen Lights and Pirsch Tillers!!

[RFDACM02]

In a sort of related note, all our city's intersection lights have been changed over to LED's over the past 2 years or so. Last weekend we had a rapid significant snowstorm with heavy snow and wind. They found that the LED's do not generate any heat (enough) and the snow sticks to the heads and stays, so many intersections were screwed when no one could see the lights! Three steps forward, one step back.