Halogens, Strobes, LEDs

[LvNjPoles]

Which lights do you prefer on your cruiser halogens, strobes, LEDs, or combination? And Why?

[Matto]

LED's are obviously a lot better. They're brighter, more stealth, and make the cruiser look nicer in my opinion. Tis too bad they're so expensive, though, so not every department gets to use the LED light bars on top.

[Tennsix]

Our department consulted with the school of optometry when we were looking at new lights. The optometry school recommended a combination of lighting. They said studies show that a mix of lights (strobe, LED, rotary, flash, etc) were more likely to be seen by motorists in varying conditions such as distance, time of day, weather, etc.

[Java King]

Our department consulted with the school of optometry when we were looking at new lights. The optometry school recommended a combination of lighting. They said studies show that a mix of lights (strobe, LED, rotary, flash, etc) were more likely to be seen by motorists in varying conditions such as distance, time of day, weather, etc.

And some amber on the rear (ie; arrowstick)

[Tennsix]

Yep, they did mention light colors, including amber.

[Matto]

Hmph, well, I know theres a trooper here that works drug interdiction with the officer I rode with, and he's got a thin complete blue LED light bar on top and I must say if that doesn't get your attention then you probably shouldn't be driving.

[Vtfuzz]

We use all blue Whelen LED bars and nobody has any trouble seeing them.

[Special_Agent]

Some PD units in my city have some cars fitted with LED barlights and they are really bright as well as cool looking. I hope that our department starts to upgrade to them on most of its units. I know our neghboring Sheriffs dept has almost all their units using LED bar lights.

[Matto]

Some PD units in my city have some cars fitted with LED barlights and they are really bright as well as cool looking. I hope that our department starts to upgrade to them on most of its units. I know our neghboring Sheriffs dept has almost all their units using LED bar lights.
Yeah they really do look a lot better and cleaner looking than the regular strobe bars.

[SO535]

Plus, the lower profile LED bars are harder to see from a distance. (when off of course.)

[Matto]

Plus, the lower profile LED bars are harder to see from a distance. (when off of course.)
No kiddin there.... the town over has thin LED bars on their Impala's and you can't tell until you get two or three car lengths from it.

[Bodie]

Pretty much a combination with LED on the roof and strobes in the back window and in the grille or on the pushbar etc.

[Cruiser]

I have seen those LEDs and they are really nice and you can really see them! The lower profile even helps with the fuel mileage I imagine so that is another plus. I would have done nearly anything had they been available when I was policing! Those bubble gum lights were the pits and the multi-light bars were the best we could ever hope to have. :(

[sob153]

Which lights do you prefer on your cruiser halogens, strobes, LEDs, or combination? And Why?

Lights are used for different circumstances. The real question is the agency car set up correctly. Corner strobes, LED plus corner strobes for unmarked etc

[Tennsix]

Our cars have corner strobes, rearward facing LED's and flashers, wig wag headlights and strobes on top.

[sob153]

Our cars have corner strobes, rearward facing LED's and flashers, wig wag headlights and strobes on top.
When I was a LEO in NY we had the same Vision Lights as NYPD (They come with 3 opitions), plus wig-wag front and rear Brake and reverse and corner strobes. The control pad controled everything but the radio.No need for a big bulky center consol to control everything. When I was a uniform Fed, we had Whelen strobe, flasher combo. Main part was strobes and 4 flashers-alternating. The siren on the Vision was awsome. The other was just a plain Whelen siren. As far as the wig-wag, I had them connected them to the High Beams because on a really dark night, responding sucked because your regular driving night lights were alternating.

[LvNjPoles]

It seems like LEDs are the most popular among you folks as well as a combination, but no one has voted on the poll (don

[Cruiser]

I don't much care if they can notice me when I am just patroling around or running traffic but damned if I don't want the whole world to see and hear me when I am running code! The LED's are very bright and so long as you have them positioned so that they are visable 360 I love them! :)

[Creed]

Just throw a mirror ball on there and you can have a disco.

http://www.massmoca.org/performing_arts/images/summer03/saturday_night_fever_big.jpg

[LvNjPoles]

Just throw a mirror ball on there and you can have a disco.

OK Johnny Creed. :cool:

http://images.animationfactory.com/animations/objects/lamps_lights/disco_ball/disco_ball_lg_nwm.gif

[Vic Mackey]

LEDS are great you can mount them anywhere. Our new explorer has them mounted in the interior of the front and rear window. It eliminated having a bar on the roof making the apparence look cleaner. They are bright as hell, even during the day. The only disadvantage to not having a bar, is that you lose coverage from the side.

[cincyglocker]

I like a combination.

[LvNjPoles]

Here is a cruiser with a combination of lights. Do you think it has enough or does it need more? :D

I had a picture here but something is not working. See if you paste this link in your bowser if the picture will show. If not sorry I tried everything.

http://members.fortunecity.com/pdcar4/rcmp214.jpg

Picture courtesy the RCMP.

[Matto]

I guess I am the only one that does not think that LEDs are the panacea of emergency lighting.
1) All LEDs are not the same. I have seen some mounted on the headliner that were not bright enough to be seen through the tint at the top edge of the windshield.
2) LED shine in a different wavelength. They do not penetrate fog/rain as well. Saw an unmarked running code and the only lights I saw from a distance were the corner strobes. It was within 10 carlenghts before I saw the LEDs, and only then because I was specifically looking for them.

A good LED on a clear night can be seen forever it seems like, and they draw very little power. So if I were designing a cruiser, I would use a mix and they would be switched so just the LEDs can be lit for when you are parked for awhile with lights on, you don't have to have the car running.

I think of the biggest things about LED's is not so much the light they emit but just how sleek and "compact" they are and look.

[sob153]

[QUOTE=LvNjPoles]It seems like LEDs are the most popular among you folks as well as a combination, but no one has voted on the poll (don

[LvNjPoles]

Yes does are possible reasons for how police sirens are hard to hear. But I am walking down the street and a police cruiser is coming up the street I can hear it but lowly. I have no radio with me, quite town, the sirens are mounted under the hood, don

[sob153]

[QUOTE=LvNjPoles]Yes does are possible reasons for how police sirens are hard to hear. But I am walking down the street and a police cruiser is coming up the street I can hear it but lowly. I have no radio with me, quite town, the sirens are mounted under the hood, don

[LvNjPoles]

Whoops! So that is what wailing is. I was wondering what you were talking about.
Thanks for the reply.

[LvNjPoles]

The poll is closed and the unofficial vote is in. In first place are LEDs, second Combination, in far third Strobes, and in last place with only 2 votes Halogens.

Well I must agree LEDs are the new way to go, but I strongly believe a combination of lights is the best way to be seen.

Halogens are old school.

Thank you all for your vote and opinions on this matter of lights on a police cruiser.

If you did not get a chance to vote sorry, but you can still express you opinion.


This was a producation of LvNjPoles inc., 2005.

[Cruiser]

I would have loved to have halogens! The revolving lights we had were nothing more than the same bulb that were used for taillights! :rolleyes: If one burned out you would just reach in the glove box and take another one out of the package and plug it into whichever light was burned out. If you didn't have a spare bulb you pulled the one out of the backup light. :o You also tried to polish up the little mirror thingy that spun around it to produce the 'flash'. :D

[Tennsix]

There is nothing wrong with halogens, they work very well. Sometimes, olds school is what we need. ;)

[SoInTeNsE54]

Anyone have pics/vids of some light bar set-up's?

[LvNjPoles]

Here are some pictures of light bars.

Here is one I have not seen in person a strobe, LED, and halogen combo.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/eljvlimg.jpg

Straight LED.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/enl21img.jpg

Straight strobe.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/EL360IMG.jpg

Straight halogen.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/ELLP6IMG.jpg

[SoInTeNsE54]

Sweet, I like the first one... the strobe/led combo plus its a lil stealthy. Any vids of them in action? im trying to make a compilation vid, but its impossible to get a vid of police cars with their lights on from the outside.

[LvNjPoles]

Sorry I can

[SoInTeNsE54]

Thanks Poles... that actually helps me out. :) Any others?

[Brav989]

Here are some pictures of light bars.

Here is one I have not seen in person a strobe, LED, and halogen combo.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/eljvlimg.jpg

Straight LED.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/enl21img.jpg

Straight strobe.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/EL360IMG.jpg

Straight halogen.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/ELLP6IMG.jpg

3rd one down doesn't look much like strobe to me

[LvNjPoles]

3rd one down doesn't look much like strobe to me

This is not like your tradition strobe light bar that you normally see. It does look like a halogen light bar however it is a strobe.

You may used to seeing ones similar to this one.
http://www.code3pse.com/images/item/ELFLMIMG.jpg