LED VS Older style?

[LearninginMN]

Does anyone want to weigh in on which is better LED technology for light bars, or the Older style Rotary bars. (Ones you buy today).

[FedRich]

LEDs are a huge improvement over halogen. I've seen FHP's new LED light bars and they immediately grab your attention with red during the day and blue at night. I have LEDs in my G-ride and a halogen dash light. There is no comparison, the LEDs are exponentially brighter and a "truer" blue color. The LEDs are more effective through heavy tint.

[kenoshacop]

I have to agree that LED's is the way to go. The LED light bars I've seen are much brighter than any strobe or halogen light bars out there, and are more visible during the day and night time. Also, since they have no moving parts, their maintenance/repairs needed compared to halogens is not even close. If I remeber right, the LED's are supposed to be good for 100,000 hours or something like that before they burn out. They most cost more up front, but in the long run, they are worth it.

[10-8 911 Force]

I concur the Led's are way brighter and more effective in giving that curtian of light , compared to the old halogen / strobe light .. they are seen from a further distance away which grab your attention compared to the halogen.. I
love the led light bars compared to the strobes we still have in our department which we are trying to phase out..

[dutch9277]

I agree with everyone else here. The LEDs are much brighter and easier to see. One downfall I see though is when you are running code at night and you are behind a car with the LEDs. The lights can be blindly and make sure you are using extra precaution

[LearninginMN]

does anyone still use the light that you put on the roof or is that to "old school"

[Bill M]

I've driven patrol cars with a halogen lightbar (vector) and a strobe lightbar. My current car has a strobe lightbar with LED dash and deck lights. All of our new cars are coming with the LED lightbars. From what I've seen, I'll take LEDs any day of the week.

That said, I work mostly at night. I have noticed that LEDs are not as visible at angles as other types of lighting and I don't know what shows up best during the day. My patrol car has corner strobes and wig-wags which I think should also be standard. So, perhaps the best answer is LEDs with some strobes thrown in for angle/intersection effect.

[Cornbelt]

One of the rescue trucks on my volunteer fire department has a LED bar on it. Great lightbar; and combined with the usually assortment of Christmas tree lights, lights up the road. The only problem I have noticed with it is in heavy snows. When the truck is out for an extended period of time in the weather, ice; sleet; and snow build up on it. LEDs make no heat; and thus; we have had to scrap the ice and snow off it while out in the field.

Otherwise, great lights. I have one in my car. No complaints whatsoever.

[-JB]

My department just bought all new cars with the LED lights. The LED's are the new razor thin style, no thicker than a pack of playing cards. At night they are great, very bright but durring the day I think they are harder to see than the older strobes or halogen just becuase there isn't as much to see.

I can understand the improvements, less moving parts, equals less maintenance, longer life and supposedly less drain on the vehicles electrical systems.

[darrell]

LED's are awesome for most aspects of your job. They have 2 major downfalls. 1) is of what ducth mentioned above 2) they absoloutely suck in dense fog. They are almost impossible to see on foggy mornings, or nights. Rotators are best for that scenario but other then that LED's are the way to go.

[JimSpoor]

does anyone still use the light that you put on the roof or is that to "old school"

I use that style as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT for the following reasons:
Economy: Can't beat the price.
Visibility: One light, 360 visibility
Discreet: When not in use, it sits on my floorboard, attracting no attention.
Retro: I'm still trying to get a red and white Gran Torino. :)

Of course, most of my vehicles end up with scratches on the roof because I placed the light on top by rolling down the window and then opened the door on scene without bringing the light back in. It rarely happens, but it does happen.

[ssween2]

I have LED's in my g-ride as well and they have my vote hands down!

[work2live]

I would have to say that the LED is the way to go. Back in the day I had a vehicle with one of those vector all halogen light bars. If I recall correctly the thing had 7 light pods each with a rotating halogen light. When fully activated with lights, radios, mdt, etc. my battery would start to die after about 30min. I had strobe lights put in the rear and the grill, as they drew fewer amps and thus saved my battery. This was in the late 90's and LED's hadn't really hit the scene yet. I have since moved on from the local scene and on to the fed scene. Most of the g-rides have LED lights and they blow the others away hands down. LED's are far sturdier than halogens, which are far sturdier than strobes. LED's draw fewer amps than strobes, which draw fewer amps than halogens. LED's have incredible bulb life compared to both strobes and halogens. LED's are usually much more self contained than either of the other two and provide greater mounting options. If you haven't figured it out yet I would have to say that LED's win.

:banger: :banger: :banger:

[k9cop21811]

I have LED's front/back in my G ride, as well. They're bright and their compact size make them ideal for concealed mounting.

[LearninginMN]

do the LED's last longer than the Halogens? therfore making their eleveated cost's more easyer to explain?

[FedRich]

They last a long time according to the manufacturers, somewhere around 100,000 hours. Prices are generally more expensive than halogen, but the same or cheaper than strobe.

[Tripwire]

For all you guys with decked out G rides did you get issued a gumball light and add the fancy lights yourself or did you get the car that way?

Who specs out the lights for a car the office or the agent?

[FedRich]

Everyone in the division was given a limited amount of money to upgrade our lights from dash/deck halogen flashers circa 1991. I spec'd out the lights for my office but each agent could get whatever they wanted within the budget.

Downside is there is no consistency with what people have. My office got all hardwired Whelen Talon LEDs or grille lights. Other offices went with strobes in the corners and only rear LEDs/strobes, or bought stuff from Galls and self installed. We got all blue on one coast and red/blue on the other.

Larger agencies usually have a certain set-up that is professionally installed in every vehicle.

[k9cop21811]

A contractor gears up all of our rides w/ radios, siren and wig wags and/or front and rear strobes (installed in factory light housings; brakes light/headlight housing) before they're sent to the field. We can order a blue bubble light from our uniform/equipment contractor as we see fit and other lights (i.e. front/back LED, strobes, halogens or whatever), etc. are ordered and installed by each division. We have a person that takes care of the installs and stuff.