More About LED Emergency Vehicle Lights
LED Emergency Vehicle Lights have become standard in law enforcement agencies for their police interceptor, patrol, and supervisory vehicles. In the past, most sheriff, state police, and local police departments relied upon red, blue, and amber colored strobe bars for take-down use. Now, Light Emitting Diodes have become a more efficient and dependable choice. A brief look at the benefits of LED Emergency Vehicle Lights explains why they are the primary tool of departments around the USA.
LED Emergency Vehicle Lights typically break down into three major mounting configurations, starting with the most familiar, the tactical light bar. Light bars have been around for decades, originally with flashing stationary incandescent bulbs, and later with electro-mechanical red and blue lights. Some had integrated sirens, some did not. Xenon-type strobe light bars replaced these early units, and the strobes were themselves overtaken by modern LED light bars. These units feature the familiar red and blue lights, but modern LEDs don’t burn out like conventional bulbs and have potentially far longer service hours compared to limited life xenon flash tubes. These light bars have control circuits that can produce at least 19 different flash patterns, where the light array operates much like an outdoor sign. The attention getting effect means that vehicle traffic is alerted to code three pursuits, and passing motorists take heed of officers at traffic stops.
Deck and dash emergency lights are suitable for officers assigned undercover, vice, narcotics, or unmarked vehicle duty. They serve essentially the same function as the light bar for take-downs and traffic stops. However, these lights rest inside the vehicle, either on the front dash, back deck, or both. In either case, with adequate vehicle tinting they are seldom detected except when in use. Like light bars, deck and dash mounts use high energy “Generation 3” type LEDs, duplicating the light output formerly found only in strobes. Most operate from a vehicle lighter socket, greatly simplifying installation. The nearly one-watt output of the multiple LED light arrays helps explain why they are the choice of such discerning agencies as the US Army.
Finally, no discussion of LED Emergency Vehicle Lights is complete without including grille-mount type light assemblies. As the name suggests, these can be concealed in the front grille of the patrol unit and are well hidden. In tactical situations where highway hazards to the officer are less likely, the grille mount provides a minimum essential take-down and intercept capability for unmarked unit and detective applications. At nearly one watt of power, these LEDs are among the brightest, with at least 19 flash-pattern combinations.
Although there are three major categories of emergency vehicle lights and several models within each, they all share important features. All use modern, non-strobe, non-incandescent LEDs powerful .75 to 1-watt brightness power. Ideal for long life and high visibility tactical applications, their wide use and popularity nationwide attests to their field-proven effectiveness.
