Grille and Surface Mount Strobe Lights
VERY SMALL...but POWERFUL! That’s What YOU GET with a Surface Mount or Grille Light
ETD’s surface and grille led strobe lights can withstand all Mother Nature and YOU can throw at them. Heavy-duty housings of aluminum and polycarbonate protect the LEDs; polycarbonate lenses won’t crack or shatter even when installed on running boards. They are 100% waterproof because they are sealed with industrial-grade epoxy, and all come with mounting flanges and rubber gaskets that keep out moisture. Often a choice of black or chrome colored bezels which blend perfectly with manufacturer’s lights are available for the surface mount LEDs, so they aren’t even noticed as ‘add-ons.’ These rugged little bright, bright lights are especially designed to be installed in pairs on any flat surface!
Surface Mount and Grille LED Strobe Lights are perfect for undercover work because they are often no more than a few inches long, and can be mounted in out-of-the-way locations like fog light niches, grilles, roof racks, and fenders. They are the perfect Stealth Lights and won’t be seen until you hit the ON Switch! Then...WoW!...are you well seen when you blast your surroundings with 9 watts from a tiny 3” Halo, or 20 watts from a single PAR 36! Our small lights have a phenomenal light output, far superior to our competitors.
They are wired to existing light or siren systems so work in unison or alternate with them. As with all our lights, you choose the best color or split-color combination that best gets the job done. When you want a lot of light output, but don’t want your police vehicle lights to be prominent on your vehicle, then surface mount and grille lights are a great choice! These ‘little buddies’ give you a lot of high intensity light at very affordable prices.
We Stand Behind our ProductsWe recommend that you have an EVT professional install the emergency vehicle lights you buy, but if you want to do it yourself, check out our helpful Emergency Light Installation Guides. There are detailed instructions for your DYI project, photos, and videos to help you out, and always remember we’re right here to help you if you run into a snag. All our products come with standard industry warranties, and our LEDs are made to last 100,000 hours. ETD has a unique team of customer service reps who will answer any question that you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between grille lights and surface mount lights?
Nothing, on most models — it's where you put them, not what they are. The same compact light head works in either application.
"Grille light" describes a light mounted inside or around the grille. "Surface mount" describes the same light mounted flat against any other exterior surface: bumper, fender, push bumper, tool box, rocker panel. Every light on this page includes a mounting flange, and most ship with a rubber gasket to seal behind the unit.
Buy the same model for several positions and they'll sync together as one system — matching output, matching timing, all the way around the vehicle.
What color warning lights can I legally run on my vehicle?
It depends on your state and what the vehicle does. Broadly, across most states: blue is restricted to law enforcement, red to fire, EMS and authorized emergency vehicles, and amber is the widely permitted color for tow, construction, utility, escort and other work vehicles. White and clear are usually allowed as supplementary.
Volunteer firefighters are the common exception. Some states permit blue on a personal vehicle, some green, some require a permit from the fire chief or the state. Rules also frequently differ between forward-facing and rear-facing lights on the same vehicle.
Do not assume a color is legal simply because you can buy it. Extreme Tactical Dynamics maintains a plain-language summary of the emergency vehicle lighting statute for every state we cover, with the statute number cited.
→ Check your state's warning light law
Statutes change. Confirm with your department or state authority before you install.
How many grille and surface mount lights do I need?
About 10 lights is a practical target for building 360° warning coverage on a typical vehicle. That's where most complete builds land, and it's the difference between being visible from one direction and being visible from every direction.
| Position | Lights |
|---|---|
| Front grille | 2–4 |
| Rear, tailgate or hatch | 2–4 |
| Fenders or sides | 2 |
| Push bumper, headache rack, tool box | as needed |
Coverage depends on placement and vehicle geometry, and ten is a build target rather than a compliance standard — check what your state requires for your vehicle class.
Fewer works if you only need one direction covered; two in the grille is a genuine upgrade over nothing. But if you're outfitting a vehicle properly, plan for ten. At seven lights or more, the 10-pack costs less than buying singles.
Where can I mount them?
Any flat exterior surface. Common locations: grille, front and rear bumper, push bumper, fenders, running boards, rocker panel, headache rack, tool box, truck body, license plate area, and the tailgate or rear hatch.
Rated IP67 — dust-tight and waterproof to one meter — and sealed with high-grade epoxy, so a low mount taking road spray isn't a problem. Running board and rocker panel installs hold up.
Two things to plan before you drill. Placement should give an unobstructed line of sight and shouldn't interfere with vehicle cooling, factory lighting, sensors or airbags — worth thinking about for grille mounts near the radiator. And map your wiring route first, so the vehicle ends up on one synchronized system instead of several.
TIR, Linear or SMD — what's the difference?
TIR concentrates the output into a focused, direct beam that doesn't spread. Maximum distance, narrower angle. Best where you need to be seen from far off.
Linear produces a direct beam and uses the lens to push light to a wider angle as well. More usable spread, most of the punch.
SMD is an older, simpler LED design — a diode behind a lens without the optical control of TIR or Linear. Generally the more economical option.
Neither TIR nor Linear is automatically better; it depends on the directions your vehicle needs to be seen from. For most builds: TIR on the grille and rear where distance matters, Linear where side visibility counts as much as head-on.
Will these work on my truck?
Yes — these run on your vehicle's standard 12V system, which covers pickups, SUVs, work trucks, tow rigs, plows and most commercial vehicles.
Each light has a built-in flasher, so nothing extra is needed to make it work. Wire it into an existing light or siren system and it will flash in sync or alternate with what's already on the vehicle, or hardwire it to its own switch to run independently.
Up to 19 units can be wired to synchronize on compatible models — more than enough for a complete vehicle build. Pattern memory is standard, so the light returns to your last setting when you switch it back on.
Are they waterproof?
Yes. IP67 rated — dust-tight and waterproof to a depth of one meter — sealed with high-grade epoxy, with a rubber gasket on most models to keep moisture from getting in behind the unit.
Housings are heavy-duty aluminum and polycarbonate. The lenses are shatterproof and impact resistant, won't yellow or fog, and are built for mounting low where they take spray and debris.
Follow the installation instructions around wiring penetrations and mounting holes — that's where water gets in on any brand, and it's an install issue rather than a light issue.
Do I have to drill to install them?
Usually, yes. Permanent surface mount installations need mounting holes for the hardware and a path for the wiring. The flange and screws are included.
Before you drill, check both sides of the mounting surface for wiring, airbags, sensors, structural members, fluid lines and anything else behind the panel. Measure twice on the grille especially — spacing looks different once the light is in your hand than it does on screen.
If you're unsure about the mounting point or the electrical connections, have an EVT professional handle it. Our install guides cover the common vehicles and mounting locations step by step.
Can I run them off a siren or switch box?
Yes. These integrate into a vehicle's existing emergency lighting control system, so they can be operated through a switch box, siren controller or a dedicated switch.
The built-in flasher means no separate flasher module. Wire them to an existing system to sync or alternate with it, or run them independently.
Fuse protection, wire gauge and total current draw depend on how many lights you're running and what else shares the circuit. Check the amp draw on each product page and size the wiring to the whole system, not to a single light.
Should I buy single lights or a 10-pack?
Seven. At seven lights on most models, the 10-pack costs less than buying them individually — and the remaining three become spares.
Since a full build runs around ten lights, most people outfitting a vehicle properly are already past that break-even. Buying singles at that point costs more and leaves nothing in reserve.
There's a second reason beyond price: a pack gives you a matched set — same color, same generation, same pattern timing across the vehicle. Lights bought at different times can differ slightly in shade or flash behavior.
Buy singles if you're adding one or two to an existing setup, or testing a color before committing.
→ Shop Grille & Surface Mount 10-Packs