Dash lights

Eric · Post by **Eric** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 7:05 pm

O.K. guys. I am looking for a dash light to supplement the hideaways on my truck. It's a toss up between a dual Talon and a LED Slimlighter. Let's hear your opinions.

jim · Post by **jim** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 8:20 pm

Choice #1: Tomar TLED series
Choice #2: Talon
Choice #3: 911EP LS-12
Choice #4: the rest of the LEDs ou there suck.

Post by Pj » Sun Apr 25, 2004 5:42 am

If you go with the simlighter, go with the TIR6 version...it throws out a lot more light than the 20mm version.

AltonFF · Post by **AltonFF** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:34 am

I agree with Jim. But add one more on.. . . .
The Whelen TIR Slimlighter. It does punch out a lot of light.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:48 am

I have a TIR6 slimlighter and it is a very bright light. However, it's got nothing if you get more than about 30 degrees off center.

The Dual Talon also a very bright light AND it totally kicks ass in the off-angle department. Installations in an explorer, station wagon, and plymoth fury (tank) yielded outstanding results.

GET THE TALON!!! The TIR6 is kinda obsolete now.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:51 am

the tirs products are not obsolete. the 500 series body mounte are a damn good light

fireradio · Post by **fireradio** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 10:00 am

My Tomar Police Light II is awesome -- clears traffic like nobody's business, even in the daytime. It is a strobe, not LED however.

Eric · Post by **Eric** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 10:16 am

Thanks for the replies. If any body here is a dealer I'd like to have a PM with prices on the Tomar and the Talon.

Thanks,
Eric

EOppegaard · Post by **EOppegaard** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 7:02 am

nmfire10 wrote:Installations in an explorer, station wagon, and plymoth fury (tank) yielded outstanding results.

Who the hell would put a Talon in a Station Wagon?

I highly reccomend the Talon, It puts a mini-edge, hideaway strobes, grill strobes, and headlight flasher to shame.

jim · Post by **jim** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 12:04 pm

How can one say that any dash light puts a mini-Edge to shame? Last time I checked, dash lights don't put out any side light.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:10 pm

Look straight on to this car, the Talon on the dash washes out the mini-edge on the roof. It really does. Obviosly, if you way off angle, the bar would take over.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 5:20 pm

whats wrong with stations wagons.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:21 pm

Well, in general, nothing. But trust me, this station wagon is special. Don't worry, I'm sure the owner agrees

jedi_saber · Post by **jedi_saber** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:26 pm

nmfire10 wrote:Well, in general, nothing. But trust me, this station wagon is special. Don't worry, I'm sure the owner agrees

Can we get some photographic assistance so we can see for ourselves? Is this along the lines of the infamous Ford Tempo project??

jedi_saber · Post by **jedi_saber** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:40 pm

KitN1MCC wrote:whats wrong with stations wagons.

I remember back in the day when I lived in Germany, the advanced life support was provided by physician's who drove nicely equipped BMW, Audi and Mercedes station wagons with lights and sirens... Hehehe

Gotta love the OLD school two tone sirens that run with a HI and a LO set of airhorns!!

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 7:37 pm

jedi_saber wrote:
nmfire10 wrote:Well, in general, nothing. But trust me, this station wagon is special. Don't worry, I'm sure the owner agrees
Can we get some photographic assistance so we can see for ourselves? Is this along the lines of the infamous Ford Tempo project??

Thats not up to me. However, if it were mine and someone wanted pictures, I would probably deny knowing anything about it.

Robert HT220 · Post by **Robert HT220** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 10:15 am

Hey, it's not as bad as a red and blue Aerodynic on a military green station wagon!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trust me, it looks stupid as $hit. Especially with a lo band whip on the rear bumper.

Robert

Post by Pj » Tue Apr 27, 2004 2:36 pm

I get a little worried when I see DIE on the side of a public safety vehicle

fire_master_21 · Post by **fire_master_21** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 3:59 pm

thought i was the only one who saw that

doesn't make me feel very warm and fuzzy

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 5:39 pm

that is one butt ugly bar too

jcobb · Post by **jcobb** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 6:37 pm

I like the "turn signals" mounted on the outside on the back of the car...

Kinda like the early '50s Volkswagens.

Cool paint job, though. Although with that "DIE" on the side, it reminded me of "Smoochy Must Die"...

Jack

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 7:49 pm

Speaking of stupid... The town just bought several Police Package Impalas to test as an alternative to the crown vic. What in the hell is with the those stupid ass brake lights on the back deck??? That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in a long sad history of stupid things on emergency vehicles.

Post by Pj » Tue Apr 27, 2004 7:53 pm

They must have bought the "metro" package for city driving...sorta like what Hartford has...high mounted stop/turn lights since everyone tailgates.

007 · Post by **007** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:26 am

nmfire10 wrote:Speaking of stupid... The town just bought several Police Package Impalas to test as an alternative to the crown vic. What in the hell is with the those stupid ass brake lights on the back deck??? That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in a long sad history of stupid things on emergency vehicles.

Is GM still using these? I did the same to my Impala, but used FedSig SML2's in a red/amber combo...looks a lot nicer

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 2:03 am

Yep. Those. Two of them on the back deck. I'm sure it increases the visibility but no other vehicle has them, why is it needed on these? It looks so stupid. Of course, the entire car is a flamboyant worthless piece of crapola so I guess it fits in well.

ESDA20 · Post by **ESDA20** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:40 am

Of course, the entire car is a flamboyant worthless piece of crapola so I guess it fits in well.

I feel no love for the Impala...

Silly Ford man!

KB1JHU · Post by **KB1JHU** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 7:10 am

nmfire10 wrote:Speaking of stupid... The town just bought several Police Package Impalas to test as an alternative to the crown vic. What in the hell is with the those stupid ass brake lights on the back deck??? That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in a long sad history of stupid things on emergency vehicles.

Milford PD had some of those brake lights on the back decks of the older crown vics. They didn't bother putting them on the newer ones. Good thing too, it looked really stupid.

jedi_saber · Post by **jedi_saber** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:52 am

tell me about it. Believe NYSP still uses these lollipop lights both in grille and on rear deck - hideous, travesty I tell you.

jim · Post by **jim** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 6:10 am

Oh, come on! The Impala is seriously outselling the Crown Victoria everywhere I see in many parts of the country.
They are cheaper to maintain than the LT1 CAprice ever was and they cost $3000.00 less than the Crown Vic.

They might not be the fastest or the best handling, but they are staying together really well (except for the early year trans failures) for a light duty civilian-based FWD car.

I'm far from being a GM fan, but these cars are great for small towns. I wouldn't recommend one for a highway patrol or for someone who needs speed and power.

As for the lollipop lights...these are spec'd by certain states and not GM, although GM installs them. GM will factory install a Gall's siren speaker if a purchaser of 5000 vehicles per years wanted that. This is the light that certain large purchasers wanted since it's low bucks. Can we say NYPD. How about PA State Police?

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 9:22 am

I've been asking the guys using these new Impalas how they like them. So far, the overal concensus is:

They are slow
They don't stop
They can't turn worth a damn
The ride like crap
They are too small
The list goes on

I think they are actually now to the point where they are TRYING to break them so the administration will decide not to buy any more after this "test period" is over.

rwo978 · Post by **rwo978** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 12:26 pm

Hello all!! Long time reader, first time poster.....

I'll start off by giving my opinion of the Impala.... Crap. They fall apart, are doggy, and are just not made like my car #20, an '04 Vic. Our Imp's have been in the shop more than on the street, and our Vics that we've had for almost a year, have yet to be in the shop... but for driver error, (accidents). I was sad to hear that the 4 oldest Imps my dept has are being changed over for 4 new Imps... the low bid of course. But, that money saved will go right back into the car once the breakdowns start. Enough of my first rant.

I hope to read and post more...

jim · Post by **jim** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 2:16 pm

You're right. They are slow. They can't stop. They handle like :o. I think the taillight section looks like :o, too. They are, however, user friendly in terms of installing equipment.

But....

They are selling and staying together well. All in all, they aren't a bad police car. Just don't try to catch a new Cobra on the Turnpike or chase it through some twisties.

I am not a GM OR a Ford man, but one can't argue that they are selling like crazy. I'll take the Hemi Magnum next year with 300+ BHP to the rear wheels. Actually, I'll take a new Porsche Cayanne S Turbo SUV and outperform just about anything the police have (:

Post by Pj » Thu Apr 29, 2004 3:45 pm

The Imp's around here were selling a bit as dept's were looking at alternative vechicles as budgets grew tighter. They found out that the inital and ongoing cost's were not worth it. Two lines of equipment, consoles, driving habits etc. Every dept around here has taken them off the line and use them for adminstrative purposes.

We drive the same type of vehicle every day, and don't want to adjust habits or comforts until the entire fleet swtiches over. We learned on the PI's, train with the PI's and we know them inside and out. It may be a fun car to drive time to time, but not for 8-16 hours a day, everyday.

USPSS · Post by **USPSS** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:48 am

I have a 2004 Impala 9C3 used as an admin vehicle, the car is in a previous post.

As an admin. vehicle it is wonderful, rides good, handles good and had COOL A/C. One negative is with all the radio equipment it lacks trunk space with the DR slide mount in the trunk.

I think for small towns it is a great car but for large cities that use pool cars then it should be limited to Detectives and Admin.

I have driven a new chevy RWD police package in AZ at the test center and it rocks, almost the same size as the CV but makes the CV feel weak. It handles like it's on rails, I hope it goes from idea to the streets in the next year. I think they are going to put some out with select dept's. for further testing

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:48 am

KitN1MCC wrote:that is one butt ugly bar too

What kind of lightbar is that anyway?

freema22 · Post by **freema22** » Thu May 06, 2004 5:14 am

jim wrote:Choice #1: Tomar TLED series
Choice #2: Talon
Choice #3: 911EP LS-12
Choice #4: the rest of the LEDs ou there suck.

How can you say "the rest suck"? A light that you forgot is the Predator. I know for a fact that it blows away the LS12. There are a lot of people (myself included) that think it is brighter head on than the Talon, and the specs support that. I admit that the side warning is not as good as the Talon, but what kind of crazy person relies on a dashlight for intersection warning? Finally, with the introduction of the Predator II, the Predator series will once again be the best LED on the market (from all angles).

Mike

Post by **HumHead** » Fri May 07, 2004 5:35 pm

I have to put in a good word for the Predator too. I have a dual Predator in my truck, and people just do not seem to want to stay in front of me.

I've looked at it side-by-side with the Talon, and I actually think the Predator is just a hair brighter (it does have more LEDs, and the difference in intensity is slight at best)

Another thing that drew me to the Predator is their horseshoe shaped braket, which fits up around the rear view mirror base. This puts the light body mostly up behind the mirror, and makes it less of an obstruction in my sightlines.

The prescored flash shield is really nice too, although their cutting chart is a bit off, at least for the Explorer.

jim · Post by **jim** » Fri May 07, 2004 5:57 pm

The reasons that I didn't list the predator:

#1. It has very little penetration off to the sides compared to the LS12, TLED and Talon.

#2. It's butt effing ugly. It looks like ET's head.

Post by **HumHead** » Sat May 08, 2004 11:21 pm

#1 My fondness for the Predator is as a forward-facing dash light, a role that it seems to fulfill admirably. I agree completely with you that it is not an intersection clearing light.

#2 I'm not sure that I see the family resembelance

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Sun May 09, 2004 9:53 am

how can it be brighter than the talon when it iis not even linear leds i think those r just super bright low voltage leds not 18volt leds like the talon

freema22 · Post by **freema22** » Sun May 09, 2004 4:36 pm

KitN1MCC wrote:how can it be brighter than the talon when it iis not even linear leds i think those r just super bright low voltage leds not 18volt leds like the talon

The Talon LEDs are not any different than any other LED's. The "linear" effect comes from a reflector. It just spreads the light out better laterally. If you look at a Talon up close, you can see the individual LEDs. According to the data sheets, the Predator LEDs are driven at a higher voltage than the Talon. That is how the Predator is brighter head on. Because the case is metal, it acts like a heatsink. That allows them to reliably drive the LEDs at higher power. Before you jump down my throat, I own both the Talon and the Predator.

jim · Post by **jim** » Sun May 09, 2004 8:11 pm

I'm gonna laugh my ass off when all of these LEDs that are being driven at 1.5X their rated voltages burn up in a year!

Oh.....the Talon DOES cause serious noise in VHF radios as one post in the past stated.

thebigphish · Post by **thebigphish** » Sun May 09, 2004 8:55 pm

freema22 wrote: According to the data sheets, the Predator LEDs are driven at a higher voltage than the Talon. That is how the Predator is brighter head on. Because the case is metal, it acts like a heatsink. That allows them to reliably drive the LEDs at higher power. Before you jump down my throat, I own both the Talon and the Predator.

jim's right (as usual), unless they have some new breed of higher voltage LEDs, they'll sizzle. your margin of error with semiconductors and out of spec voltages is MUCH smaller.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Mon May 10, 2004 4:46 pm

yes the talon or the TIR leds will not turn on unless there is 18volts present.

chipjumper · Post by **chipjumper** » Tue May 11, 2004 8:11 pm

jedi_saber wrote:
KitN1MCC wrote:whats wrong with stations wagons.
I remember back in the day when I lived in Germany, the advanced life support was provided by physician's who drove nicely equipped BMW, Audi and Mercedes station wagons with lights and sirens... Hehehe

Gotta love the OLD school two tone sirens that run with a HI and a LO set of airhorns!!

DER KRANKWAGON!

Mike in CT · Post by **Mike in CT** » Sat May 15, 2004 1:57 pm

Yo Matt:

I still have a 30 year old red gumball ("Kojak" light in the war wagon.

You think maybe I am a bit behind the technology???

Hey, I plug it in (very rarely) and it goes round and round... with a little screechin grinding noise...

Mike
KM1R

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Re: Linear LEDs

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