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| Gearheads Greasy mechanical things. Fixing your car, swapping out engines, buying tools, and getting maximum horsepower. |
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#1
 2008-12-17, 01:21
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Anywhere, except for now.
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Emergency Lights.
I'm an EMT in the State of Ohio. I volunteer and I work for a private service. Where I volunteer we're allowed to have Flashing Red and White lights on our POV. Since my Firebird died, I've since taken the Dash light and siren out and put them in my new truck(2001 Dodge Dakota, for those who care). I also bought a little strobe kit from Advance Auto. I placed them where my fog lights went. They work and all, but they just aren't very bright. Is there any way I can increase how bright they flash? I'd like to have all the visible warning power I can, for as cheap as I can. If I'm driving on the way to an emergency I want people to see me in ample time to pull over safely.
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#2
 2008-12-17, 02:16
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red_eyed_wonda 
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Re: Emergency Lights.
does the flasher make the fog lights dimmer? or are they just not bright enough as a whole?
i would suggest hid retrofits, but they wont work flashing, maybe a higher wattage bulb? you cant do with with you head lights?
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#3
 2008-12-17, 02:16
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Re: Emergency Lights.
If they arn't bright at 12 volts, I don't think you will get much more out of them. The only way to make them brighter is increase voltage or amperage (if its not getting enough amps, which they probably are.)
Increasing voltage is a little tricky, requires a circuit to be made. This will shorten the life of the lights. You could try putting twice as many lights in maybe?
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#4
 2008-12-17, 02:58
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Anywhere, except for now.
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Re: Emergency Lights.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by red_eyed_wonda
does the flasher make the fog lights dimmer? or are they just not bright enough as a whole?
i would suggest hid retrofits, but they wont work flashing, maybe a higher wattage bulb? you cant do with with you head lights?
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The bulbs of the fog lights burnt out before I bought the truck. I removed them and placed the strobe bulbs where the fog bulbs were. I can make the head lights flash with an alternating pattern, but the system required for my specific truck would cost nearly $100.
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#5
 2008-12-17, 05:24
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DavidThePyro 
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Re: Emergency Lights.
Wig-wag controllers for the high beams can be found for way under $100, in fact you can make one with a turn signal flasher and a couple bucks of Radio Shack parts. Of course, fancy versions that have multiple changing wig-wag patterns are a bit more... I built one for the high beams and one to alternate the brake and reverse lights on my Crown Vic.
As for the strobes, you'll have to buy a better system than a parts house special. Federal Signal, Whelen, Code 3, etc.
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#6
 2008-12-17, 15:38
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Regular
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Anywhere, except for now.
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Re: Emergency Lights.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by DavidThePyro
Wig-wag controllers for the high beams can be found for way under $100, in fact you can make one with a turn signal flasher and a couple bucks of Radio Shack parts. Of course, fancy versions that have multiple changing wig-wag patterns are a bit more... I built one for the high beams and one to alternate the brake and reverse lights on my Crown Vic.
As for the strobes, you'll have to buy a better system than a parts house special. Federal Signal, Whelen, Code 3, etc.
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The wig-wag setups I've found for cheap, won't correctly wire into my truck. Do you have the schematics for the one you made? I don't need any fancy patterns, just an alternating flash back and forth. That's what I figured with the strobes. I don't have a whole lot of money right now with a vehicle payment, so I'll just have to figure something else out for the strobe toggle switch as they're pretty much useless.
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#7
 2008-12-19, 07:30
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DavidThePyro 
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Re: Emergency Lights.
What's different about your truck's high beams? They take a +12v feed like almost everything else...
It's been like 2 years since I built mine, but IIRC all I used was a flasher and a some diodes. Maybe the DIY forum could provide some insight.
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#8
 2008-12-19, 17:00
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Regular
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Anywhere, except for now.
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Re: Emergency Lights.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by DavidThePyro
What's different about your truck's high beams? They take a +12v feed like almost everything else...
It's been like 2 years since I built mine, but IIRC all I used was a flasher and a some diodes. Maybe the DIY forum could provide some insight.
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http://needlights.com/whuhf2150a.html
I'm not sure but Whelen flashers don't work with Dakotas, Durangos or Chrysler mini vans.
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