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Oldiron
Active Member
23 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2014 : 07:06:26 AM
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With all of the stop arm violations these days I am curious as to other districts and states policy on additional warning lighting on the front of the bus. I was at a plant tour at the Thomas C2 plant and was looking at the buses coming off the line. I noticed a bus with flashers mounted on the grill area of the bus, and cannot remember the state or district this bus belonged to. So I wanted to get everyones input and see if I could locate the districts that are using it to see how effective it is.
Thanks for everyones anticipated response |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2014 : 09:04:50 AM
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http://www.akronbrass.com/supplemental-warning-light-kit is this the item you saw?
I'm running 6 buses with this system, all on our very dangerous state and federal routes. These same buses all have strobe effect LED warning lights also. They do seem to make a difference being that they are super bright and at eye level.
There are two operating modes, a fast, alternating red and white flash and a strobe effect red-white flash. I've set mine to strobe, but I see the latest Ohio rules say I can't do that anymore.
They tie into the stop arm deploy signal for a constant power source when the reds are on. Install was pretty simple, everything I needed was included. I pay $395 per kit from TAC. Yes, it's a lot of money, but given how many close calls we have had I believe it's well spent.
Here's a video from the testing phase: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvmTqpizGqc Since then they have been changed to having only two on the front and two on the back, the red portion inboard, and the red-white portions alternate in unison.
I'll see if I can have a buddy of mine take video of how these operate. |
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aaronwilmoth80911
Top Member
538 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2014 : 09:31:51 AM
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There is a system called Gaurdian Angel and I believe Unity has some info or a video on their website. It has extra flashing lights on the grill and also a spotlight on the front bumper. We don't use them, and I'm not sure what states are allowed to use them, but may be worth looking at strictly for the information. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
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Oldiron
Active Member
23 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2014 : 10:45:38 AM
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Thanks for all the info everyone you once again have been a great help! This I don't believe was the specific kit that I saw but it is the same principle as to what was on the bus. We knew about the Guardian system but not the Weldon/Akron Brass kit. Thanks again for all the info! |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2014 : 12:23:09 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Thomasbus24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEmFb-rbZUU video of that guardian angel system. It looks pretty cool, just not approved here (yet)
Interesting. Too bad it's just approved in three states. |
Bryan |
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2014 : 5:57:52 PM
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With any of these systems, will the states in which they are approved allow you to run the extra wire so they will flash in unison with the overhead lights (ie: get alternating power, not constant power from one wire)? I cannot stand the look of the lighting chaos like a police car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye1btFN6XiY
In that video, even though they are incandescent, the fact that they are flashing together over a wide area I think grabs attention over a larger area. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2014 : 03:45:59 AM
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The Weldon system acts very erratic if you tie it into a side of the warning lights, it needs constant power to operate. All lights have three wires, +12VDC, Ground, Common. Tie all the commons together and the aux lights work in unison. |
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kd4jfd
Top Member
USA
1168 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2014 : 4:09:46 PM
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DeKalb County, Georgia has something like this on some of their buses. Reds work as additional brake lights until door is open, then alternately flash. |
539 - Repair work in progress! |
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dferrell
Senior Member
102 Posts |
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