Conversion from Regular Flasher to Strobe Flasher

GoodGuy · Jan 24, 2005

Scott....
Thanks for the link & Info. I do have 2 cheapie magnetic Strobes that I bought on e-bay. They are single flash & I was looking to change the slow blink, blink Amber Flashers to the pulse flash. This would also compliment the strobes. What I didn't mention in earlier posts is that I live just under the crest of a hill & If I'm backed out on the road during snow removal the customized lighting I'm proposing would add the safety factor because of traffic.

GoodGuy · Jan 24, 2005

Bob...
I remembered that post but couldn't find it, appreciate the link. I'll keep you posted

Junkman · Jan 24, 2005

( ......................I live just under the crest of a hill & If I'm backed out on the road during snow removal the customized lighting I'm proposing would add the safety factor because of traffic. )

I would think that you would be better off with either a 2 or 4 bulb rotating beacon as used on the old police cars. These are much better for snow use than any strobe. The only place that I know of that strobes are more effective as a warning signal is in dense fog. The problem with strobes the way that I see it, is that it is very hard to judge the distance of the vehicle using the strobes. I have also heard that some of the rear end collisions between parked police vehicles using strobe is a result of the drivers being blinded by the strobes and actually steering into the vehicle using the strobes. You can purchase a 2 bulb beacon rather inexpensively on eBay. The only question is "does your tractor alternator have the ability to keep it going without killing the battery?". If I ever get a cab on my tractor, I think that I have found the proper warning signal for the top of it.... see attachment...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

LBrown59 · Jan 24, 2005

Strobes may not be legal.

Junkman · Jan 25, 2005

( Strobes may not be legal. )

who would that be?????? warning lights of all types are legal when used properly.

LBrown59 · Jan 25, 2005

( ( Strobes may not be legal. )

who would that be?????? warning lights of all types are legal when used properly. )

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I'm just saying you probably should check with the authorities befor installing and or using them.

Bob_Skurka · Jan 25, 2005

LBrown . . . I'm trying NOT to be a smart*** here, but which authorities would I have to check with? The private snow plow guys with pick up trucks and blades have either strobe lights or rotating lights. The construction guys seems to have strobes on their vehicles. A tractor can legally be driven on a road provided it has the appropriate SMV signs (and the type does vary by state law) and uses its in accordance with the law. What difference would it make, from a legal point of view, if a strobe was substituted for a an incandescent? Or an LED? Traffic laws may well dictate what colors can be used, such as red lenses for rear, yellow for the front, yellow for a top mounted warning, red for side, etc.

EDIT -- The main reason I ask is that there have been other threads about talking with authorities and nobody really seems to want to accept responsibility for regulating our little tractors and even telling us if they fall under agricultural regulations when they are on the road or if they are even legal if they have the appropriate SMV signs, etc.

LBrown59 · Jan 25, 2005

( Scott....
Thanks for the link & Info. I do have 2 cheapie magnetic Strobes that I bought on e-bay. They are single flash & I was looking to change the slow blink, blink Amber Flashers to the pulse flash. This would also compliment the strobes. What I didn't mention in earlier posts is that I live just under the crest of a hill & If I'm backed out on the road during snow removal the customized lighting I'm proposing would add the safety factor because of traffic. )
...........
 The school busses here have a white strobe light mounted on the roof of the busses. They use them when it's foggy.
One of those might be ideal for your tractor.

I would check with local law enforcement before installing or using a strobe lite.
It just might save you a fine if you do.
Certain types and colors of lights are reserved for police fire and emergency vehicles only.
Flashing or bilking lights are another area to be careful in.
Getting caught with them on your vehicle could get expensive.
In some case you don't even have to be on a public road to get ticketed.
If you are on your own property they can still nab you if the lights are visible from a public road.

I've had people complain to the law about a plain old white flood light on my garage simply because they could see it from the road.
I would have been in trouble had the officer who dropped by to investigate found something illegal.

BarryinMN · Jan 25, 2005

My County uses amber rotating beacons on tractors & pickups, bought from local JD dealer.

Amber strobes (bulb type) on dump truck plows. The dumps are wired with an extra battery & wiring harness for all the strobes. The top LH mount strobe attached to the mirror bracket has a plate under it to block the flashing from fatiguing the driver.

These strobes are 55Wx10= 550W = 40 amps of power! Excellent visibility, durability seems to be good. Whelen brand. I did not ask about multiple alternators but I know these 50 ton beasts have standard DOT lighting, salt spreaders, wing plows, extra plow lighting, heated mirrors, multiple radios & other power consuming stuff!

I will probably mount a pair of Nova 41 Joule amber strobes above my line of sight on tractor next summer. Power consumption is about the same as motorized rotating beacons. I need to figure out a quik-detach mount system first.

LED strobes eliminate power consumption concerns & extra power supply wiring but are extremely directional even the "wide angle" types.

LBrown59 · Jan 25, 2005

( My County uses amber rotating beacons on tractors & pickups, bought from local JD dealer.

Amber strobes (bulb type) on dump truck plows. The dumps are wired with an extra battery & wiring harness for all the strobes. The top LH mount strobe attached to the mirror bracket has a plate under it to block the flashing from fatiguing the driver.

These strobes are 55Wx10= 550W = 40 amps of power! Excellent visibility, durability seems to be good. Whelen brand. I did not ask about multiple alternators but I know these 50 ton beasts have standard DOT lighting, salt spreaders, wing plows, extra plow lighting, heated mirrors, multiple radios & other power consuming stuff!

I will probably mount a pair of Nova 41 Joule amber strobes above my line of sight on tractor next summer. Power consumption is about the same as motorized rotating beacons. I need to figure out a quik-detach mount system first.

LED strobes eliminate power consumption concerns & extra power supply wiring but are extremely directional even the "wide angle" types.

)

I need to figure out a quik-detach mount system first.
BarryinMN
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Use the method I suggested in the thread : Still another Set of ROPS lights.