High visibility beacons for safer road work

[jedjoe]

I occasionally have to take my tractor onto the road to get from one property to another. Partly because of a chronic problem with my OEM flashers (they keep shorting out), I decided to add a separately circuited set of flashing beacons onto the light bar I built for my tractor.

I just finished installing them, and I have to say I am really impressed by the product. They are sturdily built, and include a flexible base mount that allow the beacon to take a modest hit (tree branches, etc.) and not get damaged. The LEDs are more than bright enough for daytime visibility. And the entire device uses a quick attach system that allow you to remove the beacon without having to remove the base bracket from the tractor.

You can get these on Amazon or at any other online superstore or parts place.

 

[Mrsig]

Nice. I got a free LED one from one of the forum members.

 

[jedjoe]

Nice. I got a free LED one from one of the forum members.
View attachment 740681

I like the LED light bars. Are the outside edges spots and the inside area floods?

 

[5030]

Mounted sort of low in my view. My ag tractors all have a single flashing amber LED beacon on the roof. I do everything I can to be as visible as possible to motorists when I'm roading.

 

[jedjoe]

I considered a higher mounting. I had a magnetic beacon that I used to put on the top of my ROPS, but it always got knocked off by low branches (when I did woods work). Ended up attaching it upside down under the top part of the ROPS. When mounting these beacons, I noticed that the refraction lenses were better suited to maximizing the "flash" when closer to eye level. TBM doesn't seem to allow video attachments. If it did, you'd better see the advantages of the lower mounting.

 

[Mrsig]

I like the LED light bars. Are the outside edges spots and the inside area floods?

Spots center & floods on the ends.

 

[seville009]

As high up as possible with no obstructions is always the best, at least in my opinion as a driver on the road and being able to spot it.

For example, I'm in snow country, and it's easy to spot plows working in driveways with snow banks when they have a bright orange light flashing on their roof. The plows with just flashing led marker lights are hard to see because the lights are low; can't see them until are right next to them.

 

[RjCorazza]

I occasionally have to take my tractor onto the road to get from one property to another. Partly because of a chronic problem with my OEM flashers (they keep shorting out), I decided to add a separately circuited set of flashing beacons onto the light bar I built for my tractor.

I just finished installing them, and I have to say I am really impressed by the product. They are sturdily built, and include a flexible base mount that allow the beacon to take a modest hit (tree branches, etc.) and not get damaged. The LEDs are more than bright enough for daytime visibility. And the entire device uses a quick attach system that allow you to remove the beacon without having to remove the base bracket from the tractor.

You can get these on Amazon or at any other online superstore or parts place.

Nice looking lights and install job. You can never have too much lighting on the road.
I have long agonized over adding strobes to my tractor, mostly for night snow plowing and roading between jobs (all within a mile or so). I have zero height clearance for storage, so high mounts on the cab are not possible. I have been using a magnetic strobe on the rear blade which in addition to the OEM high flashers seems to be adequate.

 

[dj1701]

I'm partial to the old rotator lights. I remember knowing when the snowplow was coming even before it came around the corner. Those rotators really throw the light.

 

[dj1701]

 

[jaxs]

I do everything I can to be as visible as possible to motorists when I'm roading.

Some people are the same way about drawing attention to their person when in public. You might have noticed them conducting their street vendor interprises. White brogans with gold buckles,lime green or hot pink threads head to toe,flashy ring on each finger,gold mouth grill,wide brim lid topped off with peacock tail feathers.

 

[WranglerX]

My OCD would have just dictated to fix tractors e-flasher circuit instead of adding more "stuff".... And yes rotating beacons have their place in night time snow work, but I don't have any snow problems...

 

[jedjoe]

I'm partial to the old rotator lights. I remember knowing when the snowplow was coming even before it came around the corner. Those rotators really throw the light.

The neat thing about these beacons is that they have three illumination options; Flash, Double Flash, and Rotation!

 

[jedjoe]

Wow! Those are noticeable! Did you weld that support onto the ROPS?

 

[jedjoe]

My OCD would have just dictated to fix tractors e-flasher circuit instead of adding more "stuff".... And yes rotating beacons have their place in night time snow work, but I don't have any snow problems...

My OCD drove a similar feeling, but I lack the electrical expertise to really figure out the nature of the short on that circuit. I have another post on the short in the Hazard circuit, and have yet to figure out a solution. Free time is also a limiting factor. My dealer does have field service, so I may eventually "TBN Sin" and have them problem solve it.

 

[dj1701]

Wow! Those are noticeable! Did you weld that support onto the ROPS?

No, I riveted it on with stainless steel rivets.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/20181006_182604-jpg.733547/

 

[JethroB]

Being visible and alerting others is great. Some go overboard and create a hazard instead with blinding intense lightning. Some Police cars come to mind.

 

[jedjoe]

Being visible and alerting others is great. Some go overboard and create a hazard instead with blinding intense lightning. Some Police cars come to mind.

agreed!

 

[jedjoe]

My OCD drove a similar feeling, but I lack the electrical expertise to really figure out the nature of the short on that circuit. I have another post on the short in the Hazard circuit, and have yet to figure out a solution. Free time is also a limiting factor. My dealer does have field service, so I may eventually "TBN Sin" and have them problem solve it.

found the short! See the solution just posted

 

[Bill Guenthner]

Everything on on the road has flashing lights on it these days. Pickup trucks driven by the water company, power company, mail, couriers, school buses, etc. They are so common that they have lost their meaning. It’s like all the vehicles that beep when they back up, people just tune it out.