Firefighter Lights – LED Lighting for Emergency Vehicles
Are you a volunteer firefighter? Lights for your emergency vehicle are essential, as is a siren and speaker set. With onboard LED lighting and sound equipment, your truck, car or SUV will easily attract the attention of other motorists – and that’s exactly what you need when you’re called out to fight a fire.
A range of different types of LED lighting for emergency vehicles is available, and you can choose from an array of siren and speaker systems. Having options is great, but it can also make figuring out which firefighter lights and equipment to purchase a definite challenge.
For that reason, the expert team at LED Equipped put together a comprehensive guide to the various types of firefighter lights and emergency vehicle siren systems. Read on to learn the basics and find expert advice on how to make a smart investment.
Laws on Firefighter Lights and Vehicle Sirens
As a volunteer firefighter, you perform a very important service. When there’s a fire and you need to rush out and help, however, you aren’t free to ignore the law. And the fact is, local and federal regulations may limit the types of LED lighting and siren systems you can use when you’re out on the road.
Before you begin shopping, we recommend checking with your local law enforcement agency. That way, you can be sure that your firefighter lights and siren don’t get you pulled over on the way to fight a fire.
Types of Firefighter Lights for Emergency Vehicles
As you’ve likely noticed, we’ve referred to LED lighting a few times – and we have a good reason for doing so. Simply put, light-emitting diode technology is the superior choice for firefighter lights.
LEDs are more energy-efficient and durable than halogen and high-intensity discharge (HID) lights. LED lighting also offers optimal brightness and clear visibility, and they have a lifespan of between 30,000 and 50,000 working hours. Plus, LEDs operate without a problem in any weather conditions – even frigid temperatures cause no delay in function.
Now that we’ve explained why we recommend LED lighting for emergency vehicles, let’s look at the options. Volunteer firefighters use an array of different types, and many install and synchronize multiple LEDs along with a siren speaker system to effectively catch the attention of others out on the road.
LED Light Bars
Light bars are widely recognized by motorists as emergency lighting, which makes them a good choice for volunteer firefighters. Available in lengths of up to 63 inches, they mount to the rooftop and are powered by the battery through a switch inside the vehicle.
LED Mini Light Bars
Mini light bars, which range from 12 to 27 inches in length and run through battery power, can attach with magnets or bolt-and-lock fasteners to a vehicle rooftop. But, these low-profile firefighter lights can also be installed on the grill, bumper or side panel.
LED Visor Lights
Visor lights are a discreet LED lighting solution for volunteer firefighters. Their slim, sleek housing ensures they remain out of sight when not in use. The LEDs permanently mount to the windshield or sun visor and are wired to the vehicle battery for power.
LED Dash Lights
Dash lights, which mount with suction cups on the dashboard or inside the windshield, come in lengths ranging from 5 to 38 inches. They require very little power, so these firefighter lights can be run with the vehicle’s cigarette lighter.
LED Beacon Lights
Beacon lights are the type you’ve seen in old movies, when police officers whip them out, plug them into the lighter socket and stick them on the vehicle rooftop. Today’s versions, featuring LED technology, mount with high-powered magnets.
LED Grill Lights
Grill lights, or surface mount LEDs, draw on the battery for power and are typically mounted behind the grill of an emergency vehicle. However, these discreet firefighter lights can also be easily installed on bumpers and dashboards.
LED Running Board Lights
Running board lights are a popular option among volunteer firefighters. The low-profile, battery-powered LEDs mount inside the recessed grooves of the emergency vehicle steps, making the firefighter lights invisible when not in use.
LED Hideaway Lights
Hideaway lights, which are roughly 1.5 inches in diameter, are a discreet LED lighting option chosen by many volunteer firefighters. Wired to the battery, the LEDs can be placed in many spots, like inside the headlights and taillights or within the wheel wells.
Vehicle Siren Systems for Volunteer Firefighters
With all of the distractions drivers face, firefighter lights alone may not be enough to get a vehicle noticed. To ensure their emergency vehicles command the attention of other motorists, many volunteer firefighters pair their LED lighting with an onboard siren and speaker set.
A vehicle siren system can offer an effective warning to everyone out on the road, even in urban areas where buildings and obstructions can cause firefighter lights to go undetected. The best siren and speaker sets have helpful features, such as:
- Airhorn, Wail, Yelp, Phaser and other industry-standard siren tones
- Public address capability with clear broadcast sound frequency
- Wide-angle speaker sound dispersion and volume control
- Wire harnesses and mounting options for easy installation
- Controls for onboard firefighter lights and other vehicle accessories
Most volunteer firefighters choose either a 100-watt or 200-watt siren. The latter isn’t actually twice as loud, as wattage measures power — not sound. But, a 200-watt siren does produce more powerful sound than a vehicle siren that has 100 watts, which means it can be heard from a greater distance away.
That said, adding an intersection clearing system to any 100-watt or 200-watt siren and speaker system boosts its ability to create sound that penetrates vehicles. The deep, low-frequency tones produced make other motorists take notice, even in high-noise areas.
Choosing Firefighter Lights and a Vehicle Sirens
With the many options for LED lighting and emergency vehicle siren systems, how do you find models that best meet your needs? To narrow down the selection, we recommend taking the following steps:
- Check the local laws on vehicle lights and siren systems
- Consider how many firefighter lights it will take to make your vehicle visible
- Measure the spots where you plan to place the equipment
- Decide whether you want permanent attachments or temporary mounts
Next, browse the selection offered by a reputable vehicle lighting and siren system supplier – like LED Equipped.
We have an impressive inventory of affordable, high-quality firefighter lights and vehicle siren systems from the world’s leading brands and manufacturers. Fire departments across the country turn to us for onboard LED lighting and siren solutions, and you can purchase the same first-rate equipment they use with LED Equipped.
Our high-performance firefighter lights and vehicle siren systems feature groundbreaking technologies and durable construction, and all our come with warranty coverage. We have an A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, and LED Equipped is Shopper Approved, with 4.6 out of 5 stars and nearly 800 customer reviews.
Plus, if you can’t decide which firefighter lights or vehicle siren and speaker system to purchase, our expert team is happy to provide advice. We’re well familiar with the needs of volunteer firefighters, and we can answer your questions and offer equipment suggestions.
With LED Equipped, you can count on exceptional customer service and budget-friendly pricing. Browse our online catalog of LED lighting products and siren systems today, or give us a call and we’ll help you find firefighter lights and a vehicle siren and speaker system to meet your needs.