SDPD to LED lightbars!

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hodad200
Posts: 147
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 11:59 am

SDPD to LED lightbars!

Post by hodad200 »

Just spotted a midcity radio car, brand new equipment. Came complete with a new lightbar setup, led lightbar similar to the ones SO uses. More to follow.
N6ATF
Posts: 373
Joined: Sun May 15, 2005 1:36 pm

Post by N6ATF »

Yay?
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mike
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Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 1:34 am

Post by mike »

Cant wait to see some pics of it sooner or later :D
w6pix
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 4:00 pm

Post by w6pix »

Ya, I saw a K-9 car with one of those last weekend.. slick
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mike
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Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 1:34 am

Post by mike »

I can kind of picture what they look like.
2912N
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Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:09 am

Post by 2912N »

There are just several out there being tested. There has not been a decision made to outfit all new cars with them. (tho with the lower maint costs etc I will bet on this being the wave of the future.)
nobody33
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:49 pm

Post by nobody33 »

I think there are like five six different LED light bars we are testing. K9 has a couple, northeast, midcity, gangs, all have one too. The midcity one is my favorite. I don't like the all white one. I think it's ugly.

All he new cars have at least the LED rear deck lights.
w6pix
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 4:00 pm

Post by w6pix »

nobody33 wrote:I think there are like five six different LED light bars we are testing. K9 has a couple, northeast, midcity, gangs, all have one too. The midcity one is my favorite. I don't like the all white one. I think it's ugly.

All he new cars have at least the LED rear deck lights.
Those LED's bars cost about $1300, whereas incandescence cost about $700. However, the benefits may out weight the costs. Depends on the maintenance.

I'd be interested to see how its working out with city shops and the LED traffic signals. The LED units don't "burn" out, however, I'm sure we've all seen them, even as soon as a year after installation.. Spazzing out.. flickering, a quarter of the matrix burned out... On the surface LED sounds like the way to go, however, LED matrix drop in replacements are infinitely more complicated than a single incandescent setup. There are probably a few hundred solder joints in each unit as well as numerous voltage regulation components. There are circuit boards behind the leds. The replacements, while not for burned out leds, could be significant in cost. However, the energy savings might just surpass that. Think about it.. Everywhere in the city at every intersection there were numerous bulbs, maybe a few hundred watts, burning all the time (either red,green or yellow)... that musta been a hell of an SDGE bill. Don't know how it's worked out.. Maybe we should put Mike Aquire on the case to find out! LOL.

Back to bars:

Less getting a jump start at a traffic post if you turned the engine off

The LED bars draw a LOT LESS juice. Less load on the battery and alternator..

Drawbacks, daytime visibility, but they are getting better and better every day... CHP has about the brightness daytime LED setups I've seen.
dbelleperc
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:02 pm

Post by dbelleperc »

I've seen them too. SDSO has fedsig's and the two SDPD I've seen have Code 3 LED's. Both use the same LED bulbs 3W lumileds. I wouldn't worry about the brightness durning the day. LED are IMHO superior to halogens. But sheriffs need to get a better flash pattern.

w6pix,
The led's in the traffic signals are gen 1 and 2 led's, different from the gen 3's in the light bars. Also they have saved the city millions of dollars a year on power at the intersections. Wow!
dangitdoug
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 12:14 am

Dodge Charger

Post by dangitdoug »

I only caught a glimpse of it, but I'm pretty sure I saw a SDPD Dodge Charger on Ruffin Road between CMB and Balboa earlier this week. That's the first of those I've seen for SDPD. I'll keep my eyes open for it again.
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