POV light set-up

I am a vol. firefighter looking at light set ups for my POV. i don't want anything too extravagant, just something to get the job done.

I am thinking about mounting a couple AxixTech 4 Diode LED Light Heads in the grille of the car, and Whelen taillight strobes.

i've been trying to do research, but i am having difficulty figuring out if that set up will work in my Camry. does anyone know if it will? also, how difficult will the set up be?

i know it would be much easier to buy a dash mount that plugs into the cig lighter, but i'm feeling a bit more adventurous than that.

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Permalink Reply by DOWNS290 on July 1, 2009 at 1:19pm
MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO NOT DO ALL OF THOSE FANCY HARD WIRED LIGHTS. YOUR BEST BET IT TO GET A SMALL DASH OR ROOF LIGHT THAT HAS A CIGARETTE PLUG AND PLUG IT IN. ONCE YOU START RUNNING WIRES AND MESSING WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS YOUR INCREASING YOUR CHANCES FOR A PROBLEM. PLUS YOU HAVE TO DRILL HOLES IN YOUR DASH WHICH ON RESALE DONT LOOK THAT GOOD. BUT THAT IS ALL JUST MY OPINION
Permalink Reply by anne potter on July 1, 2009 at 1:28pm
I have a dash mount . Led I love it.
Top mount you have to bolt on your car or hope it does not come off...
I move it when I go on trip that i know i don't need it.
I think cars can see it better than on top of my car.
You will figure it out what you want ..
Good luck
Permalink Reply by Steven on July 1, 2009 at 2:36pm
Check the V&T laws for your state (or province or whatever) first and make sure you're in compliance. Check with fellow firefighters, see what they have, what they recommend.

In NYS it is one, rotating, 360 degree viewable, blue light. I'm one of maybe three volunteers who are in compliance with that though in our department. Everywhere is different. Our volunteers get away with it because the cops don't want to pull over every firefighter responding to a call when lives are on the line, however, they can always make it an issue of a driver pushes the rules too far.

Anything other than what the law permits will probably put you on your own if you're involved in an accident while responding to a call.
Permalink Reply by anthony periard on July 1, 2009 at 2:37pm
yes it should work with out a problem but you should have something on top so you can be seen better especially at intersections and doing traffic detail. you should be seen at al directions but that could get pricey
Permalink Reply by Paul J. Storke, Jr. on July 1, 2009 at 3:23pm
That is possible but hard I am a diesel mechanic and do wireing like that and it takes days and alot of electrical knolage because it is easy to build off a pre existing system but you will have do everything from fuses switches wires and a good power and ground source and try not to overloadyour fuse block doing what you want to do so I would go with a simple dash light or roof light and mabe wig wags because they hook up to your pre existingfactory headlight wireing.
Permalink Reply by Fire Capt. 1304 on July 5, 2009 at 4:59am
I see you are from CT and if memory serves me correctly you can only have two sets of lights. The grille LED lights are easy to install and wire up plus LED have a lower draw on the electrical system and would'nt effect much. The strobes on the other hand are kind of a pain with drilling holes, and the wires are larger and the power supply will have more of a draw on your electrical system. If you do use the strobes be careful of the electricity the power supply uses, I can tell you from personal experience that it hurts when it zaps you. If you are open to suggestions I would say install another set of LED's on a license plate bracket for the rear warning instead of strobes. That would be less time consuming and and make for an easier install.
Permalink Reply by Justin Buck on July 5, 2009 at 8:05am

this is how my lights are set up. my camera could barely keep up with my strobes lol
Permalink Reply by rfdjumper on July 5, 2009 at 10:23am
That's kinda WACKERish young Buck, but very entertaining.
Permalink Reply by FF Nick on July 5, 2009 at 10:57am
All I've had for years was a FedSig Rotating dashlight and wig wag box for my headlights. I got a new truck and decided not to put my wigwags in, sold my rotating light, bought an off brand LED for about 100 clams, and was given a Whelen Dual Strobe. The LED sits high on the windshield and the Strobe sits below it on the dash. Nice combo that works for me, and cheap. Me personally I won't drill my head/tail lights for strobes, I don't think it's worth it on my own truck.
Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on July 5, 2009 at 12:11pm
The purpose behind installing lights on a vehicle is for visibility, meaning that other drivers can see that you are a volunteer and are responding to an emergency. As Steven pointed out, in New York a light has to be visible from all directions. I'm sure that this is required by other states as well.

In my opinion the best light to use is a roof mounted rotating or flashing light. It's visible in all directions, doesn't blind you at night and can easily be mounted without tools.

Grille lights are visible to oncoming drivers and SOMETIMES drivers immediately ahead of you, heading in the same direction as you.

Dash lights aren't visible in all directions unless you want to be blinded at night by the thing. Even with a shield or hood on a dash light I have found that the reflection off the windshield is objectionable. At least to me.

I haven't figured out why strobes in the taillights would be useful, other than when parked at a scene and trying to control traffic. Other than that they seem to be "Hey look at me" lights.

There is easy, and adventurous, and safe, and ostentatious... hopefully this gives you something to consider.
Permalink Reply by Jacob on July 5, 2009 at 5:35pm
To top all this off most importantly get a siren it does the job not only can drivers hear u but if u have the right set of lights they can also see u in texas law permits u to have as many lights as u want as long as u can be seen 360 degrees on my car i have a tear drop on my dash and a mini phantom in my rear windsheild my dash is 360 in my car the flash doesnt bother me that much but it can get annoying if ur going far dont get all fancy with strobes and stuff my set up cost me a total of 160 bucks and it gets the job done great i've gotten compliments from our local pd also but its all up to u the way u want it
Permalink Reply by Dewayne and Diana Bean on July 5, 2009 at 9:55pm
mine and my hubbies are visible from 360 degrees we do have a lot of money in our systems but its what we love and its our passion and there are no drilled holes in my car and no one can see the wires everything looks factory believe me I WOULD NOT do it if it didn't look professional. You can check mine out on our profile page.

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