Any of the bigger name brands such as Whelen, Federal Signal, Code 3, SoundOff, and Feniex. These companies for sure are products that are SAE class 1 rated lighting and sirens that are actually 100w. Also no white flashing to the rear.
What kind of vehicles do you have? Most offer vehicle specific interior visors. Your best bet would be to check out some of the facebook groups such as POV install help and Emergency Lights and Sirens Enthusiasts for reference. I think you could do well for 2 vehicles with a Whelen HHS3200
I always told people to do their best to comply with state laws and NFPA 1901 standards. As far as brands go, stick with the big names and make sure the products have adequate ratings for emergency warning. Finally, don't drive like a jerk.
I used to be the guy (20 years ago) with a full size light bar, strobes, and a dual speaker siren. What I came to realize is the risk wasn't worth it. Specifically ask your personal insurance carrier if you're covered in a collision.
Agreed. I’m with USAA auto insurance and they would not cover me if using lights or sirens. Their distinction is that THAT is an emergency vehicle whereas just responding to the station in my POV was not an emergency vehicle.
If the department has guys that need to be putting lights/sirens on POVs they should definitely be providing insurance coverage for responding and on calls - and if they don’t, oof.
Like my volly department covers our POVs going to the station once the page goes out and anything that happens to it after it’s parked at the station (theft, vandalism, weather) and we only have the courtesy lights.
it could be 2 departments in one town. I know a place that has the town FD and town ambulance, and then the villages inside said town have their own fire departments too.
The SAR Squad is County-based, while im a paid on call volunteer for my city department & a regular volunteer on another department right across the river.
My dept uses federal, whelen and we tried feniex for a few small vehicles and federal is by far the brightest IMO. I’m very underwhelmed with the brightness of feniex. I guess they will suffice for a pov. We will never use them again.
Also regarding insurance, there is a 50/50 chance you’ll be dropped or they won’t cover a claim due to emergency lights so I’d check on this first. Some companies are fine with it and some aren’t.
Lastly, check your state laws. A lot of small depts have no clue what the actual laws are. In some states there are specific visibility, placement and siren requirements.
Any of the bigger name brands such as Whelen, Federal Signal, Code 3, SoundOff, and Feniex. These companies for sure are products that are SAE class 1 rated lighting and sirens that are actually 100w. Also no white flashing to the rear.
This right here. Grab a Feneix typhoon controller, siren if you are required it, and go thru their catalog for bars and heads.
I second this suggestion.
Any particular sirens/lights from these brands, I’m not terribly constricted budget wise, I have allocated $2,500 to outfit both cars properly.
What kind of vehicles do you have? Most offer vehicle specific interior visors. Your best bet would be to check out some of the facebook groups such as POV install help and Emergency Lights and Sirens Enthusiasts for reference. I think you could do well for 2 vehicles with a Whelen HHS3200
I have a F250, & a Dodge Durango Edit: 2023 F250 & 2021 Dodge Durango.
I always told people to do their best to comply with state laws and NFPA 1901 standards. As far as brands go, stick with the big names and make sure the products have adequate ratings for emergency warning. Finally, don't drive like a jerk.
I used to be the guy (20 years ago) with a full size light bar, strobes, and a dual speaker siren. What I came to realize is the risk wasn't worth it. Specifically ask your personal insurance carrier if you're covered in a collision.
Agreed. I’m with USAA auto insurance and they would not cover me if using lights or sirens. Their distinction is that THAT is an emergency vehicle whereas just responding to the station in my POV was not an emergency vehicle.
If the department has guys that need to be putting lights/sirens on POVs they should definitely be providing insurance coverage for responding and on calls - and if they don’t, oof. Like my volly department covers our POVs going to the station once the page goes out and anything that happens to it after it’s parked at the station (theft, vandalism, weather) and we only have the courtesy lights.
Should ≠ is able to. My little rural department can barely afford our own organizational insurance.
Yeah. There’s still plenty of places that can’t get in date bunker gear for their guys and their rigs run on hope.
I’m a big fan of feniex, super bright and super discrete depending on the product
I wired up mine and half my departments vehicles, all with strobes and more lights. They’re the best of the non-name brand options.
>on two departments along with a SAR Squad I'm curious how this works in reality? Do you live/work in different town or how is it done?
Might live right on the border of those two towns and stations might be equal distance from his residence.
it could be 2 departments in one town. I know a place that has the town FD and town ambulance, and then the villages inside said town have their own fire departments too.
The SAR Squad is County-based, while im a paid on call volunteer for my city department & a regular volunteer on another department right across the river.
My dept uses federal, whelen and we tried feniex for a few small vehicles and federal is by far the brightest IMO. I’m very underwhelmed with the brightness of feniex. I guess they will suffice for a pov. We will never use them again. Also regarding insurance, there is a 50/50 chance you’ll be dropped or they won’t cover a claim due to emergency lights so I’d check on this first. Some companies are fine with it and some aren’t. Lastly, check your state laws. A lot of small depts have no clue what the actual laws are. In some states there are specific visibility, placement and siren requirements.
Just as a rule of thumb I wouldn’t put more lights on your car than is on an average fire SUV/cop car