BillC
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Post by BillC on Mar 13, 2006 1:14:12 GMT 1
Nick,
The new LED light bars, like the Galaxy from 911EP, have a very low profile. One of the big advantages of the LED light bars is extremely low current draw compared even to strobes. Light bars with incandescent bulbs and rotators are major power hogs and require the car be left running to avoid draining the battery, even during long periods of idling. During our Texas summers, it's not uncommon to see cruisers at an accident scene with their hoods opened to prevent engine overheating. The drawback is the price. The Galaxy is one of the most expensive light bars on the market.
As for the Federal Signal Vector light bar, it's far less expensive than the Code 3 MX7000 used by the LAPD.
What usually drives selection of a light bar is functionality: the MX7000 has more functionality than the Vector. You can add all sorts of lights to either, but with the Vector, you wind up hanging lights all over the place; with the MX7000, it's all in a package. Flashers, intersection lights, alley lights, takedown lights are all standard and you can even add a speaker (OSHA regs prohibit roof-mounted sirens but PA speakers are okay).
The CHP can get by with the Vector because it is more concerned with highway visibility than with neighborhood patrol.
The majority of US metropolitan and county law enforcement agencies prefer light bars like the Code 3 or Whelen Edge. In fact I am not aware of that many major agencies that use the Vector (I think NYPD is one because cost is a major factor in their purchasing decisions) on their line patrol vehicles. On the other hand, you can see lots of special-purpose units sporting the less expensive Vector.
Bill C.
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stanhas87
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1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 13, 2006 2:15:46 GMT 1
Dear Bill:
As far as I know, only Burbank PD and that Northridge Cop uses Galaxy lights;and is right,only CHP and NYPD are the ones I know that uses the Vector Bar.
Thanks for the info,it clarifies a lot.No wonder cruisers need heavy duty batteries as well!!!
Nick K
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Post by mrbst30 on Mar 13, 2006 3:40:52 GMT 1
My dad works for a dodge dealer in the area, and he said they got in a few dodge charger police cars in, and a big shock came when he opened the hood and theye were NOT equipped with a hemi!!
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stanhas87
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1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 13, 2006 4:13:46 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Base engine of the Magnum/Charger is a six;so,no surprises here.
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BillC
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Post by BillC on Mar 14, 2006 7:50:57 GMT 1
According to the 2006 Michigan State Police evaluations, the Charger with the 3.5-liter six, despite being heavier, is only slightly slower than the Chevy Impala 9C1 which has a 3.8-liter engine and the Charger gets better fuel mileage.
The Impala tops out at 142, as opposed to 135 in the Charger (the Hemi Charger hits 150), but even high-speed chases seldom hit a cop car's top end and both cars have higher top speeds than a Crown Victoria. Plus the Charger has much better brakes than the 9C1 and beats it on vehicle dynamics.
For most patrol work, the less expensive Charger with the 3.5-liter is perfectly adequate. The more expensive Hemi is better-suited for designated metropolitan pursuit units and highway patrol use where its best-in-class acceleration (0-60 6.52 seconds and it hits 100 mph in less than 4/10s mile) is important in bringing pursuits to a quick conclusion.
Incidentally, contrary to popular belief, the chases seen on TV seldom hit much over 100 mph. The cars are perfectly capable of higher speeds, but the drivers usually aren't.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 14, 2006 7:59:06 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Bill has a good point here. On Police Videos,this is the usual commentary (about the person being chased): he has a powerful car but can not handle the speed as (the cops) can.
Good info,too.That means that the Charger cruiser with the Hemi is at the same performance as the Holden Commodore police car.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 16, 2006 20:59:07 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
A couple of days ago,I saw a Chevy Tahoe Police unit from the Sheriff dept., and this had the Galaxy thin roof light.I assume that this Agency can afford these. So does (what I assume is Transit Police) this other agency with has POLICE written in bols letters at its side.
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BillC
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Post by BillC on Mar 17, 2006 6:12:08 GMT 1
It may be the LASD is trying the Galaxy to see if the lower aerodynamic drag and battery/alternator drain produces some savings to offset the higher price. Also, there is some evidence the LED lights, because of their quick attack (the LED illuminates faster than an incandescent bulb), offer higher visibility and better protection.
Frankly, cop cars went for many years with a gumball machine or a flasher or two. I am not sure all the hundreds or thousands of dollars for big candlepower and special effects are worth it. Anyone who is paying so little attention that they run into a cruiser or fail to pull over is either DUI, wanted or too stupid to be driving.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 17, 2006 7:00:41 GMT 1
Dear Bill:
The ones I like is the oval ones which my Dodge Monaco model (the larger one;I bought it built) has. From the 1980's,no doubt.
However,I agree that,since these lights are so effective and do not waste a battery when the cops use it,so these should be the majority.
Nick K
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BillC
87thScale addict
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Post by BillC on Mar 17, 2006 16:05:24 GMT 1
Nick,
By "oval" I assume you mean the cross-section, which would mean you have a Federal Aerodynic. Those actually date from the 1970s.
Bill C.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 22, 2006 3:53:52 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Well,it seems that the LAPD is also going thru the expense.Today I saw one of their Vics with the Galaxy light roof.
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BillC
87thScale addict
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Post by BillC on Mar 22, 2006 5:36:59 GMT 1
Compared to the Code 3 MX7000 lightbar they were using, the Galaxy is just slightly more expensive. If you can get a close look, you might check to see if the new light bar is a Galaxy; there are other LED light bars, like the Smith & Wesson or the Solaris and Raydian from Federal Signal.
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Post by superba on Oct 11, 2006 18:36:03 GMT 1
Bill:
Did you notice the recent news that the State of Michigan is decomissioning the Untiy Gumball's or DeathRay's as they are called by troopers.
That's the last large fleet to still use the old (50-60's) gumballs. The current plan has them being used until 2009
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BillC
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Post by BillC on Oct 12, 2006 15:34:56 GMT 1
Joe,
As far as I can tell, if you got your info from the "Michigonian Press," it's bogus - the publication and the MSP lieutenant they quote are ficticious. I know there are a couple forum threads running around on this topic.
According to the MSP in September 2006, the bubble is not being discontinued. The rumor may have arisen because Unity has said it will stop making the unique "Spitfire" lens (red with a couple of thin clear inserts) due to the low order quantities. Unity will continue making the beacon, just not the special "Death Ray" dome. Plus the latest MSP specs still require new police cars to have a reinforced roof to support the beacon.
The MSP lights are unique because they use aircraft-landing-quality lamps instead of the more usual automotive lamps. They have a far higher light output than the strobes and better visibility than the light bars. The MSP tested them and found no improvement in the strobe lights, which are also much more expensive than the single rotary beacon.
However, the MSP is adding Federal Signal strobes to the rear package shelf and front grille of their new cruisers. And they have the flashers mounted in the side mirrors for slick-tops and some units with the roof light to cut down on intersection accidents.
And the MSP will continue to use the "hailer," that lighted sign mounted on the hood. When I was a kid, a lot of Michigan departments used that sign or a variation of the sign, but I never saw them anywhere else. Most places that had a "pursuit" light used a side-facing red lamp that said "STOP."
Bill C.
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Post by superba on Oct 13, 2006 2:52:15 GMT 1
Bill;
Wow, just goes to show you, you can't believe everything you read on the internet. I did indeed get the info off the copcar.com message board.
Before I did the post, I did do google search for concrete news items and came up with nothing, now I know why.
I am glad the MSP will continue to use these unique lights and the hood mounted lamp/sign.
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