I really do love the effectiveness and simplicity of them.
There a few F-bombs in the video if you are at work or have little ones.
There a few F-bombs in the video if you are at work or have little ones.
Michigan State Police Beacons Are Awesome
- Thread starter LineSpotter
- Start date
Cool beacons, but why do so few installs have siren park kill??
I hate the beacons personally. I don't feel they're very effective either. Sure, they're bright, you've got a 6" tall tower of LEDs, but it's all focused in one area, you get no idea of how the car is positioned.
You've just been mister positive lately Luke...
@LineSpotter I too like them, but I like the hoodfins more! Love the nostalgia.
I'm all about tradition. Love me some maroon and gold. However, there comes a point where it's ridiculous and is placing tradition over officer safety.
Why not just carry a revolver and a billy club? The question seems stupid, but they are applying the same logic to the emergency lighting that gets their officers from point A to B safely.
Don't forget that most of the units also have Push Bumper and Mirror lights as well. The MSP does a great job with their multilevel lighting and usually has everything synced together on a very distinctive flash pattern.
Working in several other states, and moving over to Michigan, I initially thought the same thing... just guys keeping with old outdated traditions.. As some time went by, and actually seeing the lights in person, parked next to other squads with full light bars it was amazing how far away you could see and distinguish the MSP trooper, before you even realized there was another squad with him. In essence, great lighting, effective from all angles, and it also works great in snowstorms!
Working in several other states, and moving over to Michigan, I initially thought the same thing... just guys keeping with old outdated traditions.. As some time went by, and actually seeing the lights in person, parked next to other squads with full light bars it was amazing how far away you could see and distinguish the MSP trooper, before you even realized there was another squad with him. In essence, great lighting, effective from all angles, and it also works great in snowstorms!
Its hard enough to get the stupids just to SEE an emergency vehicle and yield...
Yet you expect them to actually notice its orientation???
How are they "junk"?
IME they are at least as effective... if not more effective than typical lightbars
They takedown override? Alley override? Steady red with brakes? Integrate traffic controllers? Cut out sides with doors open? Have multiple functions for including steady? Have the option to only use 1 or 2 modules?
They're extremely primitive for a $900 21t century light.
They're extremely primitive for a $900 21t century light.
All stuff that is rarely used by the vast majority of EV operators (if even optioned by departments).
And what is the acquisition and instal price of a typical top shelf bar with all of those options?
See the MSP beacon side by side with a typical bar and the beacon stands out two-fold.
Especially when the bar is flashing away in one of those idiotic disco patterns.
Most of those things are done automatically, and my Officers do utilize the TA, TD, and alley lights regularly. In fact, the only option that I rarely ever see them use is the rear cut. Probably smart considering the liability in it if they use it then stop on the interstate. The only price difference is buying a dual color bar as opposed to a single. It still installs the same, and the programming would have to be done regardless. And my upfitter now has a base map, don't be programming takes all of 20 min. The bar itself costs more, sure, but I could easily get away with it being the only warning light on the car.
In fact, I nearly do. Most of my cars use interior bars which also get perimeter lights, but the overhead cars get a HLF, a small dual color light in the headlight housing for corners, and a small LED in the reverse lamp housing. When all is said and done, the two cars cost within $200 of each other. Most of my Officers choose the slicktops, but I have some that prefer the brighter and more traditional overhead.
In fact, I nearly do. Most of my cars use interior bars which also get perimeter lights, but the overhead cars get a HLF, a small dual color light in the headlight housing for corners, and a small LED in the reverse lamp housing. When all is said and done, the two cars cost within $200 of each other. Most of my Officers choose the slicktops, but I have some that prefer the brighter and more traditional overhead.
I believe they also now have driver side door side light cut off.
All that typing yet you failed to answer my simple question... Oops
As for users, your tiny fraction of a percent is just that.
In my own experience over the decades has shown my statement to be true.
Across many municipality, state, agency, etc
Heck many of the locals where I live now don't even option such things
But as dmathieu post shows, those functions are available if desired
Our bars run right at $2000 (SoundOff nForce), and I can't quote the bar install price since that is built into the upfit of the car. But the bar isn't much harder to install than a beacon, it could very well be easier in fact.
To supplement the beacon, they have to add 10 additional perimiter lights (Push bumper, mirrors, side windows, rear deck, rear plate). At $200 a piece, I'm $900 cheaper. I spend about $600 for the perimiter lights on my overhead cars (Front corners, reverse housings). So my car would be roughly $300 cheaper. And it's significantly more effective and has more options.
To supplement the beacon, they have to add 10 additional perimiter lights (Push bumper, mirrors, side windows, rear deck, rear plate). At $200 a piece, I'm $900 cheaper. I spend about $600 for the perimiter lights on my overhead cars (Front corners, reverse housings). So my car would be roughly $300 cheaper. And it's significantly more effective and has more options.