Whelen HID (High Intensity Discharge) Warning Lights

[@coreyspence418]

I’m still a fan sealed beam may not be the brightest but always love the sealed beam look

[@elightbars]

Honestly, in person the sealed beams were the most attention getting. The pop you get from the bulbs isn't quite matched by the reflector.

[@quindariousgooch7281]

i know nothing about light mechanisms but i’m glad these videos are being recommended to me

[@bobo-wf1jv]

The sheer size of the reflector draws me to personally chose the sealed beam .. I picture each light turned on approaching an intersection, .. the HID would warm up in time to cross, the halogen would be sufficient, yes, I just like the diameter of the sealed beams. Great comparison, thanks,

[@GCHG2014]

I think the HID is much brighter.. Cool concept but that start up time is hard to get passed. Thank you for doing these videos. Can't wait for the Whelen Edge history lesson.

[@elightbars]

I would agree it probably is "brighter"; As far as attention getting, which is subjective, the sealed beams seemed to most visible to me. The pop from the bulbs and their focus seems to outweigh the overall brighter output of the HID. Had LEDs not come along maybe the reflector and ballast tech could have been refined. I think this is a good lesson (applicable to LEDs today) that brighter isn't always most attention getting.

[@mtvjackass74]

2006 through 2008 Nashville Fire Dept new engines had rear rotobeams with center bulb placement, not very bright on a sunny day.

[@nlopitziii]

Cool video! I had never seen a rotating warning light that used HID for the light source. To me it looked like the dual reflector halogen has a cloudy reflector assembly. And I would have liked to see the HID model powered up without the dome. But again great video of something I had never even heard of before!

[@elightbars]

I have not taken the dome off the HID yet, but it would be interesting to see the "color temperature", especially next to the halogen one without the dome. If i remember correctly based on the degrees K the HID is much more "cold" and the halogen more "warm". I will take a video comparing that at some point, good idea. The Code 3 dual reflector light is very much in "right off the vehicle" shape. I included it as another reference point, but it is not NOS like the Whelen ones (I could probably clean it up a decent amount).

[@JohCraLights]

Glad you got it. I'll soon have the big weird reflector version available. Just need to swap the magnet mount kit to an NOS older label dual reflector I picked up. I'll email when done.

[@elightbars]

Can't wait to see it....

[@VorsprungDurchNik]

Man, I'm jealous... a sealed beam RB6! "Formerly Austin Electronics AR504..."

[@elightbars]

They were made under the Austin label for 90% of their manufacture period. After Austin was absorbed back into Whelen the sealed beam RotaBeam was only made for a year or two. I had to snatch it up when I saw it.