Multi-colored lights on cab

[CAL5330]

I've seen several new trucks on-line with multicolored lights on the rear side of the cab. Usually 4 or 5 different colored lights stacked one above the other.Can anyone tell me what they are used for ?

[ctxffman]

tank water level.

[CAL5330]

Pretty big lights for water level.I'm talking about the 4 lights just past the rear door of the cab.

[skipatrol8]

those in the picture are water level indicators, though i think ive seen them as as warning lights.

[firemanmikey]

I know for a fact those are water level lights.

[fireman4949]

All of our new units (past 4-5 years) have them. They're great! Especially on things like grass/brush fires. At a glance you can see how much water you have left to work with.

BTW, they do not double as warning lights.




Kevin

[CAL5330]

Thanks for the responses. I would of never thought they were water level lights.

[IronsMan53]

Yup, makes it so much easier to take a quick glance to see the tank level than to have to call the pump operator and ask. It also allows the pump operator to easily monitor the tank level if they step away to make connections or such. The guys here love them.

[npfd801]

I have heard some user input that the four seperate lights as shown in the photo above, as opposed the multi-colored LED strip light (think one long strip with multi-colored LEDs) is easier to see from a distance.

Anyone else have experience with the strip type unit?

[bgcjmc]

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but it is up to the pump operator to monitor the water level, not a nozzle team or the I.C.. The good point about calling the pump operator on the radio and inquiring about the water level is that everyone on the fireground hears it, including the I.C. and any other companies operating. And if the pump operator is making connections, then why not put a slave tank level gauge on each pump panel and at the rear?? This way, all s/he has to do is look up and it's right in front of them, not on the side of the cab.

Just my .02 worth

[fireman4949]

I have heard some user input that the four seperate lights as shown in the photo above, as opposed the multi-colored LED strip light (think one long strip with multi-colored LEDs) is easier to see from a distance.

Anyone else have experience with the strip type unit?

The lights are each a different color...(blue, green, yellow and red) They're all easy enough to see from a few hundred feet. LED is obviously brighter than incandescent, but just how far away from the unit will you actually be on any given line?




Kevin

[fireman4949]

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but it is up to the pump operator to monitor the water level, not a nozzle team or the I.C..

Just my .02 worth

It is up to the driver to know. However, what is the harm in knowing (I.C., hose crew, other units, etc.) at a glance, without extra chatter on the air, how much wet stuff is left in the tank?

Obviously, the lights are useless to hose crews in a structure fire, but the I.C. and the driver can still glance at them, can't they?

Just another tool...Necessary? No. Helpful? Yes.




Kevin

[BoxAlarm187]

I have heard some user input that the four seperate lights as shown in the photo above, as opposed the multi-colored LED strip light (think one long strip with multi-colored LEDs) is easier to see from a distance.

Anyone else have experience with the strip type unit?

We've been using the Whelen 500-series LED's on our rigs at work for several years now, and they seem to work well. We recently took delivery of a tanker that has the Whelen PSTANK "strip" light - to me, it doesn't appear to have a lot of off axis power. That is, you need to be in-line with the front of the light to get a "true" idea of what it's reading.

[LaFireEducator]

We ordered this system on our new engine, due to be finished ina couple of weeks. It allows the IC to moniter water without tying up the radio to ask the pump operator water level status, which can be a great benefit for a department with a single operational frequency. It will also have a benefit for those departments where a pump operator is a part of the firefighting team and not tied to the pump ... and there are a lot like that including my old department back in the northeast.

[IronsMan53]

Anyone else have experience with the strip type unit?

A neighboring department has the separate lights like in the picture above and my department has the LED strip light with the different colors. Both can be seen at good distances and angles and there have been no complaints about either.