Modifications In Light Bars

Light bars are variously modified to fit on different types of vehicles, and to aid in different jobs. There are Light bars with one single color and designed to do just one function, and there are those that have three or more colors and designed to do different functions. Among single color light bars amber light bars are very common and are used in emergency vehicles as well as in non-emergency vehicles. Police vehicles use arrow stick amber light bars for guiding traffic around traffic jams or in areas where roadwork is going on.

Volunteer firefighters and medical technicians on their personal vehicles use blue light bars. These lights are referred to as courtesy lights because the lights do not give them any right to proceed faster or disregard traffic rules like active emergency vehicles do. Blue light bars only indicate that the user is going on an emergency mission and its flashing is a request to other vehicles to let them go faster. At the other end are light bars, which will have blue, red, amber, and white lights on them and can be switched modes to do different jobs.

Several types of truck light bars are offered to suit different models of trucks, and differently for front end and tail end installations. Some have bed rail installation so that the light bars do not occupy any extra space atop the vehicle. Floating mounting system is very popular for bed rail installation. Four or more light tabs will be provided in these bars for mounting auxiliary lights. Commonly available finishes in these light bars are nickel-chrome finish, black zinc finish, and stainless steel finish, with manufacturers offering rather long warranties for stainless steel finished ones.

There are large truck bed light bars for off-road use with bolt together construction and plastic gaskets, which help to prevent contact with metal. There are also specially designed front-end light bars in the pattern of grille guards with the provision for mounting different numbers of lights. Different types of light bars may be compatible only with different models of trucks. There are also jeep light bars to guard the front end of jeeps, hood mounted light bars, and frame mounted light bars.

There are combo light bars that combine in them strobe functionalities and rotators. The advantage of such light bars is that the rotators produce signals that are quite visible during daytime, while intense strobe flashes are more useful at night and in foggy conditions. Another combination found in light bars is warning rotators, plus work lights and turning lights and tail lights. Such a combination comes in handy for a tow truck. light bars designed especially for forklifts are available with corrosion resistant casing, 100,000 candlepower, halogen backup lights and easy mounting options.

While so many differences and modifications are found in light bars, the main components that go into its making are more or less the same. Most light bars have an extruded aluminum base which functions as a heat sink by dissipating heat. Then there will be the polycarbonate lens, wiring harness, and mounting kit. While some larger light bars come with only one mounting option since they have to be permanently roof mounted, manufacturers give several mounting options for smaller light bars.