goofballracer
Observer
going to LED's saves you a ton of wattage!
Point Five Ambo Build
- Thread starter patoz
- Start date
patoz
Expedition Leader
Yep, that's the whole idea, plus better more even light, longer life with no degradation over time like Halogen, and almost no maintenance.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Bob, we have a big place here called Ward International Trucks, Inc., that does all of our ambulance maintenance, but I don't know if they actually do remounts. It's only about five a miles away, so I may just ride by there in a little while. I thought about this last week, but never got around to doing it.
This is what we are running here now...
This is what we are running here now...
patoz
Expedition Leader
Well, that was a dead end!
All they (Ward International) do is maintenance and repair; no remounts or mods. Since it's all County Government, everything is under contract. If something breaks, they just order a new one, turn in the old one, and replace it all under warranty. All old parts are on inventory and have to be accounted for.
After I left Ward International, I went to the County Public Safety Office, and talked directly to the Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor. He told me they can't even give or donate items like stretchers, etc. to Funeral Homes, VFDs, medical facilities, etc. due to liability constraints. Everything is under strict inventory control and if taken out of service, it must be disposed of and can't even be sold at auction.
Sure isn't like when I was working for the private companies years ago.
All they (Ward International) do is maintenance and repair; no remounts or mods. Since it's all County Government, everything is under contract. If something breaks, they just order a new one, turn in the old one, and replace it all under warranty. All old parts are on inventory and have to be accounted for.
After I left Ward International, I went to the County Public Safety Office, and talked directly to the Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor. He told me they can't even give or donate items like stretchers, etc. to Funeral Homes, VFDs, medical facilities, etc. due to liability constraints. Everything is under strict inventory control and if taken out of service, it must be disposed of and can't even be sold at auction.
Sure isn't like when I was working for the private companies years ago.
rlrenz
Explorer
Well darn! Do a google search for ambulance dealers - their web sites usually say in very large letters if they do remounts. If you want a gurney, I've seen them available as new surplus in a box, price somewhere about $350 or so. Let me know, and I"ll dig out the listing.
Check with volunteer FDs - they have a tighter budget, and they might be more open to remounts, and might be able to help point you in the right direction.
I just googled "ambulance remounts-FL" and got www.ambulanceremounts.com. Also, ETR Vehicles, ten8fire.com, marqueambulance.com, plus many more. Ten8 is located in Sanford.
Check with volunteer FDs - they have a tighter budget, and they might be more open to remounts, and might be able to help point you in the right direction.
I just googled "ambulance remounts-FL" and got www.ambulanceremounts.com. Also, ETR Vehicles, ten8fire.com, marqueambulance.com, plus many more. Ten8 is located in Sanford.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Thanks Bob, I'll check those out. And in return, here's something for you.
This is Outwater Plastics Industries Inc. & Architectural Products . They have just about everything you need for finishing the interior, including extruded aluminum in many shapes and shapes and stainless steel grills. You can order as much or many as you like, with no minimum amounts.
I received the two lenses I ordered, a clear non-optic 900 series and a clear optic 9e series, so now I can see what will actually fit what, based on what I already have.
But, I probably won't get much done next week because of this...
This is Outwater Plastics Industries Inc. & Architectural Products . They have just about everything you need for finishing the interior, including extruded aluminum in many shapes and shapes and stainless steel grills. You can order as much or many as you like, with no minimum amounts.
I received the two lenses I ordered, a clear non-optic 900 series and a clear optic 9e series, so now I can see what will actually fit what, based on what I already have.
But, I probably won't get much done next week because of this...
patoz
Expedition Leader
Ouch!! I'm in Pensacola where it says 104°!
However, I'm still making a little progress inside with the side work lights. This is a combination of parts consisting of what I had, what was given to me, and what I was able to order. This is using the old halogen bulb with a new lense, which I have not tested yet, but hopefully I'll be able to do that tonight. The old lens was so bad, the whole thing was useless.
I still want to completely convert to LED lighting everywhere, but at least this will fill up the holes and give it a little 'bling' in the process. Now, I only need nine more of them...:Wow1:
However, I'm still making a little progress inside with the side work lights. This is a combination of parts consisting of what I had, what was given to me, and what I was able to order. This is using the old halogen bulb with a new lense, which I have not tested yet, but hopefully I'll be able to do that tonight. The old lens was so bad, the whole thing was useless.
I still want to completely convert to LED lighting everywhere, but at least this will fill up the holes and give it a little 'bling' in the process. Now, I only need nine more of them...:Wow1:
patoz
Expedition Leader
Yeah, I've seen them there. A lot of people have the reflectors including eBay, but it's the clear lenses that are extremely hard to find, especially at a good price. Anyone who has a surplus ambulance, wants the clear lenses because they have no use for the blue, red, or amber ones. Blue and red are also illegal in some states for civilians to even display, much less use. Also, since the newer ambulances are going to all clear lenses now, even takeoffs in good shape are almost non-existent.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Other than having to manufacture an adapter plate, the only real drawback I can see to using them is the 3"+ depth, when the walls of the ambulance body are generally only 2".
However, it looks like the wedge will add .75" to 1.0" of wall clearance, and as you probably read above, I was thinking about using the Whelen chrome bezel between the adapter plate and the outer wall, which would give you an additional .5" to .75" depending on how you spaced the plate out and sealed it.
Of course, depending on what is located on the inside in the area of each light, you could always open the inside wall and box around the opening too.
Another idea I had but have not talked to Rigid about it yet, is to shorten the cooling fins on the rear of the light housing if you only needed .25" or less additional clearance. I'm sure they will tell me this is not a good idea, and any modifications will void the 5 year warranty.
rlrenz
Explorer
I'd worry about heating even if you don't trim the fins - the lights will be enclosed, so there won't be a lot of cooling available.
One option would be to have an aluminum flanged box built that could go into the side to hold the light - then the light would be "outside", but close to flush.
At a certain point, though, it becomes cheaper (& easier) to just buy new clear lenses. About $30/35 each as I recall, but a dealer might take pity on you and give you a discount.
One option would be to have an aluminum flanged box built that could go into the side to hold the light - then the light would be "outside", but close to flush.
At a certain point, though, it becomes cheaper (& easier) to just buy new clear lenses. About $30/35 each as I recall, but a dealer might take pity on you and give you a discount.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Yep, it's so bad here I wait until about 10 pm to go to the mailbox. It was 95° with 89% humidity here today. Seriously, I'm not going outside unless I absolutely have to!
Well, I tested the Whelen 9e (the one I posted above) last night, and the results were pathetic. I had it connected to a good size, and fully charged battery pack, but the beam it cast is horizontal and 90° out from the vertical wall, with numerous ‘hot spots’ and dead zones. This uses a halogen bulb, which is not new and therefore not as bright, but that has nothing to do with the light pattern.
It's funny how you can miss things in real life, but spot them in a picture instantly.
I just realized this lens is an emergency warning lens, and not a scene-light lens. See the vertical bar in the center; that is to focus the majority of the light to the left and right of center in an arc, parallel to the ground, to warn traffic approaching from various angles. No wonder my test was such a disappointment.
I’m still going to pursue the idea of incorporating a LED work light into the housings I have somehow, or mounting it into a recessed box mounted in the side opening somehow. Since I don’t have any ‘buddies’ who do aluminum fabrication, it will be expensive to have them made, so I’m going to look for something ready made like maybe some type of electrical or project box, possibly even one made out of ABS, PVC, or fiberglass, etc. The trick is going to be to find one that is only 2” O.D. deep. This is probably going to have to be a custom made item to fit the existing openings and depth requirement.
Rigid Industries makes several sizes for their lights which sell for $85.00 - $110.00, but are deeper than 2”.