KC9LFD.org

Long story short, the lightbar has been malfunctioning still. But here are some updates.

I’ve replaced all the strobes and yet the bar continues to act up. After some more work, then the serial communications failed to work altogether. I finally called the Wisconsin Whelen rep and picked his brain. Here is what we came up with:

• My wiring was a joke, especially at the battery end. I had heavy gauge wire running to a small gauge wire with a dinky inline fuse that ended up melting. I replaced the line and put an inline Maxi-fuse.
• After replacing the aluminum or steel wire, whatever it was, with copper, I apparently damaged the serial comm. cable that went to the lightbar which caused a complete failure of every serial device in the network. I replaced all my serial comm. lines with new ones from the Whelen rep and it works
• Apparently my power supplies also were bad even though Whelen said they were good. I have a pair of used ones coming from Texas while the Whelen rep is sending mine in for repairs or replacement.

Apparently my wiring is still a joke. I have 2 lines of extension cords (one positive, one negative) with all 3 conductors twisted together to make up for my lack of 8 gauge wire. I personally don’t see the problem but apparently that could be my last failure point but so far the thing seems to be working. I’m just waiting for some power supplies to put in it. I picked up some heavy duty 8 gauge wiring ready to replace my extension cords if the issues persisting.

Believe it or not this thing will be alive once again. In hindsight, I could have picked up a different (not serial controlled) lightbar for $150. For all of the money I’ve spent fixing this lightbar, I could have picked up a brand new LED lightbar. What can I say, I’ve been spoiled with Whelen’s B-Link serial controlled network. I should be getting some power supplies this coming week…

UPDATE: 12/4/2009

Both power supplies came yesterday and were hooked up. It sure was cold haha. The power supplies were considerably older than the ones that I had in the lightbar that are currently being worked on, but they work. Last night and today the lightbar passes the MPC01 diagnostics.

YAY!

It lives again! For all the money I spent on it, it should. I have a practically brand new lightbar. Though I’m still using my existing power wiring, I will consider redoing it once I get the appropriate wiring and a warm day.