subject: Which Are The Best Police Car Lights? [print this page] Advancing technology has been so perfectly incorporated into the manufacture of police car lights, that markets are literally flooded with car lights of varying functionalities, and different color combinations. The manufacturers of these lights also offer many optional features and customization facilities. So, police car lights that cater to all types of customer needs are easily available in the market.
Such an abundance of the product obviously solves the availability problem of police car lights. However that does not solve the problem of the right selection. On the other hand, in a way, it increases the selection problem. With so many models to choose from, buyers have to carefully select the type of lights, that will fit the needs of their vehicle, in a hand in glove manner.
The brightness of the lights, and the color choices that a light bar or beacon might offer, will obviously be a prime consideration while buying police car lights. However, the light of a police vehicle should also lend itself to being concealed perfectly, because stealth operations are very important in the case of police. It should be dimmable to the extent of making the vehicle inconspicuous, while at the same it should have the ability to get activated instantly when situation demands. This feature should be tested while selecting police car lights.
The balancing between quality and price is also important in buying any product. In the case of police car lights, halogen lights sport a much cheaper price tag than LED lights, which are comparatively more expensive. However, LED lights give much longer service, and may not need bulb replacement for more than a quarter century, even if the bulb is used every day. On a vehicle that does not need to use its emergency lights frequently, LED lights could pretty much be immortal.
If you look at it that way, LED lights are much cheaper. Even then, this need not necessarily mean cost effectiveness in the case of police car lights. In a quarter century time, the original police vehicle onto which the light got fitted might have reached the junkyard. If the practice of the department is to pack off the LED light also to the junk yard, together with the host vehicle, the investment on LED lights would make no sense at all.
What all this translates to is that the utility of a specific type of police car lights would depend on how it is expected to function, and how it is likely to be maintained. For police vehicles that will be continuously engaged in crime investigation, and chasing of criminals, LED police car lights will be a great boon. The light intensity of LED lights, and the fact that it is unlikely to conk out in the middle of a chase, make it everybody's choice. However, to make the investment cost effective, the department that invests on it must have some policy, which ensures that it is used for all its life without waste.
On a police vehicle, which is likely to use its emergency lights only sparingly, it is best to install police car lights that are cheap and have a short life span.
