When figuring the equipment budget for your public safety agency, you'll want to take into account emergency strobe and beacon lights pricing and costs. Strobes and beacons can be used for effective back-up lighting or supplemental lighting in emergency vehicles. A strobe or beacon light can also be used effectively for emergency situations in an unmarked patrol car.

Emergency strobe and beacon lights aren't as popular as they once were, thanks to the introduction of light bars. But they are still used, in part because of their low cost compared to other emergency lighting systems.

Consider this information when shopping around for emergency vehicle lighting:

1. To reduce emergency strobe and beacon lights pricing and costs, research options for used lighting equipment.

2. LED emergency strobe and beacon lights tend to last longer, providing a better buy for your money.

3. When figuring your budget, you may want to factor ongoing maintenance into emergency strobe and beacon lights pricing and costs.

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Compare prices of emergency strobe and beacon lights

There's quite a range of prices in emergency vehicle lighting, and your decision may depend entirely on the features you need. Beacon lighting can range from $15 to $300 per unit. Strobes usually range between $30 to $50, but you may need to buy a whole strobe kit. These kits range in price from $20 to $175. Remember that with multiple vehicles in your fleet, these costs can really add up.

I recommend: Browse the price comparisons on strobe lights through Fleet Safety Equipment, then scroll down for prices on beacon lights as well as mini light bars. Check out the strobe prices at SpeedTech Lights and then click the link on the left side for beacon prices.

Don't forget to factor accessories into your emergency strobe and beacon lights pricing and costs

Budget a little more for accessories and installation pieces for your emergency vehicle lighting. From brackets to cables, don't get caught shorthanded. Some quick fixes may extend the life of your lighting and stretch your budget dollar.

I recommend: Whacker Technologies offers brackets, flanges, and a plug extension. Find strobe cables, switches, and harnesses through Hyper-Lights.com.

Weigh your options in emergency strobe and beacon lights professional installation

You may have an in-house installation service or someone on your staff who is able to install the lighting. However, there may be instances when you need the help of an installation professional. Although most installation services don't list prices on their websites, you can easily call for an installation quote.

I recommend: Southwest Public Safety specializes in police and emergency vehicle lighting installation.

Emergency strobe and beacon light range in design from police and safety lights to battery powered emergency beacons for buildings. An emergency strobe and beacon light is designed to assist and warn others during times of trouble. These lights range in size from handheld versions to large wall mounted pieces. Whatever your emergency strobe or emergency beacon light needs are, there are company's online with products ready to ship.

Before you begin your search for an emergency strobe and beacon light, determine what type of light your company needs. LED lights are growing in popularity because they are energy efficient, clear and lightweight. Halogen lights are the most widely used lights. They are bright and long lasting, which makes them a great choice for emergency beacon lights. An emergency strobe light is used to alert with bright flashes of light. These are most common on police vehicles.

1. Save money with LED emergency strobe and beacon lights.

2. Produce bright lights with a halogen emergency beacon light.

3. Purchase emergency strobe lights to alert people of danger.

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Use less energy with LED emergency strobe and beacon lights

LED lights are used in strobe and beacon lights to produce a cleaner light source and to cut down on energy use. One halogen beacon light unit uses the same energy as three LED beacon light units.

I recommend: Wolo Manufacturing carries LED emergency beacon lights in red, blue, white and yellow. Buy an emergency strobe and beacon light for public safety vehicles at Fleet Safety Equipment. Browse the online catalog at Southwest Public Safety to find LED emergency strobe and beacon lights.

Buy halogen emergency strobe and beacon lights

Halogen lights are most commonly used inside an emergency beacon light. Halogen lights work at higher temperatures than LEDS and other lights, so halogen an emergency beacon light will get hotter than other types of light bulbs.

I recommend: Find emergency beacon lights for construction, lighthouses and safety vehicles at Coolsafetyproducts.com. MED-Worldwide carries halogen emergency beacon lights for ambulances and safety vehicles. Browse through the emergency lights available for building at Professional Equipment.

Locate an emergency strobe light supplier

Strobe lights flash warnings in pulses to alert people of a hazardous situation. Strobe lights are available in an array of colors and can be mounted, handheld, plug-in or battery charged.

I recommend: Buy an emergency strobe light in red, orange, blue, green or clear from Ingram Products. Austin Electronics has a variety of emergency strobe lights in different colors and sizes to fit your company's needs. Industrial Safety Services provides a handheld emergency strobe light used for rescue proposes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  All light bulbs produce heat unless they are florescent. Do not attempt to change an emergency strobe and beacon light bulb until it is completely cool.

Emergency strobe and beacon lights come in many types and styles. They are seem fixed to the top of police car roofs. They can be found guiding rescuers to lost souls out at sea. They can be used to find lost campers, and they are also used for keeping speeding motorists away from road construction vehicles.

Safety is a key component to emergency strobe and beacon lights. Visibility is one of the most important factors and life expectancy on the product is another. Your power source will help determine how long your product will last. Some are battery operated, while others can be plugged into your vehicle's cigarette lighter. Another factor with whether or not your model is water proof or not as well.

To find out more about emergency strobe and beacon lights types and styles:

1. Check out portable emergency strobe and beacon lights for travel situations.

2. Take a look at amber strobe lights.

3. See what other colors and styles are available for business and civic use.

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Look at portable emergency strobe and beacon lights

Use portable emergency strobe and beacon lights for potentially hazardous travel situations. Take one with you on camping trips or on boating or plan trips.

I recommend: Look at the 60 hour emergency strobe light from Landfall Navigation. You can see this light up to three miles away, and the pulsing Xenon beacon flashes 50 to 60 times per minute for the first eight to twelve hours. Take a look at the lightweight emergency strobe from Campmor. It flashes 50 to 60 times per minute for up to 16 hours, then lasts for a total of 40 hours. It comes with a waterproof case and a visibility range up to three miles.

Look at amber colored emergency strobe and beacon lights

Use amber colored emergency strobe and beacon lights for traffic, construction, and hazard zones. They give a distinctive hue that allows for enhanced brightness and better visibility in high-risk areas.

I recommend: AUSTIN ELECTRONICS has a quality selection of amber emergency lights. Some you can plug into your cigarette lighter, and some come with their own self contained power supply. Take a look at the amber warning products from Code 3.

See what other colors of emergency strobe and beacon lights are available

Other civil servants use emergency strobe and beacon lights of other colors and shapes. Police officers and fire fighters are just two examples of emergency strobe purchasers.

I recommend: Take a look at the wide variety of colors available from Wolo. They even have styles that offer up to 22 different light patterns. Their lights require no maintenance, and there are no bulbs to replace. Vaughan Safety also offers a wide variety of colored police beacons and other beacon lights.

Used as safety equipment for everything from emergency vehicles to required building and business lighting, emergency strobe and beacon lights run the gamut from hand-held devices to custom-mounted safety beacons. By keeping up-to-date with industry product and regulatory terms, you can ensure you’re equipping your vehicles, employees or places of business with the right devices. Familiarize yourself with terminology such as “tac strobe flashlight,” “decklights” and “selectable flash patterns” to order the right lighting for your business that is also compliant with state or federal safety regulations.

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Decklights

Consider decklights for emergency vehicles as an alternative to models that sit atop the truck or car. Also called dashlights, the units are easy to transfer from vehicle to vehicle since they attach with suction cups and a simple swivel bracket.

I recommend: Use the product descriptions, photos and video on the SWPS website to learn more about decklights and dashlights.

Tac strobe flashlight

Designed primarily for law enforcement or military applications, tac strobe flashlight models generate concentrated strobe effects visible from a variety of angles and distances. Look for impact and fire resistant models for added durability and functionality in emergency situations.

I recommend: Learn more about tac strobe flashlights, including light emissions, specifications and power requirements, through Industrial Safety Services.

Power magnet

When purchasing warning lights for emergency or maintenance transport, look for versions with power magnets that keep them securely attached to the moving vehicles.

I recommend: Wolo offers LED warning lights and rotating beacon lights featuring power magnets for easy and secure attachment to metal surfaces.

Selectable flash patterns

If you're looking for beacon lights for warning, emergency or signaling purposes, consider models with selectable flash patterns. Use the feature to customize the lighting patterns to suit specific applications.

I recommend: Find beacon lights with selectable flash patterns in assorted sizes and colors through the Fleet Safety website.

Ammeter

Ensure your emergency strobe and beacon lights are ready when needed by purchasing units featuring an ammeter. The device tracks battery power to alert the user when they need to replace or recharge the battery.

I recommend: Professional Equipment offers emergency lighting including big beam halogen lights and a variety of beacon lighting with an ammeter feature.

Low profile strobe

Consider low profile strobe models to fit into light bases in diverse sizes. Compare the rating for each unit's number of flashes to find the most cost-efficient models.

I recommend: See low profile strobe models in various sizes and colors through the Ingram Products website.