IN-PROGRESS Whelen Light Bar Rebuild
Backlinks: 2023 Jeep Wranger JL
On Jan 27, 2024, I snagged the light bar off the old Leverett's chiefs car that they were about to burn. Let's see if we can get it working!
It took until Jun 15 that I finally took the light bar apart.
A week later, found some time to test each light individually. Made a little rig with an extra connection I cut off inside, and a 12v battery. They all work.
It was really tricky figuring out what parts I need to get this thing running. I've got two obvious thick power red/black connections (with ground). Also a "control" looking connection in white and green.
After MUCH digging, and some dead end phone calls, I found the documentation for a Whelen control point has a wiring diagram that includes the green/white connection. There is a 6-pin connector off the control point, two of which go for the green/white.
Alternatively, this 4x flasher would replace the need for the Whelen control point. Would need that 4x flasher because the cheapo flashers only handle 1A and each light in the whelen bar is an amp!
Either the Fenix or the Whelen needs a controller for the "flasher"/"control point" module.
Lots of options there…
Another FF wants to the siren too,
and Fenix sells that for another $160.
Will need a controller ultimately,
either the 7 button mini (120) or with the integrated siren too (300).
Or somehow with the toggle switches I have.
I got a versatile controller that can handle either of these.
July 6th, ordered acrylic cleaner for the plaster on the light bar ($12), also our van headlights need cleaning (two birds, one scone). Should arrive 2024-07-08.
On July 8th, ultimately decided to try the whelen control point on eBay rather than the 4x flasher, hopefully it works ($105). Acrylic cleaner got here later in the day. Can get the van lights first, then the light bar lights.
Late July, good and bad news. Good: cleaned the acrylic like a week ago. Bad: tested the Whelen control point a few days ago and couldn't get it to work…
Will need to sell the control point and buy the Fenix one.
Early August: bought the 4x flasher on Amazon, and I really don't need a siren and don't have a place to mount the full control unit so I went with the controller handle mount.
Once I get the control handle fully installed, I'll use that to test out the flasher + light bar.
A few weeks ago I got this one almost all the way done.
One last test with the whelen control point, using a good connection from the bench power, and it did work. I now wonder if I gave it enough amperage to run… since the flasher lit everythinng but the corners, then I had to give it more power.
I'll never know! Cut it out and removed the circuit board.
Use twist caps on the 4x flasher, stripped every wire by hand, and got it wired up.
Drilled a couple holes through the aluminum bottom to mount on the jeep bar. Had to trip down the acrylic on the end caps for them to fit on with the tigher mount. Installed on the jeep! Just need to connected up the wires now.
WAITING Sell whelen control point
Listed it on ebay a couple days ago.
Not sure whether it actually sold? Got an offer, accepted it, but had a message asking to decline it. Looks like the payment has come through but I'll wait to ship it. Address:
Okay he didn't want it. Cancelled and re-listed.