Mettlen Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Guys, I have a Saracen which is now road registered, taxed (free) and insured. However, I've seen a number of videos with these ex-army Saracens with Amber rotating beacons when on the road. Is this the law? Thanks in adavance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff66 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 no i think just extra safety stop a artic driving up your backside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Its just common sense to make yourself more visible on the roads, especially at night. You have to admit that the older Ferret, Saracen, Stolly era "Lucas Prince of Darkness" rear lighting systems are hardly what you would call large or bright! After having a close call in my Ferret at night year ago I always had one at night. Daytime wasnt so bad. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 If traveling over 25pmh it's illegal to use them on UK roads, there a few threads on here if you do a search that quotes the legislation (not stating legislation for recovery vehicles) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mettlen Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 Great, thanks for your help!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Great, thanks for your help!!! When we drive John Pearsons saracen we allways have the beacon on, the simple reason is that other drivers can see you because its not every day they see a green thing like it on the road and normaly lose all there driving skills in the shock of seeing a saracen or a green thing passing them ! Its better to be seen than not :thumbsup: Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 I'd always have one fitted and switched on. Most road users don't have the faintest idea whats going on around them, let alone directly in front of them and if they do they have no idea how to drive around a large/slow moving vehicle. I know technically its against the law to use one over 25mph, also got to make sure they are mounted level so that they don't flash downwards to dazzle other road users, but I think it'd be a very bored copper that'd book you for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambo1969 Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Got flashing led ambers on the rear of my landy, fitted them after I nearly got rear ended by white van man on the way to a show. Would much rather have a £60 fpn than someone smash into me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Robertson Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Does anyone know where i can buy a 6 volt Amber Beacon ? Thanks. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Does anyone know where i can buy a 6 volt Amber Beacon ? Thanks. David. I have never seen a 6V rotating beacon having said that we have virtually done away with rotating beacons and gone on to flashing 360 strobes. These use far less current. Sure one of the technical people on here can think of converting 12v with sutable resistor or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Your saftey is the name of the game, make your vehicle as visable as possiable esspecially on the motorway, It may be illegal but ive never heard anyone being nicked for it ? I have never seen a 6V rotating beacon having said that we have virtually done away with rotating beacons and gone on to flashing 360 strobes. These use far less current. Sure one of the technical people on here can think of converting 12v with sutable resistor or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex5 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 I have never seen a 6V rotating beacon having said that we have virtually done away with rotating beacons and gone on to flashing 360 strobes. These use far less current. Sure one of the technical people on here can think of converting 12v with sutable resistor or something What you would need is called a 'dc-dc converter', had a quick Google but the only one I could see that did 6v-12v was made for In-car audio - several hundred watts and similar pounds! You would probably not need more than 20 watts or so to run an LED strobe light at 12v, they must be available somewhere! Will have another poke about the web! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mash Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Does anyone know where i can buy a 6 volt Amber Beacon ? Thanks. David. Not sure about that for the gmc (still 6v) all we do is wire a 12v one to a seperate car batt in the back, lasts longenough for most journys till it can be recharged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 If you Goggle 6V amber beacons there are some led ones that run of 6V dry cell battery. These would do the job fine at about £12. ( Dare not mention they are designed for marking skips when dropped on roads). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Try this one it's simple enough to make on veroboard if you dont fancy making a pcb and can go into a small plastic box. It's around on lots of electronic sites and seems to be from the IC manafacturers data sheet, so is a none copyright item for none comercial use. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Try this one it's simple enough to make on veroboard if you dont fancy making a pcb and can go into a small plastic box. [ATTACH=CONFIG]40774[/ATTACH] It's around on lots of electronic sites and seems to be from the IC manafacturers data sheet, so is a none copyright item for none comercial use. Steve That's the wrong way round - he wants to convert 6V to 12V! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 bo*** I miss read it:blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 As I got it wrong way round try this one the only thing that might a problem might be the coil - originally off a classic car web site so is probably robust enough to survive in a vehicle environment. steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogmaner Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 This may help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oily Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 ......personally, I DO use a rotating amber beacon, when driving my saracen on the public roads, ... also in 2009, I did a prom for somebody in it, I live in Southampton, and they were in Ascot!, so I pootled up the M3, cruising at a healthy 50(-55mph in places!:cool2:), I had a magnetic rotating amber beacon on the offside top of the turret, and got what I'd describe as admiring, friendly waves from two passing Police Motorway Patrol Cars, one on the way up, and again on the way back down, so I'd recommend it... as it defineately makes Joe Public FAR more aware of you, in your big green machine:angel:, .... on another note, somewhere I have pictures of saracens in-service with a rotating amber beacon fitted on a short 'post' (approx 10cms long) fitted above the rear doors....The correct 1960's 'acorn' shape ones seem to be very rare now... I managed to get one from a friend on here, (thanks FV1609 -CLIVE), some time ago, but have not yet fitted it, so I currently use the magnetic one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 (edited) had a word tonight with our supplier tonight he will get full details but 12v 360 strobe beacon will work on 6v. only difference is flash rate will check see if its all legal and let me know alternativly give these guys a try will answer your questions on leds as well as beacons http://www.visionalert.co.uk/products/productresults.aspx?catId=230&menuId= i also am in a position to quote if you see anythng you fancy Edited February 3, 2011 by cosrec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacr2man Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 IIRC the old lucas beacon was "voltaged" by the bulb you fitted , as the current went thru bulb and motor in series , but am going back about 4 decades :yawn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 (edited) IIRC the old lucas beacon was "voltaged" by the bulb you fitted , as the current went thru bulb and motor in series , but am going back about 4 decades :yawn: Some beacons are dual voltage (but 12/24 not 12/6), but on some at least there are two sets of drive pulleys, and the rubber drive belt has to be flipped across at the same time bulb voltage is changed to keep the correct flash rate. Edited February 28, 2011 by antarmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.