Review on LAMPHUS SolarBlast 36" Amber LED Traffic Advisor Light Bar [SBTA84-AM] [TA Controller] [19 Flash Modes] [IP 67 Waterproof] Directional Yellow Flashing Emergency Safety Light Bar For Trucks Vehicles by Bennie Boss

I'm in Public Works Construction and often have to stop on the side of or even in the middle of the road. This light is very visible even in the bright afternoon sun we get here in the desert. I mounted it to the lid of my truck's tool box right behind the back window. So far I have not had a single problem with the light or its operation. I like a good review of a product so here is a breakdown of what I think.Installation:Pros:1. The light bar and switch are all assembled. The bar comes with mounting hardware that fits on the ends (what I used) that allows for a stand-off adjustable mount. It also has mounting tracks on the back and bottom that would allow for a flush surface mount.2. The switch has a pig-tail cord about 10 foot long with a plug that attaches to the end of the light bar cord. No guess work on how the switch connects to the light. This also allowed for a clean installation.3. The switch, while rather large, has screw holes for mounting to a flat surface.Cons:1. The instructions included in the packaging are very sparse. In short, it says that the light should be installed by an individual qualified in automotive electrical systems.2. The plug on the end of the cord for the bar is rather large. This made it difficult to thread the cord through small holes in the firewall to get it to the switch. I solved this by pushing the terminals out of the plug and taping them up in line with the cord. I then ran the cord to the switch location and reinstalled the terminals in the plug.3. I was unable to find a fuse recommendation in the instructions. Based on the load I installed a 5AMP inline fuse and have not had any problems.Install Summary:Overall I thought the install was easy. I had the whole thing done in about 2 hours and that was taking my time. If you have even a rudimentary understanding of automotive electrical, you should be able to pull this off. I do recommend removing the plug end on the light bar cord though to facilitate running the cord.Operation:Pros:1. This light is VERY bright. I made the mistake of looking directly into it at night and was temporarily blinded.2. There are multiple flash patterns. Some are brighter than others which is a benefit for day time operation. In the day light I use the brightest pattern and can easily be seen from a mile away (or more). At night I switch to a less intense flash pattern so as not to blind passing drivers. (Yes it is that bright)3. The switch allows for quick switching from your default flash pattern to Left Chase - Right Chase - or Center Out Chase. You can then switch back to your default flash pattern just by hitting the momentary switch.Cons:1. You can not tell what flash pattern is running without going out and looking at the light. Since mine is mounted just outside the back widow of my truck I can usually tell just by looking in the mirror. However, if you mount the light up top or on the back, you may have to walk back there to see what pattern is running. Once you get used to the flash patterns and the operation it may not be much of an issue.2. The brightness diminishes substantially as you get more to the side of the light. Basically this light shines straight back from the bar. For my purposes, parked on the side of the road, it works great and can be seen from a long long way off. However, if I was to turn the truck even slightly, say to block the road, the light wold be close to or completely useless. This is not so much a con as a use limitation but I thought I should mention it.Operation Summary:The control switch is self explanatory and easy to use. The light is bright and the flash patterns are varied. In short, this is a great light and works as intended.In Closing:I have been very happy with this light bar. The shear brightness of it and the multitude of flash patterns command the attention of other drivers. Once you get used to the controls, you will see what I mean. If you are looking for a well made, inexpensive, simple to install directional light bar, I would recommend this one.