I think it’s a bit like the chameleon tint you can get for car headlights and such. Has a bunch of different colours in it to apparently improve visibility in poor weather.
Great question! There are a little bit of physics involved, so bear with me. These are called D-Tech filters. Essentially, there is a white lightbulb that creates the light source. These filters work by allowing the right colors to pass through, while bouncing back all of the remaining colors. The three primary colors in lighting are Red, Green, and Blue. Add those together- you have white. It works the same way in reverse.... If you start with a white light, you have to subtract blue and green, in order to get Red. So these filters do just that- they "bounce back" the colors you don't want to see, while passing through the color you DO want to see. It's called subtractive color mixing. That's why, when the light is off, you can see hues of different colors, as it reacts to the ambient light in the room. The front reflect colors differently than the rear of the filter too... so the front of a red looks red, while the rear looks yellowish, since that's the subtractive colors of Blue/Green (which it's reflecting backwards). Make sense?
@@AdamsLights Cool! Do they still make them or does anyone else, perhaps as a tape? I've got a Federal Signal Vista with clear domes and colored filters that I'd like to look clear when off.
No, they don't still make them. They were very problematic, and didn't last long. The Plastic version would fade in the sun very quickly, turning the red into a pink color, and the glass ones would break easily. You can occasionally find them on eBay, but manufacturing has ceased on these bad boys.
While I have never seen D-Tech rotators in person (apart from videos), I liked the idea. However, most of those videos give me the impression that the warning power can't match the classic rotator systems. No matter which video I watch, D-Tech rotators seem to produce some giant whitish "blob". While this might (also) be due to the fact that most cameras won't record a 100% accurately, I am still wondering about the real effectiveness of that technology - since even with today's LED standard, I do like the look of those old-style halogen rotators.
You aren't wrong about the pink "blob", and this is due to a couple reasons. First, most people use them with super fast rotator motors. While you CAN do this, they look better with slower motors, to give more time to each color, rather than washing itself out too quickly. Secondly, the reason that they didn't last very long on the market, was because they either broke too easily (the glass versions), or the faded too quickly ( the plastic versions). This fading caused the red and blue to look more like pink and cyan. Since most D-Techs you see on UA-cam are used, the are probably already pretty faded.... another reason for the white blob. Thanks for watching!!
Wow, Custom D-Tech flasher filters? Very cool!
Thanks, I thought it was a cool/unique idea when I did it! Thanks for watching!
Wow! Rontan Winglux S!? (It's above the Code 3 lightbar)
Yep....Sadly, I am still without a controller for it!
Can you explain the filters? They look sort of clear, but also yellow, green, and blue when it's off, yet it lights up red and blue.
I think it’s a bit like the chameleon tint you can get for car headlights and such. Has a bunch of different colours in it to apparently improve visibility in poor weather.
Great question! There are a little bit of physics involved, so bear with me. These are called D-Tech filters. Essentially, there is a white lightbulb that creates the light source. These filters work by allowing the right colors to pass through, while bouncing back all of the remaining colors. The three primary colors in lighting are Red, Green, and Blue. Add those together- you have white. It works the same way in reverse.... If you start with a white light, you have to subtract blue and green, in order to get Red. So these filters do just that- they "bounce back" the colors you don't want to see, while passing through the color you DO want to see. It's called subtractive color mixing. That's why, when the light is off, you can see hues of different colors, as it reacts to the ambient light in the room. The front reflect colors differently than the rear of the filter too... so the front of a red looks red, while the rear looks yellowish, since that's the subtractive colors of Blue/Green (which it's reflecting backwards). Make sense?
@@AdamsLights Cool! Do they still make them or does anyone else, perhaps as a tape? I've got a Federal Signal Vista with clear domes and colored filters that I'd like to look clear when off.
No, they don't still make them. They were very problematic, and didn't last long. The Plastic version would fade in the sun very quickly, turning the red into a pink color, and the glass ones would break easily. You can occasionally find them on eBay, but manufacturing has ceased on these bad boys.
Great demo! I remember saying on one of your videos that I like Code 3s with the D-tech setting.
Glad you like them!
Can you do the lightbar above the MX7000? I’ve never seen that one before.
Ugh...I wish. I'm still waiting to get the appropriate controller for this one, so I can show off all of it's functions. Stay tuned!!!
Can you help me with obtaining some D tech rotators? I’ve tried everything.
They are very hard to find- I suggest creating an eBay alert that will email you when something “d tech” comes for sale.
While I have never seen D-Tech rotators in person (apart from videos), I liked the idea. However, most of those videos give me the impression that the warning power can't match the classic rotator systems. No matter which video I watch, D-Tech rotators seem to produce some giant whitish "blob". While this might (also) be due to the fact that most cameras won't record a 100% accurately, I am still wondering about the real effectiveness of that technology - since even with today's LED standard, I do like the look of those old-style halogen rotators.
You aren't wrong about the pink "blob", and this is due to a couple reasons. First, most people use them with super fast rotator motors. While you CAN do this, they look better with slower motors, to give more time to each color, rather than washing itself out too quickly. Secondly, the reason that they didn't last very long on the market, was because they either broke too easily (the glass versions), or the faded too quickly ( the plastic versions). This fading caused the red and blue to look more like pink and cyan. Since most D-Techs you see on UA-cam are used, the are probably already pretty faded.... another reason for the white blob.
Thanks for watching!!
one of the ambulances here in Kearny county has a red/blue dtech. even at night its not that great.
Yeah, definitely more of a novelty item than a functional warning light, for sure. The idea was cool for the time, though.
Yep just like the split red /blues that make purple blobs. It’s one of those ideas that are good in theory put not in practice lol.