Code 3 Defender - Manual (Page 3)

3
Unpacking & Pre-Installation
Carefully remove the light bar and place it on a flat surface, taking care not to scratch the lenses or damage the cable coming out of the bottom.
Examine the unit for transit damage, broken lamps, etc. Report any damage to the carrier and keep the shipping carton.
Standard light bars are built to operate on 12 volt D.C. negative ground (earth) vehicles. If you have an electrical system other than 12 volt D.C.
negative ground (earth), and have not ordered a specially wired light bar, contact the factory for instructions.
Test the unit before installation. To test, touch the black wire to the ground (earth) and the other wires to +12 volts D.C., in accordance with the
instructions attached to the cable (an automotive battery is preferable for this test). A battery charger may be used, but note that some electronic op-
tions (flashers, etc.) may not operate normally when powered by a battery charger. If problems occur at this point, contact the factory.
Installation & Mounting
MOUNTINg hARDwARE - Mounting hardware is usually packed in a small box inside the main carton although some mounting kits may be shipped
separately. Refer to the Installation Manual included in the mounting kit for mounting instructions. Note: hook-on mounting for "gutterless" type
vehicles will require a special hook for mounting. Several special application hooks are available. Contact the factory for details.
wiring Instructions
Before attempting to connect wiring, refer to wire tag attached to the light bar's main cable. Each wire in the cable controls a separate function of the
Central Controller as described in the wire tag.
Utilizing non-factory supplied screws and/or mounting brackets and/or the improper number of
screws or modifying the supplied parts may result in loss of warranty coverage on the equipment.
wARNINg!
Larger wires and tight connections will provide longer service life for components. For high current wires it is
highly recommended that terminal blocks or soldered connections be used with shrink tubing to protect the
connections. Do not use insulation displacement connectors (e.g. 3M ® Scotchlock type connectors). Route
wiring using grommets and sealant when passing through compartment walls. Minimize the number of splices
to reduce voltage drop. High ambient temperatures (e.g. under hood) will significantly reduce the current
carrying capacity of wires, fuses, and circuit breakers. Use "SXL" type wire in engine compartment. All wiring
should conform to the minimum wire size and other recommendations of the manufacturer and be protected
from moving parts and hot surfaces. Looms, grommets, cable ties, and similar installation hardware should be
used to anchor and protect all wiring. Fuses or circuit breakers should be located as close to the power takeoff
points as possible and properly sized to protect the wiring and devices. Particular attention should be paid to
the location and method of making electrical connections and splices to protect these points from corrosion and
loss of conductivity. Ground terminations should only be made to substantial chassis components, preferably
directly to the vehicle battery. The user should install a fuse sized to approximately 125% of the maximum
Amp capacity in the supply line to protect against short circuits. For example, a 30 Amp fuse should carry a
maximum of 24 Amps. DO NOT USE 1/4" DIAMETER GLASS FUSES AS THEY ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR
CONTINUOUS DUTY IN SIZES ABOVE 15 AMPS. Circuit breakers are very sensitive to high temperatures and
will "false trip" when mounted in hot environments or operated close to their capacity.
wARNINg!
Options & Specifications
Fusing Considerations
The DEFENDER Light bar should be installed with an external fuse or circuit breaker in the RED lead of the two conductor 10 AWG power cable.
The recommended external fuse size for the light bar is 30A. The internal circuitry of the Central Controller is reverse polarity protected. Each
TriCore output on the Central Controller board is protected against over current and over heating with automatically resetting output devices.
Dim Operation
The DEFENDER® features a low power "Dimming" mode. Dimming will be controlled by applying +12V by way of the appropriate wire (Blue) in the
wire harness/wire list. Dimming can also be controlled by an optional photo cell. When DIM is engaged, the TriCore® light heads will operate in a
reduced power mode. Note: For light bars with software T116XXV5 or lower, T117XXV5 or lower and T118XXV1 or lower, the corner mounted
light heads are excepted from this function and will not Dim.
The Dim setting reduces the light output of emergency warning lights reducing the effectiveness of them espe-
cially in brightly lit areas. Failure to use adequate light for the circumstances can cause motorists to fail to see
the emergency vehicle and lead to serious personal injury or death. Never use the DIM setting in a brightly
lit area. Use of the DIM setting may cause emergency lights to not comply with applicable emergency warning
light standards. Use caution when using the DIM setting to assure that motorists can clearly see the emergency
vehicle.
wARNINg!