Axixtech Torrent Lightbar

Posted by Roadwolf on October 14, 2009

This Axixtech Torrent Lightbar is a lightbar which keeps on catching my eye time after time. From reviewing the documentation on this lightbar (found here: http://www.lightningxproducts.com/pdfs/TORRENT.pdf) one can easily see that this lightbar is very adaptable and customizable. I hope to soon be able to showcase and write a first hand review on this lightbar, but from doing my homework on it, I really like what I see. First of all, is the price. Sure $1000 is a bit steep for a Volunteer like myself, but compared to other lightbars, and taking into account the many options this bar has, which many other bars do not have, this is a very reasonable price indeed.

From the look of some of the close up photos I have seen on a specific retailers website, I have noticed that the LED modules are all XL6's XL9's, and/or DXL9's - which is laymans terms, are Axixtech's Linear LED Light modules (and Dual Color Light Modules). These modules are very bright and have become the standard LED light which everyone tries to copy. Even Whelen, Code 3 and Federal Signal are left in the dust with these lights. The Torrent features the option for up to 6 forward facing Halogen Take Down lights at 35watts each. These are the MR-11 style lamps. They are also used for the Alley lights on each side (limit 1 per side). Being that I am personally trying to cut back on power draw, I am really considering either ordering the bar with White LX4 LED's in place of the Halogen modules, or somehow jerry rigging some white LX4's into the bar in place of the take down lights. However I would like to compare the 2 setups personally. While Take Down lights are not very important to me, it would be interesting to see which one is more effective and compare that with the amount of power used. One of the main selling points is the integrated directional capability of this bar. The rear facing colored LED modules (i.e. Blue, Red, Green...) are all dual color modules mixed with Amber, so when you activate the traffic director, the colored light turns off, and is replaced with amber light for the traffic director module. While this is a great feature, it might be too late for this implementation. Noticing a lot of police departments switching to full RED, or full BLUE or even mixed RED/BLUE traffic directors - a practice which is becoming more common place, and widely accepted. That being said, RED/BLUE traffic directors are often more difficult to read from a distance then pure AMBER traffic directors. The only problem with amber is that on a highway, Amber lights are not seen as a 'warning light' anymore by most motorists. Where as Red or Blue tends to make people slow down. That being said, if Axixtech made the bar capable of having another color other then amber as the secondary traffic director color, then perhaps that would make the bar that much better! The bar has 4 modes of operation.

Mode 1:

Mode 1 is still a tad confusing to me. Normal operation just describes a list of flash patterns which are selectable. However another operation method describes the ability to alternate and sync the front left light head with the rear right light head, and likewise the rear left light head with the front right light head. So this makes me think that this mode is similar to your 'Alternating lights' mode - i.e something like this, minus all the other lights, only the topmost lights (and minus the stingray) where only 2 modules are lit up and alternate per side. Used mainly when parked at a scene and out of the way of traffic. If this is indeed the case, then that is pretty sweet.

Mode 2:

Mode 2 is fully programmable in pairs. I.e. you start off in programming mode with the inner middle front set of lights and work your way out.

Mode 3:

Mode 3 is also fully programmable in the same fashion, however the Take Down lights, and the Alley Lights are also programmable to flash. The Traffic Director, and Steady on Alleys / Take Downs will not override Mode 3 (but they will override Modes 1 and 2).

Cruise:

Cruise mode turns on the corner modules at half power in a steady state setting which keeps all the corner lights on. Some police departments are using this now to identify police cars when they are just driving around, and not on any emergency calls. In my case, I would likely use this function in combination with my parking lights for when I am sitting idling somewhere and hanging out. The bar also has the ability to shut off the front, and rear facing lights in any mode, as well as dim all lights for night time use. One of the features I find most attractive about the bar however, is the bar itself. The clear outer lenses are very nicely molded and feature some nice diffusers at the top and bottom, which help redirect light which is directed upwards and downwards, back out towards traffic. Also with 2 modules (a total of 12 LED's) facing on a 45 degree angle on each corner, this bar provides excellent corner protection when you compare it to other bars. The only disadvantage of having such a bar with so many excellent features is the need for a control panel. My current setup of a single button for Primary lights and another button for Secondary lights will not do this bar justice. Sadly I will likely have to source out a used Smart Siren somewhere for this sucker. That being said, this bar does more then any other bar I have seen on the market so far, and all for about $1000 new. If you are looking for an LED bar, the Torrent should be on your list of bars to consider.

Note: This is NOT a paid advertisement. This is my own personal review of the light bar based on what I have read about it. I do hope to get a discount on a light bar due to this favorable review, and thusly provide another review of the light bar and my thoughts of it after installation.

Roadwolf.ca