3
Unpacking & Pre-Installation
Carefully remove the lightbar 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 lightbars 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 lightbar, 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 options (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 avail-
able. Contact the factory for details.
Wiring Instructions
Before attempting to connect wiring, refer to wire tag attached to the lightbar's main cable. Each wire in the cable controls a separate
function of the Central Controller as described in the wire tag.
The DEFENDER provides an ArrowStik function as a standard feature. Connect the appropriate control wires to any control switch
capable of propower at approximately 25ma current. As noted in the wire description, connecting both the LEFT Arrow and
RIGHT Arrow wire to +power at the same time enables the Center-Out ArrowStik function.
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. underhood) 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
Many options are available for the DEFENDER. This section is designed to describe the function of the various options.
TRICORE WARNINg MODULES
Fusing Considerations
The DEFENDER Lightbar 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 lightbar 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 heat-
ing with automatically resetting output devices.
Summary of Contents for DEFENDER TriCore
Page 11: ...11 Notes...
