Whelen M4A User Manual

®

ENGINEERING COMPANY INC.

51 Winthrop Road
Chester, Connecticut 06412-0684
Phone: [phone]

M4 Series LED Lighthead

Installation Guide:

2- & 5-Wire (12 Volt)

Fax: [phone]
Internet: www.whelen.com
Sales e-mail: [e-mail]
Canadian Sales e-mail: [e-mail]
Customer Service e-mail: [e-mail]

Safety First

This document provides all the necessary information to allow your Whelen product to be properly and safely installed.
Before beginning the installation and/or operation of your new product, the installation technician and operator must
read this manual completely. Important information is contained herein that could prevent serious injury or damage.

• Proper installation of this product requires the installer to have a good understanding of automotive electronics,
systems and procedures.

• Failure to use specified installation parts and/or hardware will void the product warranty!

• If mounting this product requires drilling holes, the installer MUST be sure that no vehicle components or other
vital parts could be damaged by the drilling process. Check both sides of the mounting surface before drilling
begins. Also de-burr any holes and remove any metal shards or remnants. Install grommets into all wire
passage holes.

• If this manual states that this product may be mounted with suction cups, magnets, tape or Velcro®, clean the
mounting surface with a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water and dry thoroughly.

• Do not install this product or route any wires in the deployment area of your air bag. Equipment mounted or
located in the air bag deployment area will damage or reduce the effectiveness of the air bag, or become a
projectile that could cause serious personal injury or death. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for the air bag
deployment area. The User/Installer assumes full responsibility to determine proper mounting location, based
on providing ultimate safety to all passengers inside the vehicle.

• For this product to operate at optimum efficiency, a good electrical connection to chassis ground must be
made. The recommended procedure requires the product ground wire to be connected directly to the NEGATIVE
(-) battery post.

• If this product uses a remote device to activate or control this product, make sure that this control is located in
an area that allows both the vehicle and the control to be operated safely in any driving condition.

• Do not attempt to activate or control this device in a hazardous driving situation.

• This product contains either strobe light(s), halogen light(s), high-intensity LEDs or a combination of these
lights. Do not stare directly into these lights. Momentary blindness and/or eye damage could result.

• Use only soap and water to clean the outer lens. Use of other chemicals could result in premature lens cracking
(crazing) and discoloration. Lenses in this condition have significantly reduced effectiveness and should be
replaced immediately. Inspect and operate this product regularly to confirm its proper operation and mounting
condition. Do not use a pressure washer to clean this product.

• It is recommended that these instructions be stored in a safe place and referred to when performing
maintenance and/or reinstallation of this product.

• FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO
THE PRODUCT OR VEHICLE AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY TO YOU AND YOUR PASSENGERS!

Automotive: Lightheads

For warranty information regarding this product, visit www.whelen.com/warranty

©2008 Whelen Engineering Company Inc.
Form No.14190F (012913)

Page 1

To +VBAT

M4

Lighthead

(2-Wire)

LED Color

BLACK

MOUNTING DIMENSIONS

4.20"

2.10"

0.25"

0.625"

0.25"

WIRING DIAGRAM

To +12V

To +12V

To +12V

WHT/VIO

LED Color

BLACK

VIOLET

GREY

SYNC

Ground

Ground

1A Fuse

1A Fuse

3A Fuse

3A Fuse

SP/ST

SP/ST

SP/ST

MOM. SW

M4

Lighthead

(5-Wire)

M

O
U
N
T

I
N
G

S
U
R
F
A
C
E

Gasket-

Use formed gasket on

flat, smooth surfaces

only.

#8 x 1"

PPHSMS

M4 Assembly

Slotted Hole
Screw Grommet

Set 3

Set 1

Set 4

Set 2

Sequences Operation of LED sets
Solid

T

Left to Right

op to Bottom

Diagonal

All On All Off

1-3 2-4

1-2 3-4

1-4 2-3

Alternates with

Alternates with

Alternates with

Alternates with

M4 Sequencing & Phasing: The M4
lighthead has4 sets of3 LEDs.These sets
cycle through the 4 sequencesshown.

Pattern

Seq.

Phase

1 SignalAlert™ Solid PH.1
2 SignalAlert™ Solid PH.2
3 SignalAlert™ L/R PH.1
4 SignalAlert™ L/R PH.2
5 SignalAlert™ T/B PH.1
6 SignalAlert™ T/B PH.2
7 SignalAlert™ Diag PH.1
8 SignalAlert™ Diag PH.2

17 DoubleFlash 75 Solid PH.1
18 DoubleFlash 75 Solid PH.2
19 DoubleFlash 75 L/R PH.1
20 DoubleFlash 75 L/R PH.2
21 DoubleFlash 75 T/B PH.1
22 DoubleFlash 75 T/B PH.2
23 DoubleFlash 75 Diag PH.1
24 DoubleFlash 75 Diag PH.2
25 SingleFlash 75 Solid PH.1
26 SingleFlash 75 Solid PH.2
27 SingleFlash 75 L/R PH.1
28 SingleFlash 75 L/R PH.2
29 SingleFlash 75 T/B PH.1
30 SingleFlash 75 T/B PH.2
31 SingleFlash 75 Diag PH.1
32 SingleFlash 75 Diag PH.2

9 CometFlash®75 Solid PH.1
10 CometFlash®75 Solid PH.2
11 CometFlash®75 L/R PH.1
12 CometFlash®75 L/R PH.2
13 CometFlash®75 T/B PH.1
14 CometFlash®75 T/B PH.2
15 CometFlash®75 Diag PH.1
16 CometFlash®75 Diag PH.2

33 ComAlert™ Solid PH.1
34 ComAlert™ Solid PH.2
35 ComAlert™ L/R PH.1
36 ComAlert™ L/R PH.2
37 ComAlert™ T/B PH.1
38 ComAlert™ T/B PH.2
39 ComAlert™ Diag PH.1
40 ComAlert™ Diag PH.2
41 LongBurst™ Solid PH.1
42 LongBurst™ Solid PH.2
43 LongBurst™ L/R PH.1

44 LongBurst™ L/R PH.2
45 LongBurst™ T/B PH.1
46 LongBurst™ T/B PH.2
47 LongBurst™ Diag PH.1
48 LongBurst™ Diag PH.2

49 PingPong™ Solid PH.1
50 PingPong™ Solid PH.2
51 PingPong™ L/R PH.1
52 PingPong™ L/R PH.2
53 PingPong™ T/B PH.1
54 PingPong™ T/B PH.2
55 PingPong™ Diag PH.1
56 PingPong™ Diag PH.2

58 SingleFlash 60 L/R
59 SingleFlash 60 T/B
60 SingleFlash 60 Diag
61 SingleFlash 90 Solid
62 SingleFlash 90 L/R
63 SingleFlash 90 T/B
64 SingleFlash 90 Diag
65 SingleFlash 120 Solid
66 SingleFlash 120 L/R
67 SingleFlash 120 T/B
68 SingleFlash 120 Diag

69 SingleFlash 300 Solid
70 SingleFlash 300 L/R
71 SingleFlash 300 T/B
72 SingleFlash 300 Diag
73 DoubleFlash 150 Solid
74 DoubleFlash 150 L/R
75 DoubleFlash 150 T/B
76 DoubleFlash 150 Diag
77 ComAlert™ 150 Solid
78 ComAlert™ 150 L/R
79 ComAlert™ 150 T/B
80 ComAlert™ 150 Diag
81 ActionFlash™50 Solid
82 ActionFlash™50 L/R
83 ActionFlash™50 T/B
84 ActionFlash™50 Diag
85 ActionFlash™150 Solid
86 ActionFlash™150 L/R

57 SingleFlash 60 Solid

87 ActionFlash™150 T/B
88 ActionFlash™150 Diag
89 ModuFlash™ Solid
90 ModuFlash™ L/R
91 ModuFlash™ T/B
92 ModuFlash™ Diag

117 PinWheel SLOW
118 PinWheel MEDIUM
119 PinWheel FAST
120 PinWheel VARIABLE
121 PinWheel MEDIUM w/Solid

123 ActionScan™

124 SignalAlert™ Steady

93 DoubleFlash 120 Solid
94 DoubleFlash 120 L/R
95 DoubleFlash 120 T/B
96 DoubleFlash 120 Diag
97 PingPong™120 Solid
98 PingPong™120 L/R
99 PingPong™120 T/B
100 PingPong™120 Diag
101 TripleFlash™75 Solid
102 TripleFlash™75 L/R
103 TripleFlash™75 T/B
104 TripleFlash™75 Diag
105 TripleFlash™120 Solid
106 TripleFlash™120 L/R
107 TripleFlash™120 T/B
108 TripleFlash™120 Diag
109 Action SF 60/120 Solid
110 Action SF 60/120 L/R
111 Action SF 60/120 T/B
112 Action SF 60/120 Diag
113 Action SF 60/TF 120 Solid
114 Action SF 60/TF 120 L/R
115 Action SF 60/TF 120 T/B
116 Action SF 60/TF 120 Diag

122 CalScan

*
*125 Steady

*No low power for this pattern.

ITALIC = SYNCBOLD = Cal Title XIII Compliant.

L/R=Left/Right T/B=Top/Bottom

CAUTION! DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THESE LEDS WHILE THEY ARE ON.
MOMENTAR Y BLINDNESS AND/OR EYE DAMAGE COULD RESULT!

IMPORTANT WARNING!

Installation and Wiring:

External Flasher Models: This product draws significantly less current than
a standard incandescent automotive bulb. If your flasher does not operate
properly, it may be necessary to replace your flasher module with a
Whelen® flasher module. Contact your sales representative for application.

Caution: Permanent mounting of this product will require drilling. It is
absolutely necessary to make sure that no other vehicle components
could be damaged by this process. Check both sides of the mounting
surface before starting. If damage is likely, select a different location.

WARNING! All customer supplied wires that connect to the positive
terminal of the battery must be sized to supply at least 125% of the
maximum operating current and FUSED at the battery to carry that
load. DO NOT USE CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH THIS PRODUCT!

NOTE: The color of the Positive Wire is determined by the color of the
LED. In this manual, RED is used as a reference color.

1. Using the dimensions shown, mark the 2 mounting hole locations and
wire access hole location onto the mounting surface.

2. Drill the two, 0.250” diameter mounting holes and a 0.625” (minimum)
wire access hole into the mounting surface.

3. Place the gasket into position on the rear of the M4 assembly. Insert
the slotted hole screw grommet through the mounting holes on the M4/
Gasket assembly.

4. Feed the M4 wires through the wire access hole in the mounting
surface. Press the M4/Gasket/Grommet assembly onto its mounting
location so that it is flat against the mounting surface. With the
assembly in position and using the hardware provided, tighten the
mounting screws until the lighthead assembly is drawn firmly against
the mounting surface. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN!

5. Using appropriately sized wires (minimum 18 AWG), extend the M4
wires to their designated connections. Refer to the diagram below for
wiring and fusing information.

Operation:

Flash Mode / RED:

Apply +VBAT to the RED wire to activate the lighthead in “flash mode”.
In flash mode, you may change the flash pattern using Scan-Lock™.

Low Power / VIOLET:

The type of switch used depends on how the operator wishes the Low
Power feature to function:

Latching Mode: By applying +VBAT to the VIO wire for less than 1 sec., the

lighthead is “latched” into low power. The unit must be turned off and then
back on to restore normal operation. (A momentary switch is preferred)

Level Mode: Applying +VBAT to the VIO wire for more than 1 sec. holds the
lighthead in low power mode until voltage is removed.

(A toggle switch is preferred)

SYNC / GREY

To SYNC two lightheads, configure both lightheads to display the same
Phase 1 (Simultaneous) pattern. Turn the power off and connect the GREY
wire from each lighthead together. When the lightheads are activated their
patterns will be synchronized. To configure two lightheads to alternate their
patterns, advance the pattern of either lighthead to Phase 2 (Alternating) of
the current pattern.

NOTE: You can also program the 2 banks of LEDs inside the lighthead
to flash in different configurations (See M4 Sequencing and Phasing).

Scan-Lock™ / WHT/VIO / Flash Pattern Selection:

This feature allows the user to select from several available flash patterns.
The lighthead must be switched on for Scan-Lock™ to work.

TO CYCLE THROUGH ALL PATTERNS: Apply +VBAT to the WHT/VIO
wire for less than 1 second and release. To cycle backward through patterns
apply +VBAT to the WHT/VIO wire for over 1 second and release.

TO SET A PATTERN AS DEFAULT: Allow the pattern to run for more than 5
seconds. The lighthead will flicker slightly when the pattern locks in. This flicker may be difficult to see with some patterns. The lighthead will now display this pattern
when activated.

TO RESET TO THE FACTORY DEFAULT PATTERN: Turn off power. While applying +VBAT to the WHT/VIO wire, turn power on. This will reset the lighthead to it’s
factory default flash pattern.

IMPORTANT! It is the responsibility of the installation technician to make sure that the installation and operation of this product will not interfere with or
compromise the operation or efficiency of any vehicle equipment!

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