SoundOff Signal nROADS Beacon

Product Overview

The nROADS Beacon is a high-intensity LED warning light designed for vehicle use. It is available in High Dome and Low Dome configurations, with various mounting options including magnet, flat/pipe mount, and direct connect.

Technical Specifications

Current Consumption

Please see pages 2-3 for Mounting Instructions.

Warnings

• High Current Interconnects: Must be properly terminated. Poor crimp quality can cause heat build-up and fire. Follow crimp connector manufacturer instructions.
• Air Bag Deployment Zone: DO NOT install this product or route any wires in the Air Bag Deployment Zone. Refer to vehicle Owner's Manual for deployment zones.
• Safety Equipment: Do NOT use the system to disconnect headlights, brake lights, or other safety equipment.
• Heat: The unit may become hot to touch during normal operation.
• Installation Hazards: Failure to properly install connectors, fuses, or wiring may cause vehicle failure or fire.
• Technician Requirement: Installation must only be performed by a trained technician. The installer must determine vehicle wiring configuration and proper integration of the system.
• Wire Gauge: Use proper wire gauge. All power wires connecting to positive (+) or negative (-) battery terminal or local chassis ground (-) must be sized to supply at least 125% of max. current and properly fused at the power source.
• Grommets: Install protective grommets when routing wire through firewall or metal.
• High Intensity LEDs: This product contains high intensity LED devices. To prevent eye damage, DO NOT stare into the light beam at close range.

Mounting Instructions

Flat Mount

1. Using the supplied gasket, mark the center hole and three mounting holes on the surface where the beacon will be mounted.
2. Drill your holes:
   • The center hole should be large enough for wires to pass, between 5/8" and 1".
   • The 3 mounting holes should be drilled for clearance for #10 bolts (1/4").
3. Using #10-32 bolts of suitable length (installer supplied), secure the beacon to the mounting surface, ensuring the gasket is between the beacon and the mounting surface. SoundOff Signal recommends using flat washers and lock washers.

Pipe Mount

1. The beacon is pre-threaded to fit a 1" NPT pipe.
2. Insert wires into the pipe, making connections as desired.
3. Screw the beacon onto the pipe until snug.
4. The aluminum base is marked "REAR". Rotate the beacon until the "REAR" faces the back of the vehicle. This is important for specific light modes.

Magnet Mount

1. Locate a suitable surface where the beacon will be mounted.
2. Place the beacon with the "REAR" facing the rear of the vehicle. This is important for specific modes.

Cig Plug Operation (4-Button Remote)

1. Use the POWER ON/OFF and PATTERN SELECT switches on the cigarette lighter plug.
2. Turn the beacon ON by pressing the POWER ON/OFF switch to the ON position.
3. With the beacon ON, press and hold the PATTERN SELECT switch for 1 second until the beacon flashes a new pattern, then release.
4. Holding the PATTERN SELECT switch for >5 seconds while the beacon is ON will reset the beacon to pattern #0.

Electrical Installation (Permanent Mounting Options)

Power Wires

1. Route customer-supplied power and ground cables, sized for at least 125% of the beacon's maximum current draw, between the power source (battery) and the beacon.
2. Install a maximum 20Amp fuse (customer-supplied) at the end of the power cables, as close to the power source as possible.
   • Remove the fuse before connecting any wires to the battery.
   • DO NOT USE CIRCUIT BREAKERS OR FUSIBLE LINKS.
3. Connect the other end of the fuse to the POSITIVE (+) terminal of the battery. Ensure the wire between the battery terminal and the fuse is protected and secured, and no more than 2ft long.
4. Connect the BLACK wire to the factory chassis ground near the battery and to the beacon's ground cables.

Control Wires (Blue, Orange, Yellow & Pink)

1. Route customer-supplied wires between the switch panel and the control wires. Use 20AWG TXL wire as needed.
2. The +Vdc supply to the control wires must be over-current protected. A 1 amp fuse is sufficient as inputs require less than 10mA.

Sync Wire (Green)

1. Connect the green wire to other Sync2 compatible products (e.g., nFORCE Secondary Light, nFORCE FIT) to synchronize flash patterns. All products must operate on the same flash pattern for correct synchronization.
2. If synchronization is not required, blunt cut and tape the end of the green wire to prevent accidental grounding.

Pattern Select/Configuration Wire (White)

1. Applying a momentary ground to the white wire configures the product. Refer to the product configuration section for setup.
2. Once configured, blunt cut and tape the end of the white wire to prevent accidental grounding and unintended configuration changes.

Wiring Diagram: A diagram illustrates the connections for battery, customer-supplied fuses, switches, and control/sync wires.

WARNING: All customer-supplied power wires connecting to battery terminals or chassis ground must be sized for at least 125% of maximum current and properly fused.

Product Configuration

The four control wires (blue, orange, yellow, pink) can be assigned functions:

• a. Output a pattern: Standard flashing light.
• b. Enable a scene: Lights stay steady on.
• c. Enable cruise mode: Lights are dimly on.
• d. Set lightbar to reduced power (night) mode.

Functionality is assigned by applying +12V to the control wire and grounding the white wire for specific durations:

• Advance function: Tap white wire to ground < 1 second.
• Go back one function: Hold white wire to ground >1 second and < 2 seconds.
• Set to default value: Hold white wire to ground >1 second and < 3 seconds.
• For multi-color beacons, hold white wire to ground >3 seconds to set colors used with the active control wire.

For multi-color beacons, colors are set by grounding the white wire while applying +12V to the desired control wire for >3 seconds. Colors will alternate or display individually, and the function is set by releasing the white wire at the appropriate time.

The control board uses a factory learning procedure. If hardware is changed (e.g., colors), this process must be repeated. Ensure DIP Switch 2 is ON for beacons (OFF for lightbars). To enable Sync2, ensure DIP Switch 3 is ON. To start learning, move DIP Switch 1 from OFF to ON and back to OFF.

Operating Modes:

• Flash Pattern: Light modules flash with selected pattern. Higher priority wires (Pink > Yellow > Orange > Blue) take precedence if multiple pattern wires are active.
• Scene: Modules stay on continuously. Flash patterns can be active on other modules.
• Cruise: Selected modules stay on continuously at a dim value. Patterns and Scenes have priority.
• Low Power: Pattern or scene operates at a lower light output level.
• Sleep: Device enters a low power sleep mode if no input is active for 10 seconds.

WARNING: Route wires away from potential wear and airbag deployment zones. Consult vehicle manual.

IMPORTANT: When passing cables through firewall or sheet metal, insert grommets to protect cables.

4-Button Remote

Function

The 4-button remote controls the nROADS lightbar (when ordered with a cig plug harness). Each button simulates one of the 4 control wires. Pressing a button once activates the function (green backlight); pressing again deactivates it (red backlight).

Configuring the Remote

To configure, activate one or more front buttons, then press the rear program button (use a non-conductive tool). The mode indicator LED will flash.

• Change Button/Wire Behavior: Activate button, press program button. Hold button to simulate holding white wire. Press program button to exit.
• Enable/Disable Buzzer: Activate buttons 1 & 2, press program button. Press button 1 to toggle buzzer (green=enabled, red=disabled). Press program button to exit.
• Set Backlight Level: Activate buttons 1 & 3, press program button. Press button 1 to increase brightness, button 2 to decrease. Button 4 toggles if remote stays on (green=always on, off=off 10s after outputs off). Press program button to exit.
• Set Green LED Level: Activate buttons 1 & 4, press program button. Press button 1 to increase brightness, button 2 to decrease. Press program button to exit.
• Display Firmware Version: Activate buttons 2 & 3 (remote) or 2 & 4 (lightbar), press program button. Version blinks on buttons (1=major, 2=minor, 3=build).
• Learn Mode: Activate all 4 buttons, press program button (needed if modules are changed).

Mode Button Flash Indications: Flashes red on error. Number of blinks indicates error mode (e.g., 1 blink = short circuit, 2 blinks = device not detected).

Programming Modes Table

Flash Patterns

The nROADS Beacon offers a wide variety of flash patterns, detailed in the following tables. Compatibility with other nROADS units and Sync2 systems is also indicated.

Sync2 Compatibility Chart

(nFORCE Secondary, nFORCE FIT, Dual Color Intersector)

NOTE: For simultaneous or alternating flash patterns, set the sequence type on the secondary product.

Replacement Parts & Accessories

The following parts are available for replacement or as accessories:

Diagram shows an exploded view of the beacon with numbered parts corresponding to the table.

Troubleshooting

Normal Operation

The beacon flashes when control inputs are connected to +Vdc. It is OFF and in standby mode after 10 seconds of no active control inputs.

No Operation

• No Power: Verify red main power feeds have a solid connection with +Vdc. Minimum +9Vdc required. Check for voltage over 32Vdc. Check black ground feeds for solid, low-resistance connection.
• No Lights: Verify at least one control input has +Vdc. Ensure pattern can advance and control wire is not set to Low Power mode (patterns 50-51). Perform product configuration (pg. 5).

No or Incorrect Warning Light Flash

• No operation: Verify correct control input wire has +Vdc. Ensure pattern can advance and control wire is not set to Low Power mode (patterns 50-51). Perform product configuration (pg. 5).
• Incorrect/Undesired operation: Check for other active control inputs with higher priority. Low Power and Scene modes override flashing priority. Remove Low Power or Scene control input.

No or Incorrect Scene Lights

• No Lights: Verify correct control input wire has +Vdc. Ensure pattern can advance and control wire is set to patterns 45-49. Perform product configuration (pg. 5).
• Incorrect/Undesired operation: Check for other active Scene inputs with higher priority. Low Power overrides Scene light priority. Remove Low Power control input.

No or Incorrect Synchronization

• No or Incorrect syncing: Verify green wires are connected between all required Sync2 products. Ensure flash patterns are set to the same one (patterns 12-42 are Sync2 capable). Note that patterns 0-11 may not sync correctly between different product types. Scene, Cruise, or Low Power modes are not sync capable.

Erratic Flash

Verify flash patterns are set to the same one. Check that the green and/or white wire is not intermittently shorted to ground. Secure all connections.

Warranty Information

Warranty Return Process

Contact your SoundOff Signal Sales Representative, Customer Services staff, or Technical Department (800.338.7337, option #4) for an RMA # (Return Merchandise Authorization). Information required includes reason for return, shipping address, contact phone number, invoice number, part/serial number, and email/fax for RMA#. An RMA # is required for all returns and is valid for 30 days. Ship returns to: SoundOff Signal, ATTN: RMA # / Technical Services, 3900 Central Parkway, Hudsonville, MI 49426.

Warranty Exclusions

Shipping & Handling, labor, and service fees are non-refundable. SoundOff Signal is not liable for damage due to installation or personal injury from product use.

Warranty Forfeiture

Warranty is void if return policy rules are not followed, if there is physical damage from customer abuse, or if serial tags, stickers, or seals are removed, altered, or tampered with. Product damaged during return shipping is not SoundOff Signal's responsibility.

General Warranty Statement

No other warranties, expressed or implied, are provided. SoundOff Signal reserves the right to modify this warranty statement at any time without prior notice.