ECCO 12 Series Vantage™ Lightbars

Introduction

ECCO 12 Series Lightbars are versatile and powerful warning devices suitable for a range of vehicle types and duties. Numerous options and lengths are available. The lightbars can be mounted permanently to the vehicle or using an optional roof mounting kit. The 12 Series Lightbar features a durable aluminum chassis, a polycarbonate base and lens, and a sleek, low profile, suitable for many vehicle applications. The 12 Series supports three different kinds of LED modules: Warning modules, Stop-Tail-Turn modules, and white Alley/Takedown/Worklight modules.

Optional Controller: The system can be controlled via an optional in-cab controller.

Image Description: An illustration of the ECCO 12 Series Vantage™ Lightbar and an optional controller.

Unpacking and Pre-Installation

Carefully remove the lightbar and place it on a flat surface. Examine the unit for transit damage and locate all parts. If damage is found or parts are missing, contact the transit company or ECCO. Do not use damaged or broken parts.

Ensure the lightbar voltage is compatible with the planned installation.

IMPORTANT! Read all instructions before installing and using. Installer: This manual must be delivered to the end user. This manual assumes installation by a suitably qualified Automotive Technician.

Safety Information

⚠️ WARNING! Failure to install or use this product according to manufacturer's recommendations may result in property damage, serious bodily/personal injury, and/or death to you and those you are seeking to protect!

Do not install and/or operate this safety product unless you have read and understand the safety information contained in this manual.

1. Proper installation combined with operator training in the use, care, and maintenance of emergency warning devices are essential to ensure the safety of emergency personnel and the public.
2. Emergency warning devices often require high electrical voltages and/or currents. Exercise caution when working with live electrical connections.
3. This product must be properly grounded. Inadequate grounding and/or shorting of electrical connections can cause high current arcing, which can cause personal injury and/or severe vehicle damage, including fire.
4. Proper placement and installation is vital to the performance of this warning device. Install this product so that output performance of the system is maximized and the controls are placed within convenient reach of the operator so that s/he can operate the system without losing eye contact with the roadway.
5. It is the responsibility of the vehicle operator to ensure daily that all features of this product work correctly. In use, the vehicle operator should ensure the projection of the warning signal is not blocked by vehicle components (e.g., open trunks or compartment doors), people, vehicles, or other obstructions.
6. The use of this or any other warning device does not ensure all drivers can or will observe or react to an emergency warning signal. Never take the right-of-way for granted. It is your responsibility to be sure you can proceed safely before entering an intersection, driving against traffic, responding at a high rate of speed, or walking on or around traffic lanes.
7. This equipment is intended for use by authorized personnel only. The user is responsible for understanding and obeying all laws regarding emergency warning devices. Therefore, the user should check all applicable city, state, and federal laws and regulations. The manufacturer assumes no liability for any loss resulting from the use of this warning device.
8. This product may contain high intensity LEDs. Staring directly into these lights could result in temporary and/or permanent vision impairment.

Specifications

• Length: 48", 54", 60"
• Height: 2.5"
• Width: 11"
• Voltage: 12-24VDC
• Current Draw: LED Module = 0.45A Avg. @ 12.8VDC; LED STT(pair) = 0.25A Avg. @ 12.8VDC; LED AL,TD,WL (pair) = 1.80A Avg. @ 12.8VDC
• Flash Patterns: 33 (See chart)

Installation & Mounting

Mounting

Before proceeding with installation, plan all wiring and cable routing. Select the mounting location for the lightbar on a flat, smooth surface and center the unit across the width of the vehicle. The mounting location for the lightbar should be chosen such that the lightbar is level and visibility to approaching traffic is optimized. Mounting should be such that there is no less than 1/2" clearance between the roof and the lightbar at any point.

❗ Caution: When drilling into any vehicle surface, make sure that the area is free from any electrical wires, fuel lines, vehicle upholstery, vehicle support members, etc. that could be damaged.

Permanent Mounting

1. Determine the location of the lightbar and the best route for the wiring.
2. Determine the position of the mounting feet and drill the 5/16"-11/32" diameter mounting holes accordingly, if needed. The spacing of the mounting feet from left to right is adjustable. It is suggested that the positioning of the feet be symmetrical and near the curved edges of the roof where the roof is strongest. Ideally, the outermost holes on the feet should be used for installation. The inner holes on the feet match the hole locations for ECCO 10 and 15 series lightbars and can be used when one of these lightbars has been previously installed.
3. Mount the lightbar, with the bolts going through the holes drilled in step 2, routing the wire as planned in step 1 (refer to diagram). See the Wiring section of this manual for further wiring instructions. Install washers and nuts and secure the unit. The use of thread locking compound is recommended.

Diagram Description: Illustration of permanent mounting. Shows the LIGHTBAR positioned on a VEHICLE ROOF (CUT OUT). Components include 5/16" COACH BOLT, LOAD WASHER, and 5/16" NYLOCK NUT securing the lightbar. Dimensions 7.86" and 5.31" are indicated.

Gutter Mounting

Important! Mounting brackets are specific to the vehicle model. Please make sure the brackets are suitable for the vehicle before installation.

1. Remove mounting foot. Position bracket onto nubs of the foot.
2. Holding the bracket and foot together, insert the cage nut as shown. It will fit snugly underneath the mounting foot. Do not install it on the outside face.
3. Install the mounting feet in reverse order of their removal. The metal bracket will be sandwiched between the bar and the composite mounting foot. Adjust the spacing of the mounting feet before securely tightening the nuts.
4. Hand thread the M6 bolt through the star washer and mounting strap into the cage nut. Be careful not to cross thread the bolt, and leave loose until later steps.
5. Once the bar is in position, use the strap as a template to drill Ø1/8" holes. It may be necessary to pull back the door sealing gasket or trim. Apply silicone or sealant around the hole, behind the strap. Secure the straps with the provided #10 stainless steel sheet metal screws with washers as shown. Screws should be tightened around 5-10 in-lb.
6. Tighten the M6 bolts evenly so that the bar is even and centered. Reinstall any removed trim and/or weather-stripping and close doors to check secure fit of the lightbar.

Diagram Description: Illustration of gutter mounting components. Shows the LIGHTBAR, MOUNTING FOOT, MOUNTING STRAP, M6 SCREW, M6 STAR WASHER, #10 STAR WASHERS, SHEET METAL SCREWS, Ø1/8" HOLES, VEHICLE ROOF, 5/16" HEX BOLTS, FOOT BRACKET, M6 CAGE NUT, 5/16" FLAT WASHERS, 5/16" SPLIT LOCK WASHERS, and 5/16" HEX NUTS.

12-Series Roof Mounting Kits

(Please call Customer Service for more options)

Wiring Instructions

Important! This unit is a safety device and it must be connected to its own separate, fused power point to assure its continued operation should any other electrical accessory fail. Do not wire in parallel with any other accessory.

Notes:

1. 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).
2. 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. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Ground termination should only be made to substantial chassis components, preferably directly to the vehicle battery.
6. Circuit breakers are very sensitive to high temperatures and will "false trip" when mounted in hot environments or operated close to their capacity.

❗ CAUTION! Disconnect the battery before wiring up the lightbar, to prevent accidental shorting, arcing, and/or electrical shock.

General Wiring Instructions

Before attempting to connect the lightbar wiring harness, refer to the wiring diagram illustrated below. The wiring diagram describes the function for each separate wire.

1. Route the lightbar power cable Red wire to a fused, ignition-switched power point. Connect the lightbar Black wire to a solid ground connection on the vehicle (ideally, directly to the battery negative terminal). Use a fuse according to the wiring diagram.
2. After the lightbar has been mounted, route the control cable into the vehicle to the switch panel/controller location.
3. Connect the wires of the lightbar wiring harness to the switched side of each switch, or plug into the optional controller. See the wiring diagram for wire color/function legend.
4. Use cable ties and grommets to secure and protect all cables and wires.

Wiring Diagram Description: The diagram shows the connections for the 12-Series Lightbar. It includes an Ignition Switch, a 25A fuse for the Power Cable, and a 2A fuse for the Control Cable. The Power Cable (Red wire) connects to Batt +, and the Control Cable (Black wire) connects to ground. The diagram also illustrates the optional Controller or Adapter, and lists the functions of wires from the lightbar: Pattern 1 (Brown) connects to (Brown) Tail, Pattern 2 (Orange) connects to (Yellow) Left, Alley Left (Yellow) connects to (Green) Right, Alley Right (Green) connects to (White) Ground, Worklight (Blue) connects to (Red) N/C, and Pattern Sel (Violet).

Options and Maintenance

Occasional cleaning of the lenses will ensure optimum light output. Take care when cleaning lenses - although tough, polycarbonate scratches easily. Clean the lens and base with soap and water or a lens polish using a soft cloth. Do not use solvents as they may damage the polycarbonate. Do not subject the lightbar to high-pressure washers or automatic car washers.

Lens Removal and Installation

1. Remove the screws from the lenses. Starting at one edge, pull the lens off.
2. Carefully lift the lens off the seal - choose a suitable location to temporarily store the lens so as to not scratch the surface.
3. When reinstalling, gently apply pressure around the lens taking care not to damage the seal. Replace the screws.

LED Modules

• Warning LED Modules (EZ0007A, EZ0007B, EZ0007C, EZ0007G, EZ0007R): Designed for long service life with high-performance LEDs. These are low profile units with high intensity output and low current draw. They can be mounted in the front, rear, and corners of the lightbar.
• Alley / Takedown / Worklight LED Modules (EZ0003): Can be mounted anywhere in the lightbar.
• Stop / Tail / Turn LED Modules (EZ0005): Operate in conjunction with the vehicle's tail, brake, and direction indicator lights. The kit includes a pair of modules, control circuit, and cable.

Image Descriptions: Illustrations of different LED module types are provided.

Controller Keypad (EZ0006)

The optional in-cab controller provides convenient control of the Lightbar's 24 built-in flash patterns and features soft touch buttons and LED function indicator lights.

Operation

The 12 series controller consists of 7 buttons with 5 features and 6 indicator windows. When a feature button is selected, the corresponding indicator(s) will illuminate. Pressing any of the 5 feature buttons turns that feature on; pressing it again turns it off. There are two large flash pattern preset buttons; only one can be selected at a time. If one is on while the other is selected, it will shut the previous one off. The "OFF" and "SEL" buttons do not have illuminated indicators.

• "OFF" - Turns the whole bar off. This is a quick way to shut everything down. Features can also be shut down individually by pushing the feature's button.
• "Power 1", "Power 2" - Turns on the flashing modules with whatever flash pattern was stored to this button.
• "AL" - Turns on left alley light, or as custom configured.
• "WL" - Turns on center pair of takedown or worklights, or as custom configured.
• "AR" - Turns on right alley light, or as custom configured.
• "SEL" - Advances to the next flash pattern whenever either power button is selected.

Image Description: An image of the ECCO controller keypad with its various buttons.

Control Pad Mounting

To mount the control pad with Velcro, separate the two circular halves, remove the backing, and adhere one piece on the vehicle dashboard and the other to the back of the controller. To mount the control pad using the swivel mount, first mount the swivel unit to the dashboard with either the supplied screws (note: the suction cup will not work after drilling screws through the swivel base) or by turning the lever at the base of the swivel unit to engage the suction cup. Push the controller onto the swivel slide and press the control pad down onto the slide until it engages the slot in the control pad. You may need to turn the controller clockwise once engaged with the slide to tighten it. Turn the dial on the swivel head to tighten it against the back of the control pad. Finally, loosen the hand screw on the swivel neck to adjust the angle of the control pad. Hold the pad in the desired position while tightening the hand screw on the swivel neck.

Diagram Description: A diagram illustrating the process of mounting the control pad using a swivel mount, showing how to push the controller onto the swivel slide and engage the slot.

Replacement Parts/Accessories

Troubleshooting

All lightbars are thoroughly tested prior to shipment. However, should you encounter a problem during installation or during the life of the product, follow the guide below for troubleshooting and repair information. If the problem cannot be rectified using the solutions given below, additional information may be obtained from the manufacturer.

LIGHTBAR AND CONTROLLER

ALLEY / TAKEDOWN / WORKLIGHTS

STOP/TAIL/TURN