by Justin Gray
We've long manufactured the original Fred light (#2639); it has been a huge success and proven itself time and time again in a multitude of industries. From the feedback we received of how to make the original FRED light better, we developed the FRED Light PRO (now known as the "Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare" #0410). Here is a breakdown of the specific changes requested by our customers.
Battery
The original FRED Light has AAA batteries and required a Philips screwdriver to replace them. Customers, especially those in Law-Enforcement complained that it was too tedious to replace the batteries. The Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare has larger capacity AA batteries and can have the batteries changed out without tools in only a few seconds!
Customers have asked why we don’t make a rechargeable version, and the answer is that it does not make tactical sense. With a rechargeable version, you need to constantly recharge them. The worst time to have them not be charged is when you need them! How are you going to charge them on the side of the road when you need them to be deployed? With our FRED Lights, it only takes a simple battery change.
Flashing Modes
From Civilians, Military, Law Enforcement and Civil Services we’ve heard that there are simply too many flashing modes on the original FRED Light (9+worklight); this took way too long to cycle through the desired settings. On the Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare, we only kept the 5 user-favorite flash modes.
Worklight
Another gripe we heard regarding the original FRED Light is that the 3 LED worklight is “almost useless”. With that sentiment taken into consideration, we upped the ante and made the worklight a 6 LED – 150 lumen beacon of blinding brightness!
DOT "Approved"
Some emergency departments are unable to utilize safety devices unless they follow DOT regulations; The Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare is DOT Compliant under 49CFR § 392.25 & 393.95(g).
Size
Some users noted that the original FRED Light could roll more easily and was smaller than they wanted. The Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare is larger than the original FRED Light, and has “fingers” to prevent rolling.
IP Rating
Utilizing the ANSI FL1 Standard to ensure measurement accuracy, the original FRED is rated to IP55 standards while the Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare is rated to IP67 standards. This means that the original FRED will stop particle (dirt, dust, etc.) intrusion and is waterproof from rain and water jets. The Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare is completely waterproof and dust proof plus can handle powerful water-jets and heavy seas.
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Specs |
Original FRED Light (#2639) |
Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare (#0410) |
|
Battery |
3x AAA |
3x AA (tool-less removal) |
|
LED |
15 |
12 |
|
Red LED Lumens |
20 Lumens |
50 Lumens |
|
Flashing Modes |
9 |
5 |
|
Worklight |
100 Lumens |
150 Lumens |
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Water/Dustproof (IP Rating) |
IP55 |
IP67 |
|
DOT Compliant |
Yes |
Yes |
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Weight |
0.4 lbs. |
1 lb. |
|
Dimensions (inches) |
4.0 x 1.5 |
5.0 x 1.5 |
|
Material |
Polycarbonate Body, TPE Wrap |
Polycarbonate Body, TPR Wrap |
| Learn More |
Questions
You may be wondering, “Why even bother with the original FRED Light, if the Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare is so good?”. That sentiment rings true with everyone who uses the original FRED regularly like Fire, EMS, Police, and Civil Services. For those who will rely on FRED for only emergencies, the original FRED Light is still a viable option; for daily users, the Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare is your best bet.
This original FRED was run-over by an 18-Wheeler at Freeway speeds and came out looking like this... and it still works! (Photo courtesy of a local Police agency - name intentionally withheld)
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Similarities |
FRED Light (#2639) |
Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare (#0410) |
|
Visibility |
360° up to 1 mile radius |
360° up to 1 mile radius |
|
Load Capacity |
500kg (3616 ft-lbs.) of force |
500kg (3616 ft-lbs.) of force |
|
Construction |
Anti-slip double injection |
Anti-slip double injection |
|
Storage Temperature |
-40°F to 140°F (-40°C to +60°C) |
-40°F to 140°F (-40°C to +60°C) |
|
Manufacturer’s Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
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Shatterproof |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Magnetic Backing |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Hanging Hooks |
Yes |
Yes |
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Safe for Indoor/Outdoor Use |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Safe to handle/Won’t Get Hot |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Safer that Incendiary Flares |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Smoke/Fume Free |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Floats |
Yes |
Yes |
What about the other “FRED Lights” out there?
While the original FRED has a lot of copycat designs in the market, there are a lot of differences between ours and theirs. To start, most of the copies are inferior when it comes to waterproofness, brightness, durability, and longevity. You may pay a few dollars less for a copy, but why do that when your life is worth a whole lot more. Additionally, ours has won safety awards!
Lighting Modes between the two models
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FRED Light (#2639) |
Michelin High Visibility LED Road Flare (#0410) |
| • 3-LED flashlight (white): 6 hours • Double-blink: 9 hours • Double-pulse: 9 hours • Single-blink: 38 hours • Rotate: 9 hours • SOS Help (morse code): 15 hours • Alternating: 9 hours • Solid-on high: 5 hours • Solid-on low: 28 hours • 2-LED flashlight (red): 9 hours |
• 6-LED flashlight (white): 10 hours • Solid-on low: 5 hours • Alternating: 5 hours • Triple-blink: 32 hours • Single-blink: 100 hours • Rotate: 13 hours |
The choice is yours! The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recommends using "3 bi-directional safety devices" when stationary alongside traffic routes. For some easy to digest reading on extending your safety zone, see our blog: Extend Your Safety Zone - Using LED Road Flares
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