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5 dollar 50" led light bar whistle fix

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404K views 131 replies 72 participants last post by  Spike  
#1 ·
If you have a 50" led light light bar then I am sure you have or are currently experiencing the whistle noise that accompanies it. So here is the reason it happens and the $5.00 dollar fix to solve it. First I want to thank "Sincityjets" for his help and assistance it tracking down the cause of the wind noise!.

First why is the noise occurring!

After a lot of trial and error and some basic engineering principles it was determined that the wind being forced up the windshield was blowing across the 5 flat fins on the back of the light bar. This was creating the same effect as blowing across the top of a coke bottle to make it whistle.

To prove this point Sincityjets taped the 5 fins and the noise went away. So the issue becomes how to break up the air blowing across the 5 fins.

So here is the 5 dollar fix, this is standard door insulation from lowes or Home Depot




You remove the the sticky tape and insert half of it I to the bottom of the flat fins like shown

Another view

And another view.

After words , just rotate it into place and the wind noise will be gone for ever! The insulation breaks up the air and prevents it from causing the whistling noise.

We hope this helps!
 
S
#2 ·
Thanks for posting this. This fix is worth $500 to get rid of the whistle!!

Like DF said, I just put blue painters tape all the way across the back of those 5 fins, but this solution is better looking and longer lasting. That 50" light bar is cool, but that whistle sounds like a ghost from the Grudge is following you everywhere you go (over 40mph) :)
 
#3 ·
I was about to post a very similar response. That noise has killed me for a few weeks. I knew it was coming from the light bar and verified it when I reached over the windshield while driving the other day to grab the fins. Whistle stopped!! My plan today was actually going to HD to look for something that would prohibit resonance from the fins or force the wind past the fins. Looks like my shopping trip was easily cut in half!!

Thanks Darkfire and Sincityjets
 
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#4 ·
I actually cut pieces of foam and inserted them into the fins. Each piece about an inch or so long, about every 6-10" ... best part is it was free... came in the box with the light! haha.
 
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#9 ·
4 rows of door insulation for good measure :) I have a headache just thinking about that whistling noise lol. Hopefully this will do the trick. Cheers!

Darkfire: you should really let me but you a beer or three! You have some kickass posts that I really appreciate! PM me your PayPal ;)
 

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#12 ·
You can also tilt the light slightly upward. The more the light is tilted downward the louder the whistle.
It only needs to be tilted upward a little off of horizontal.
I would assume that the body of the light is finned to dissipate heat. Probably stuffing insulation in between the fins may not be a real good idea. Possibly ok for using the light in a short duration, but in a prolonged lighting situation when the jeep is not moving and no airflow is cooling the light, could damage the light.
 
#19 ·
there's sheep skin seatbelt covers over the insulation and hallelujah! It's a success
Click to expand...
Hahahaha! I feel your pain! Its a jeep. Modifying like a boss! Hahahaha!


I'm sure there's not much chance of your light overheating in Minnesota
Click to expand...
Minnesota... Overheat? LOL! Whats heat?
 
R
#29 ·
Great post guys. Mine was driving me crazy too. I am going to try adjusting the angle first. If is aimed a bit high all the time no big deal on the street. Just a quick adjustment for night runs would be no big deal. I also have a 20 inch over the winch so for a quick spot I would be fine. I am also concerned with the cooling possible issues being here in AZ. Night runs are in the summer and is still really hot at night. 90's.

Next week I am back in AZ and it is hot. Wife said it was 87 yesterday- new record.
Top is coming off on Tuesday.

Question?

How much wind buffeting or turbulence are you experiencing with the top off running the 50" light bar? Any additional issues beside the annoying whistle which to me is a design flaw and should be corrected by the manufacturing.

So no testing was done by any manufacture on the street? For $1000 a pop I would expect something. On desert race trucks you are not going to hear the whistle , lol.
 
#32 ·
What was said is that we covered all 5 fins to see if that was where the noise was being generated from. The fix only requires putting the insulation material on the one fin. The material breaks up the wind coming across all five fins and prevents the whistle.
 
#35 ·
Finnaly got my 50" bar on and it started to whistle with just the dang wind. Going to get the weather stripping this week.
 
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#42 ·
Just putting another idea out there. I went and got a 2 dollar plastic tube that goes around those long round lights that are in basements or garages(can't think of the name for some reason) cut it to 50in and sliced it down the center and zip tied it on. Works great and you really can't tell its on.
 
#44 ·
UpAtReE said:
Just putting another idea out there. I went and got a 2 dollar plastic tube that goes around those long round lights that are in basements or garages(can't think of the name for some reason) cut it to 50in and sliced it down the center and zip tied it on. Works great and you really can't tell its on.
Click to expand...
Shattershield is one company that makes these. They're clear plastic tubes to protect fluorescent lamps.
 
#46 ·
Darkfire said:
If you have a 50" led light light bar then I am sure you have or are currently experiencing the whistle noise that accompanies it. So here is the reason it happens and the $5.00 dollar fix to solve it. First I want to thank "Sincityjets" for his help and assistance it tracking down the cause of the wind noise!. First why is the noise occurring! After a lot of trial and error and some basic engineering principles it was determined that the wind being forced up the windshield was blowing across the 5 flat fins on the back of the light bar. This was creating the same effect as blowing across the top of a coke bottle to make it whistle. To prove this point Sincityjets taped the 5 fins and the noise went away. So the issue becomes how to break up the air blowing across the 5 fins. So here is the 5 dollar fix, this is standard door insulation from lowes or Home Depot You remove the the sticky tape and insert half of it I to the bottom of the flat fins like shown Another view And another view. After words , just rotate it into place and the wind noise will be gone for ever! The insulation breaks up the air and prevents it from causing the whistling noise. We hope this helps!
Click to expand...
For those that missed the first post here it is again
 
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