Rear window warning light (BooYu now, E68Xtreme planned)
The BooYu amber traffic advisor is installed and stays in use until the planned Strobes N' More E68Xtreme stick (red/amber/white, 35.5 in) and its Federal Signal no-drill bracket are bought. The CanTrol becomes the stick's flasher, one LED output per head.
Legal notice
Emergency lighting and siren use is regulated by state law and permits. This page documents a personal build and is not legal guidance. The planned stick includes red and white heads; check what colors are allowed for the vehicle before wiring them.
Where this stands (27 Oct 2026)
Section titled “Where this stands (27 Oct 2026)”| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| BooYu Rear LED TIR Amber Warning Light & Traffic Advisor | Installed in the rear window. Stays in use until the E68Xtreme is fitted |
| Strobes N’ More E68Xtreme LED Stick (8 Module), R/A/W/W/W/W/A/R | Planned (my decision, 27 Oct). Not bought. Priced in the cart on 27 Oct |
| Federal Signal SLB-FRD15ND No-Drill Mount Kit | Planned. Not bought. Lead time 1–3 weeks |
| Whelen Dominator Plus 8-head TA (used, all amber) | Dropped. Replaced in the plan by the E68Xtreme on 27 Oct |
I asked for an “E86” traffic advisor; the project files of 27 October name the part as the Strobes N’ More E68Xtreme LED Stick, so this page uses that name.
Rear-facing warning and directional lighting in the rear window, inside the cab, switched on and off with the rest of the system from the CanTrol. Done means the E68Xtreme is on the Federal Signal brackets, each of its eight heads is flashed by its own CanTrol LED output with flash patterns only, the ground and draw are confirmed on the bench, and the BooYu and its wiring are removed.
Constraints
Section titled “Constraints”- Interior only. Both lights sit inside the rear window. Nothing mounts on the roof (panoramic roof).
- Airbags. The stick, its 44 in cable and the K1–K9 loom stay out of the curtain airbag paths along the headliner and C-pillars.
- No drilling. The Federal Signal kit is a no-drill bracket for the 2015+ F-150. The third brake light and rear headliner come off for access.
- External flasher required. The E68Xtreme has no built-in flasher. The seller says it needs an external LED flasher or a full control system. The CanTrol is that flasher.
- Flash only, never steady. The seller’s warranty excludes heads damaged by running constantly on. Every K output is set to a flash pattern in Whelen Command, never steady.
- Grounds. All added grounds go to a steel frame rail side or the Ford Q-231 ground point, never battery negative or the aluminum body (section rule).
Current light: BooYu traffic advisor
Section titled “Current light: BooYu traffic advisor”BooYu Rear LED TIR Amber Warning Light & Traffic Advisor
- Heads
- 8, all amber LEDs (checked 10 Oct)
- Power
- 12V cigarette-lighter plug with an on/off switch. Listing says it can be hardwired: red +, black −
- Controller cable
- 4- or 5-pin plug (listing photo)
- Draw
- Not listed. Measure on the bench
- Mount
- Rear window, SpeedTech headrest rear brackets
- Paid
- $39.99, plus $19.99 for the bracket 2-pack
Source: BooYu listing, and my notes of 8 and 10 Oct 2026
- Its own controller. The cable between the controller and the bar has a 4- or 5-pin plug (listing photo), too few wires for one per head, so the CanTrol can’t run the heads one by one. The CanTrol’s J10 traffic advisor port isn’t used.
- Manual power button. It needs its power button pressed every time it gets power, even after a power cut (confirmed 10 Oct 2026).
How it’s used
Section titled “How it’s used”It stays manual. I keep the controller within reach and press it on when it’s needed. J1-3 still cuts its power with the slide switch, so it can never be left running with the system off. In the five-modes plan it can only do amber flash (M3, and the amber part of M5).
BooYu wiring (until the E68Xtreme goes in)
Section titled “BooYu wiring (until the E68Xtreme goes in)”| Wire | Color | Function | Source output | Draw | Fuse | Gauge | Relay pin | Termination | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Red (controller +, after cutting off the plug) | Power to the controller | J1-3 (10A, orange lead), slide 2/3 | Not measured | 10A in-line ATC, plus CanTrol internal | 14 AWG | — | Butt splice with heat shrink | TBD |
| B2 | Black (controller −) | Ground | — | Return | — | 14 AWG | — | Ring terminal, star washer | Ford factory ground point or steel frame rail. Never battery negative |
| B3 | Supplied cable | Controller to light bar | — | — | — | Supplied | — | Factory plug | TBD |
When the E68Xtreme is fitted, B1 to B3 come out. That frees J1-3 (10A); the project document doesn’t reassign it yet.
Planned light: Strobes N’ More E68Xtreme LED Stick
Section titled “Planned light: Strobes N’ More E68Xtreme LED Stick”
Strobes N' More E68Xtreme LED Stick (8 Module)
- SKU
- E68XTREMECUSTOM (custom colors)
- Heads
- 8, left to right: red, amber, white, white, white, white, amber, red (R/A/W/W/W/W/A/R, entered in the custom colors box at checkout)
- Size
- 35.5 in long x 1.125 in high x 2 in deep
- Voltage
- 12V DC
- Cable
- 44 in
- Brackets
- Two 2 in adjustable brackets included
- Optics
- Flood and spot combination (V.2 optics; modules can be swapped one at a time, per the seller)
- Housing
- Sealed extrusion, sold as fully sealed against moisture
- Flasher
- None built in. Needs an external LED flasher or a full control system (seller)
- Draw
- Not published for the stick. About 0.9A max per head, from the seller's single E6 head spec (0.9A max, 0.7A average at 12.8V). About 7.2A max for all eight. Inferred, measure on the bench
- Wire colors
- Not published. One positive per head plus a common ground is assumed. Inferred
- Warranty
- 5 years. Heads damaged by running constantly on are not covered
- Price
- $284.99 list, less the FIRST10 code ($28.49) = $256.50, plus $18.11 shipping and $16.47 estimated tax = $291.08 (cart, 27 Oct). Not bought
Source: Strobes N' More product page
Federal Signal SLB-FRD15ND No-Drill Mount Kit
- What it is
- Bracket kit, 8-head, no-drill, rear headliner (rear window) mount
- Made for
- Federal Signal CN SignalMaster and Latitude lightheads
- Vehicles
- Ford F-150 2015+ and Super Duty 2017+ (kit name). Retail listings give F-150 2015–2024, Lightning 2022–2024, Super Duty 2017–2024. Covers my 2017 SuperCrew (inferred from the year range)
- Hardware
- Two headliner brackets. They bolt through the rear of the cab from the bed with 1/4-20 bolts and fender washers, with lock nuts and flat washers inside. Retail listing also mentions eight #10 screws
- Access
- Remove the third brake light and the rear headliner
- Instructions
- Federal Signal 25500520
- Price
- $49.00 at WFGear (lead time 1–3 weeks). Not bought. Other sellers list $54.49 and $71.49
Source: WFGear listing
Bracket fit is unconfirmed
The SLB-FRD15ND is made for Federal Signal lightheads, not for the E68Xtreme. Whether the stick’s own 2 in brackets can be fixed to the Federal Signal brackets is unconfirmed: check it at the mock-up before buying hardware or cutting anything. Also check at the mock-up that the brackets and stick clear the panoramic roof’s rear headliner trim and any rear sliding window hardware, and that the third brake light goes back in cleanly.
How the CanTrol drives it
Section titled “How the CanTrol drives it”The CanTrol is the stick’s flasher. Each head gets its own LED output (LED Outputs 6, 7, 8, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31), each with its own flash pattern and phase set in Whelen Command. That lets the stick run warning patterns, left and right traffic advisor sweeps, and the amber and white modes of the five-modes plan. This is inferred from the outputs’ capability; the patterns aren’t programmed yet.
| Head | Color | Wire | CanTrol output | Connector pin (derived) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (left end) | Red | K1 | LED Output 6 | J4-8 |
| 2 | Amber | K2 | LED Output 7 | J4-9 |
| 3 | White | K3 | LED Output 8 | J4-10 |
| 4 | White | K4 | LED Output 27 | J2-11 |
| 5 | White | K5 | LED Output 28 | J2-12 |
| 6 | White | K6 | LED Output 29 | J2-13 |
| 7 | Amber | K7 | LED Output 30 | J2-14 |
| 8 (right end) | Red | K8 | LED Output 31 | J2-15 |
The connector pins are derived from the CanTrol guide’s pin order (LED 1–16 on J4, LED 17–32 on J2-1 to J2-16 in the same order), not from the project document. Whelen’s guide gives two different color sets for some LED outputs (see the controller page), so identify every lead by pin number and a meter, never by color.
E68Xtreme wiring (planned)
Section titled “E68Xtreme wiring (planned)”| Wire | Color | Function | Source output | Draw | Fuse | Gauge | Relay pin | Termination | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K1 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 1 (red) + | LED Output 6 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K2 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 2 (amber) + | LED Output 7 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K3 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 3 (white) + | LED Output 8 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K4 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 4 (white) + | LED Output 27 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K5 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 5 (white) + | LED Output 28 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K6 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 6 (white) + | LED Output 29 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K7 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 7 (amber) + | LED Output 30 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K8 | Per the seller (not published) | Head 8 (red) + | LED Output 31 | About 0.9A max (inferred) | LED output, 2.5A internal | 18 AWG | — | TBD | TBD |
| K9 | Black (−), per the seller | Common ground for all 8 heads (inferred) | — | Return, about 7.2A max (inferred) | — | 16 AWG | — | Ring terminal, star washer | Document: "chassis ground near the module". Use the Ford Q-231 point or a steel frame rail per the section rule; the cab floor is aluminum. Confirm the point |
| K10 | Loom | Route for K1–K8 and K9 | Module under the rear seat | — | — | K1–K9 in loom | — | Up the C-pillar trim to the rear headliner, center, to the stick's 44 in cable. Clear of the curtain airbags | TBD |
Unverified
The wire colors, the common ground and the 0.9A per-head draw are all inferred: the seller’s page lists no wire colors or current for the stick. Before any wire is landed, put the stick on the bench on 12V through a fused lead, identify each head’s lead and the ground with a meter, and measure each head’s draw. Each output is limited to 2.5A, so a 0.9A head is well inside it; the eight heads together (about 7.2A max) are split across the J4 and J2 output groups, each fused at 20A on the module, and all outputs together are limited to 40A.
What changes in the output plan and wire schedule
Section titled “What changes in the output plan and wire schedule”| Before (23 Oct files) | After (27 Oct files) |
|---|---|
| LED Outputs 6–8: reserved for the Dominator TA option (end flash, TA left, TA right) | LED Outputs 6–8: E68Xtreme heads 1–3 (K1–K3) |
| LED Outputs 14–32: spare (14–15 front Z-6 option) | LED Outputs 27–31: E68Xtreme heads 4–8 (K4–K8). Spare: 14–26 and 32 (14–15 front Z-6 option, 16–26 proposed in the five-modes plan) |
| K1–K6: Dominator power on J1-3, ground, TA flash, end flash, TA left, TA right | K1–K8: one + per E68Xtreme head; K9 common ground; K10 route |
| X1, X2: LED Outputs 7 and 8 spare | X1: LED Output 32 spare. X2 removed |
| J1-3: BooYu | J1-3: BooYu until the E68Xtreme goes in, then free (not reassigned in the document) |
Rear color combinations (Putco Work Blade chart)
Section titled “Rear color combinations (Putco Work Blade chart)”
This chart is for the Putco Work Blade on the tailgate, which sits below this light on the back of the truck. It’s here so the rear colors can be planned together. The E68Xtreme’s own colors are fixed by its heads (R/A/W/W/W/W/A/R) and its patterns come from the CanTrol, so none of the Work Blade’s stored patterns or wig-wag combinations apply to the stick.
Dropped option: Whelen Dominator Plus (11 Oct)
Section titled “Dropped option: Whelen Dominator Plus (11 Oct)”On 11 October I found a used Whelen 8-head Dominator Plus traffic advisor, all amber (AAAAAAAA), with LIN6 optics and end flashers, at Brooks Government Surplus for $325.00 (listing price, condition A, never bought). The listing’s example unit was model DPTAW8, PN 01-0688639-F80, LINZ6 Super-LED, 12VDC, made 05/20. It had four control wires (TA left, TA right, end flash only, TA flash), so the CanTrol would only have switched it: power on J1-3, TA flash joined to power, end flash on LED 6, TA left on LED 7, TA right on LED 8 (all inferred at the time). On 27 October the E68Xtreme replaced it in the plan, and the Dominator listing images were removed from the project files.
Bench test
Section titled “Bench test”- BooYu: power-on behavior noted (it needs its button every time). Still to do: measure the draw with a meter in series on red so the 10A fuse can be confirmed.
- E68Xtreme (when bought): on 12V through a fused lead, find each head’s positive and the ground with a meter, measure each head’s current, then run each head from its CanTrol output with a flash pattern (never steady) before anything is mounted.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”| Symptom | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| BooYu doesn’t light | Controller not switched on, in-line fuse, or a poor ground |
| One E68Xtreme head dark | That head’s LED output not programmed or its lead not landed; check the output in Command and the pin with a meter |
| All E68Xtreme heads dark | Common ground (K9) loose or on a painted or aluminum surface; slide switch not in a position that enables the outputs |
| A head stays lit | Output set to steady in Command. Change it to a flash pattern: steady-on damage isn’t covered by the seller’s warranty |
Open items
Section titled “Open items”- Measure the BooYu draw (until it’s removed).
- Buy the E68Xtreme ($291.08 in the 27 Oct cart) and the SLB-FRD15ND kit ($49.00, 1–3 week lead time).
- Confirm the E68Xtreme’s wire colors, ground arrangement and per-head draw on the bench.
- Confirm at the mock-up how the stick’s 2 in brackets fix to the Federal Signal brackets, and the clearance at the panoramic roof trim and third brake light.
- Pick the K9 ground point (Q-231 point or frame rail).
- Program LED Outputs 6–8 and 27–31 in Command with flash patterns and phases, and assign them to slide positions and buttons.
- Decide what J1-3 does once the BooYu is out.
Sources
Section titled “Sources”- Strobes N’ More E68Xtreme LED Stick product page (heads, size, cable, brackets, optics, flasher requirement, warranty) and my cart of 27 Oct 2026
- Federal Signal SLB-FRD15ND instructions 25500520; listings at WFGear, Vehicle Safety Supply and FinditParts
- BooYu listing (power, plug, hardwire colors)
- Whelen Dominator Plus traffic advisor install guide, form 14D06 and flasher series DP2 to DP8, form 14D05 (dropped option)
- F-150 project document of 27 Oct 2026 (cover still reads revision 8), sections 3, 8, 9.2 K, 9.3 (B1 to B3, K1 to K10, X1) and 9.7
Changelog
Section titled “Changelog”E68Xtreme photo now shows full width instead of as a thumbnail.
Rollback: Revert the commit that widened the photo.
Added the Putco Work Blade color combination chart under the E68Xtreme section, for planning the rear colors together.
Rollback: Revert the commit that added the chart.
Added the planned Strobes N' More E68Xtreme stick and Federal Signal SLB-FRD15ND bracket from the 27 October files, new K1–K10 wiring, output plan changes, and moved the Whelen Dominator to a dropped option.
Rollback: Revert the commit that added the E68Xtreme.
Page published from the 23 October project files.
Rollback: Revert the commit that rebuilt the F-150 section.