Programmable control for siren and lights

A method for use with a power supply, an emergency warning light and a speaker, said method comprising:

• providing an amplifier module having an input receiving power from the power supply and having outputs configured to selectively energize the emergency warning light and configured to selectively energize the speaker, said amplifier module having an amplifier module processor controlling the outputs of amplifier module, said amplifier module processor having a communications port;
• providing a light module having an input receiving power from the power supply and having outputs configured to control the emergency warning light, said light module having a light module processor controlling the outputs of the light module, said light module processor having a communications port;
• providing a communications link connecting the amplifier module communications port to the light module communications port;
• controlling the amplifier module and controlling the light module processor via the amplifier module processor and via the communications link;
• detecting a configuration failure in which the amplifier module fails to successfully load configuration data at power UP wherein in response to said detected configuration failure, said amplifier module implements a factory default configuration;
• and
• detecting a communication failure in which the control head and amplifier module are unable to establish data communications therebetween, wherein in response to said detected communication failure the control head signals the operator until communication is established.

A system for controlling the use of an emergency warning light and a speaker on a vehicle with a power supply, said system comprising:

• an amplifier module having an amplifier module processor configured to control the amplifier module to selectively energize the emergency warning light and to selectively energize the speaker, said amplifier module having a communications port;
• a light module to selectively energize the emergency warning light, said light module having a communications port;
• a communications link connecting the amplifier module communications port to the light module communications port;
• a control head connected to the amplifier module configured to control the amplifier module and configured to control the light module via the amplifier module and via the communications link;
• computer executable diagnostic instructions stored on a tangible computer readable media, said diagnostic instructions executable by the amplifier module processor configured to detect the following system faults:
• a configuration failure in which amplifier module fails to successfully load configuration data at power UP wherein in response to said configuration failure, said amplifier module implements a factory default configuration;
• and
• a communication failure in which the control head and amplifier module are unable to establish data communications therebetween, wherein in response to said communication failure the control head signals the operator until communication is established.