Star Model 1166HM Revolving Teardrop Light Amber

I ordered this light because I've always had Southern VP Lights in the past. This model is the re vamped version of the SVP now made by Star. It's not a bad little light but if you're used to having the SVP or Fireball type lamps you may be a little disappointed at first. Is it worth $50.00? the answer is yes but with that said keep in mind it is made cheaper than the older models mentioned above. Matter of fact the only thing original with this lamp from the older SVP lamps is the dome itself. The dome is still stamped 1166 SVP but everything else is a total re tool job. I'll list some of the differences below. Old Style SVP 1166: metal round reflector (matches dome shape) 90 flashes per minute (more punch IMO) 3 magnets Metal plate bottom not plastic coil cord New Style Star SVP Remake of the 1166 Same exact dome as the old style (the only original part) Small rectangle chrome plated PLASTIC reflector 160+ flashes per minute (less punch IMO) 1 doughnut magnet instead of the traditional 3 magnets found on older teardrops PLASTIC base bottom instead of metal. Straight cord with switchable plug If you've never used one of the older SVP lamps you'll love this new version light because you won't miss what you never had. even if you have used one of the older SVP's you may still love this lamp and welcome the change it just takes getting used to. It's a lot less metal and a lot more plastic right down to the reflector which cheapens the looks of this iconic lamp that's been in service for decades. As far as it's ability to get the job done it does have its strong points though. It's bright and like I mentioned it's fast. Some say the fast speed of the flash increases the urgency of traffic clearing vs slow speed. so it depends on how you look at it I suppose. I have both the older model and the newer model and I personally like the slower speed of the flash because it gives you that "pop" whereas the fast speed is more like a quick blink. mirrors sitting behind this newer version would be ideal. The rotation of the reflector is counterclockwise on this newer version and It comes with a mounting plate and Velcro as well as a hood shield. I'd still recommend this lamp to anyone that's thinking about getting it just giving you a heads up on the differences of the old vs new. Like most corporations in todays world someone just figured out a way to make the product for a fraction of the cost and still get the end results. Who knows in a few years this little light might be phased out altogether so I'll probably grab a few just to have as a collectable to go with my older SVP'S.. I'm not a fan of LED light bars but that is the direction we are heading and halogens are almost gone. better grab them while you can. New style vs Old style Update: WOW 10 years later (June 2025) this light is selling for $165.00 unbelievable. I paid $50 in 2015.

This is the real deal. Note the metal base. Higher quality construction compared to the other lights out there. There are lots of teardrop lights Fireball style etc. out there - this one is actually built to last. I’ve had mine for several years and it’s been heavily used and abused and keeps working great. When I did Uber full-time I kept it in the trunk (still do). During heavy snowstorms etc it was very helpful to improve visibility to other cars and get the riders to notice you in a sea of vehicles. Classic looks and modern functionality. I think it actually gains more attention than the run of the mill strobe and LED lights out there. Like I said, it’s been tossed around, dropped on, kept in extreme heat and cold conditions for years and still works like the day I got it. Mine replaced a Whelen Cadet / Whelen Responder amber dash light. The Whelen did offer two flash speeds which was nice. I like the look of the 1166HM 1166 teardrop style more though - both on the dash and on the roof. Higher quality does equate to higher price. The other reviewer does have a point - it’s not exactly like the older style Fireball lights but those aren’t really available (new) on the market anyway. I also recommend the Star Signal Hot Shot II model 1188 / 1188HM.

I bought mine back in 2015 when it was "only" $50 (seemed like a lot then) but am still pleased with it overall. The plug conveniently has a switch and a replaceable 5 Amp glass fuse. As another reviewer noted, these have a rectangular reflector that doesn't fill out the dome as much as a round one would, which kind of reduces the visual impact. Also, this reflector doesn't wrap around the bulb as much as older round ones do. As a result, you basically see the bulb continuously except when the reflector passes in front of it. Ideally, you should instead only see the bulb when the reflector passes *behind* and amplifies it, meaning that too sort of reduces the visual impact. I added some chrome tape to the sides of the reflector to widen it a bit and wrap around the bulb more (while making sure it doesn't touch/scratch the dome) and that helped improve the impact. I recently swapped the 50 W halogen bulb for an 1156 amber LED bulb, which seems at least as bright or brighter but reduced the current draw from 3.4 Amps to less than 0.4 Amps. Much less concerned now about running down the battery when using with the engine off.