The Sirens Project team continues to push forward on the buildout of our one-of-a-kind Sterling SC8000 grapple saw disaster response truck, and today we’re shedding some literal light on the progress!
In this phase of the project, we upgraded the truck’s outdated front lighting with a pair of Oracle Lighting Oculus Bi-LED 7″ Projector Headlights. These high-performance lights not only give the truck a striking, modern look but also drastically improve visibility and safety during post-disaster operations in low-light or hazardous weather conditions.
A Smart Fit Using Freightliner Housings
To complete the install, we paired the Oculus Projectors with a set of aftermarket 7″ headlight housings from United Pacific, typically used on Freightliner Century trucks. The combination worked amazingly well and provided a clean, functional fit for the Oculus lights on our SC8000 cab-over platform.
This simple and effective headlight housing solution is perfect for custom builds like ours—and a reminder that sometimes the best solutions come from thinking outside the box.
Wiring Up the Halos with DRLs
One of the coolest features of the Oracle Oculus is the built-in white LED halo, which can be used as a Daytime Running Light (DRL). To enable this function, we used a fuse tap designed for maxi-fuses, allowing us to draw power from an ignition-hot circuit in the fuse panel.
Using a multimeter, we located a fuse slot that receives 12V only when the ignition is on—the hazard light circuit turned out to be the perfect candidate. This ensures the halos automatically activate with the vehicle, adding safety and visibility without needing an external switch.
Clean and Simple Wiring
With our circuit chosen, we routed the DRL wiring from the headlights neatly along the firewall and into the passenger side of the cab using one of several factory firewall passthrough grommets. One of the best parts of working on the Sterling SC8000 is how thoughtfully the truck was designed—it’s incredibly easy to work on, making custom installs like this smooth and efficient.
Looking Ahead
This lighting upgrade is just the beginning of many enhancements to come. With every new component, we’re turning this already capable platform into a next-generation storm response vehicle, ready to help families recover from severe weather and disaster situations more efficiently than ever before.
🚛 Follow us for more updates as we continue to build the ultimate grapple saw disaster response truck—one light, one bolt, and one big idea at a time.
📸 Don’t forget to check out our build video updates on YouTube!
🌐 Learn more or support the project HERE!
Parts Used For The Install:
United Pacific Freightliner Century Headlight Bucket
Michigan Motor Sports H13 to H4 Male Adapter
Oracle Oculus 7″ Bi-LED Headlights
Assorted Fuse Tap