Britax Beacons: Britax Flashing and LED Beacon Brand Guide

Britax is a long-established British name in vehicle warning beacons, best known for amber rotating and LED beacons fitted to tractors, trucks, recovery vehicles and plant. The Britax brand is now part of ECCO Safety Group, whose UK base is in Leeds, and Britax beacons are often sold as “ECCO Britax”. The range covers halogen rotating beacons, LED beacons and mounts for farm vehicles, and Britax beacons are a common sight on Irish tractors.

This guide explains who makes Britax beacons today, the main types in the range, how to pick the right one for a tractor or telehandler, and what to check before you buy any beacon.

Who makes Britax beacons?

Britax beacons are made under the ECCO Safety Group, a warning light and siren manufacturer whose brands include ECCO, Britax, Code 3 and Vision Alert. ECCO Safety Group was bought by the US firm Clarience Technologies in January 2021, and its UK operation is based at Green Park, Leeds.

The Britax lighting business has a long UK history. Industrial history records list P. M. G. Thorpe as part of Britax by 1973, and the business as Britax (PMG) by 1980, with a base in Bridlington. In 2017 the UK company Britax PMG changed its name to Ecco Safety Group (UK) Ltd. That is why older beacons, catalogues and spares lists say “Britax PMG”, while newer stock often says “ECCO Britax”.

The lighting business is separate from the Britax brand known for child car seats and pushchairs, which is a different company.

Britax rotating and halogen beacons

Britax halogen beacons use a halogen bulb and a motor-driven reflector to produce the traditional rotating sweep of amber light. The usual bulb in this type of beacon is an H1, 55W on 12V or 70W on 24V, so check the beacon’s own specification for the correct replacement.

Halogen rotating beacons suit:

• Machines that stay off the public road, such as yard loaders.
• Vintage tractors used solely for rallies or display, which are exempt from the Irish beacon rule.
• Operators who prefer the look of a true rotating beacon for off-road use.

For road use in Ireland, note that the regulations limit amber beacon lamps to 36 watts, so a beacon with a 55W or 70W halogen bulb is over the limit. For a tractor that goes on the road, an LED beacon is the safer choice.

The drawbacks are the same as any halogen beacon: about 5A current draw on 12V, a bulb that can fail from vibration, and a motor and drive that eventually wear. Halogen beacons are voltage-specific, so order 12V for a 12V tractor and 24V for 24V machines.

Looking after a halogen rotating beacon

A halogen beacon lasts longer with a little care. Replace a blown bulb with the correct voltage and wattage, and handle the new bulb by its base, because skin oil on the glass shortens its life. While the lens is off, check the reflector turns freely, the motor connections are tight and the lens seal is not perished or cracked. If the light works but no longer sweeps, the motor or its drive has worn; our beacon not working guide walks through the checks.

Britax LED beacons

Britax LED beacons replace the bulb and motor with fixed LEDs and an electronic flash driver. They draw far less current, have no moving parts, and many models offer more than one flash pattern. Many LED beacons are multi-volt, running on 12V or 24V, but check each model’s label because not all are.

LED is now the usual choice for new fitments and for upgrades from halogen, and in Ireland it is the straightforward way to stay under the 36 watt limit for amber beacons. It suits tractors with a heavy electrical load, machines that sit with the beacon running, and anyone tired of replacing bulbs. The main trade-off is that an LED beacon is a sealed unit: if the driver electronics fail, you replace the beacon rather than a bulb.

Mounting options

Britax beacons, like most tractor beacons, come in versions for the main mounting types:

• DIN pole (spigot) mount: the beacon fits on a tube that clamps into a holder on the cab roof. The usual permanent fit on tractors and telehandlers.
• Flexi DIN mount: a pole with a flexible section that bends on contact with branches or door frames.
• Magnetic mount: a magnet base with a coiled lead and plug, for moving the beacon between vehicles.
• Bolt-on mount: 1-bolt or 3-bolt fixing direct to the roof or a bracket for a low, permanent fit.

DIN pole tube sizes and holder designs vary between makers and tractor brands. Before ordering a replacement Britax beacon, check the mount type and, if possible, the part number on the old unit.

Identifying an old Britax beacon

Before ordering a replacement or spares, gather what you can from the beacon you are replacing. Most beacons carry a label or moulded text on the base. Look for:

• Brand and part number: often on a sticker under the base or inside the lens. Older units may say Britax PMG.
• Voltage: 12V, 24V or a multi-volt range. Fit the same, or a multi-volt LED unit.
• Bulb: on halogen units, the bulb type and wattage, usually H1.
• Approval marks: the E mark and R65 code, plus R10 if present.
• Mount: DIN pole, flexi, magnetic or bolt-on, and the tube size if it is a pole mount.
• Connection: bare tails, a plug to a factory roof socket, or a cigarette lighter plug.

If the label has worn off, measure the pole tube and note how the lead leaves the base. A photo of the old beacon and its mount makes it much easier to match a replacement.

Fitting and wiring a Britax beacon

A Britax beacon wires like any other tractor beacon: a fused, switched positive feed and a good earth. A single LED beacon needs only a small fuse and no relay; a 12V halogen rotating beacon draws about 5A and needs a 10A fuse and 1.5 mm² cable. If you are fitting a beacon to a tractor with no existing circuit, our guide on how to wire a beacon to a tractor covers fuses, switches, relays and plugs step by step. If the tractor already has a factory beacon socket, check the plug type matches before you buy.

Approval: what to look for on a Britax beacon

A beacon for road use should carry an ECE R65 approval mark, an E in a circle with a country number and a code such as TA1 (T for an all-round beacon, A for amber, 1 for Class 1). Class 1 beacons have one intensity level; Class 2 beacons have separate day and night levels. An R10 mark shows the beacon has been tested for electromagnetic compatibility, which matters on tractors with GPS and ISOBUS.

Check the marks on the specific model rather than assuming a whole brand range is approved. Our guide to ECE R65 beacons explains how to read the marks.

Whatever the brand, a beacon used on an Irish road must also meet the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963, as amended: amber for farm vehicles, mounted on the roof on the vehicle’s centre line where possible, no part of the lit surface less than 1.27 m from the ground, the light-emitting area within a 230 mm square, and no more than 36 watts. Every tractor and self-propelled agricultural machine must have one fitted and switched on whenever it is on a public road.

Choosing a Britax beacon for a farm vehicle

Job	Suggested type	Why
Replacing an old Britax rotating beacon	LED beacon, same voltage and mount	Direct swap, and under the 36 W limit for road use
Permanent fit on a modern tractor	LED on DIN or flexi DIN pole	Low current, no moving parts
Contractor moving between machines	LED magnetic, multi-volt	Moves between machines and voltages
Low sheds or hedge-lined lanes	Low-profile LED or flexi DIN mount	Less likely to be knocked off
Trailer or load hides the cab beacon	Second beacon on the trailer or load	Keeps the warning visible from behind

Britax compared with other beacon options

Britax is one of several established brands in warning lights sold in Ireland and the UK, alongside names such as Hella and other specialist beacon makers. The practical differences between good branded beacons are in the details: mount fit, flash patterns, intensity class, sealing and spares. Unbranded beacons can be cheaper but vary more in approval and build quality, so check the R65 and R10 marks carefully.

Looking at beacons more widely?

If you are not tied to a brand, start with what the vehicle needs: amber, the right voltage, an approved R65 beacon, a mount that suits your cab, and a seal rated for pressure washing. Our tractor beacons buying guide works through each of those choices, with a comparison table and a quick recommendation for each situation. Browse the full tractor beacons range or the wider universal beacons category for road, plant and recovery vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Britax beacons?

The Britax warning light brand belongs to ECCO Safety Group, which was acquired by Clarience Technologies in 2021. Its UK operation is in Leeds.

Is Britax PMG the same as ECCO?

Yes, in the UK. Britax PMG changed its company name to Ecco Safety Group (UK) Ltd in 2017, and Britax continues as a brand within the group. You will see both names on beacons and spares.

What bulb does a Britax rotating beacon use?

Most halogen rotating beacons use an H1 bulb, 55W on 12V or 70W on 24V. Check the beacon’s own label or instructions, and always match the bulb voltage to the beacon.

Are Britax beacons road legal?

A Britax beacon is road legal in Ireland when it is amber, fitted to a vehicle allowed to show amber (tractors and self-propelled agricultural machines are), mounted on the roof with its lit surface at least 1.27 m high, and no more than 36 watts. LED models meet the wattage limit easily. Check the specific model for its ECE R65 and R10 approval marks.