Auxbeam Switch Panels for Ambulance, Fire Fighter and Defence Vehicles
A wall of dashboard toggles wired every which way is a nightmare to troubleshoot at 2 a.m. on a call-out. Here's how one control panel replaces it — and how to pick the right series for an ambulance, fire tender or defence support vehicle.
An Auxbeam switch panel is a compact, 6–12 circuit control unit paired with a relay box, letting a single dash-mounted panel run scene lights, beacons, fans, compressors and other accessories on ambulances, fire tenders and defence support vehicles. Built with solid-state relays, sealed housings and universal 12–24V compatibility, it replaces a dashboard of individually wired toggles with one rugged, easy-to-troubleshoot control point.
1. What Is an Auxbeam Switch Panel, Exactly?
An Auxbeam switch panel is a compact control unit — usually 6, 8 or 12 circuits — paired with a separate relay/control box that does the actual heavy-lifting of power distribution. Instead of running individual switches and wiring for every light bar, siren, fan or auxiliary pump, you run one panel to the dash and one wiring loom to the relay box, which then feeds each accessory.
Auxbeam has been building rugged switches since 2008, with a design philosophy built around durability and straightforward, intuitive controls. That combination is exactly why the same panels that started out on rock crawlers and overland trucks now show up in ambulances and support vehicles that can't afford electrical downtime.
The panels are independently backed by real testing rather than marketing claims — they carry UL, FCC, CE, RoHS and ISED certification, and the line picked up a SEMA Innovation Award in 2023.
2. Why Emergency and Defence Fleets Are Adopting Switch Panels
Ambulances, fire appliances and defence support vehicles share demands quite different from a weekend off-roader — many accessories, limited dash space, and zero tolerance for a switch that fails when it's needed most. A few features from the Auxbeam range map directly onto that need.
Quad-Protection Circuitry Built to Last
Every panel is built with solid-state relays and a resettable circuit breaker, guarding against reverse polarity, overcurrent, overvoltage and overheating — the difference between a panel that lasts and one that needs replacing every season on a vehicle driven hard and jump-started often.
Sealed Against Dust and Water IP-Rated Cover
Every panel ships with a silicone cover shielding the switches from water and dust ingress — relevant whether that's monsoon runoff at an accident site or dust kicked up on an unpaved forward operating route.
Three Switching Modes on One Panel Toggle · Momentary · Pulsed
TOGGLE keeps a device running continuously (scene lights, fans, compressors), MOMENTARY only activates while held (a winch or horn-style signal), and PULSED gives a strobing output (attention-getting warning lights) — all on a single unit.
RGB Backlighting That's Actually Useful Night-Vision Friendly
Beyond looking sharp, the RGB backlight auto-dims with ambient light and can be colour-matched to a vehicle's interior — useful for keeping a crew cabin from being flooded with white light overnight, when red or amber lighting matters more than aesthetics.
Memory Function No Re-Arming
The panel recalls the last-used settings after a restart, so a crew doesn't have to re-arm scene lighting or auxiliary equipment every time the engine is cut and restarted on scene.
Universal 12–24V Compatibility One Spec, Mixed Fleets
Ambulances and light support vehicles typically run 12V systems, while many fire tenders, buses and larger defence-support trucks run 24V. Auxbeam's panels work across that entire range, so one product family can be specified across a mixed fleet instead of sourcing different hardware per vehicle class.
Simple, Non-Destructive Installation Two Mounting Options
No large dash cut-out is required. Fleet workshops can place the panel on the dash, the centre console, or an overhead position depending on cab layout — important when refitting standard commercial chassis rather than a custom build.
3. Which Auxbeam Series Fits Your Vehicle?
Auxbeam's switch panel line-up has grown into several series, each aimed at a slightly different balance of control method, circuit count and budget. Here's how they stack up.
| Series | Circuits | Control Method | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Series | 6–8 | Panel only, basic on/off | Budget fitouts, simple accessory loads |
| RGB Series | 6–12 | Panel control, Toggle/Momentary/Pulsed | Ambulances and fire vehicles needing mixed-mode control without app dependency |
| AR Series | 6–8 | Panel + Bluetooth app | Crews that want to rename icons, group circuits, or adjust brightness from a phone |
| AS Series | 4–8 | Panel + app + 200ft wireless remote | Vehicles where a driver needs to trigger accessories without leaving the seat, or a second crew member needs standalone control |
| AC Series | 6–12 | Panel + app + remote | Larger fire tenders or command vehicles running more circuits with full remote flexibility |
| RC Series | 8 | Panel + dedicated handheld remote | Fleets that prefer a physical remote over an app for reliability and speed |
For a standard ambulance fitout, the RGB Series or AR Series tends to be the practical starting point — enough circuits for scene lighting, beacon control, fans and auxiliary power, with the option to add app control if the crew wants it. Larger fire appliances or command vehicles with a heavier accessory load usually move up to the AC-1200, which supports 12 circuits and up to 100A on a 24V system.
4. Installation Notes for Fleet Workshops
Fleet maintenance teams retrofitting standard commercial chassis will appreciate that Auxbeam's panels don't demand a large dashboard cut-out. The one-wire panel design means only a single control cable runs from the switch panel to the relay box, which can be mounted under the dash, behind a kick panel, or near the existing fuse box — with the heavier accessory wiring kept out of the cab. This keeps the retrofit clean on vehicles with limited spare wiring channels, and lets a workshop standardise the install process across a mixed fleet rather than custom-engineering the wiring for every vehicle type.
- Extension cable — for longer wiring runs or panels mounted further from the relay box: view the range
- Waterproof silicone cover — sold separately for replacement or spares: view the range
- Universal icon stickers — so crews can label circuits to match their own equipment layout, scene light to winch: view the range
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can one Auxbeam switch panel run both 12V and 24V vehicles?
Yes. Every current series is rated for DC 12–24V, which covers standard ambulances and light response vehicles as well as larger 24V fire tenders and support trucks.
Q: Do the panels need a large hole cut into the dashboard?
No. Auxbeam panels are designed for simple installation with two mounting options and don't require cutting a large opening — the panel sits on the surface with its own bracket, and only a single control cable runs back to the relay box.
Q: What's the difference between Toggle, Momentary and Pulsed modes?
Toggle keeps a circuit on until switched off again, useful for scene lights or fans. Momentary only stays active while the switch is pressed and held, suited to a winch or short-burst function. Pulsed strobes the output on and off, useful for attention-getting warning circuits.
Q: Is app or remote control necessary for an emergency vehicle fitout?
Not necessarily. The RGB Series offers full panel-based Toggle/Momentary/Pulsed control without needing a phone or remote at all, which some fleets prefer for reliability. App and remote control on the AR, AS, AC and RC series add convenience — grouping circuits, renaming icons, or triggering accessories from outside the cab — but they're optional extras layered on top of the same core switching hardware.
Q: How many circuits does a typical ambulance fitout need?
Most ambulance builds run comfortably on a 6 or 8-circuit panel, covering scene lighting, beacon control, interior lights, a fan or compressor, and a spare circuit for future additions. Larger fire tenders with more auxiliary equipment often step up to a 12-circuit panel.
🏁 Fitting Out Your Fleet
Whether you're speccing a single ambulance or standardising switch panels across an entire emergency response fleet, the goal is the same: fewer points of failure, faster training for new crew, and hardware that survives years of hard duty without complaint.
Auxbeam's switch panel range — built around solid-state relay protection, sealed housings and flexible circuit counts — was designed for exactly that kind of use case, even though it started out on the trail.
If you're also fitting out a caravan, RV or overland support vehicle alongside your fleet work, our switch panel guide for caravans covers the same hardware from a touring angle.
Browse the Switch Panel Collection