Another Aids to Navigation Advance

Here is another LED beacon advance that is really cool. The new Carmanah LEDs are all-inclusive, in that they have no need for external solar panels, heavy batteries or cables like the traditional 155-mm incandescent lights or other recent LED optics. They are quite a marvel!

http://www.delawarebaylights.org/maritime_aton_carmanahled.htm

Thanks to Bob Trapani, Jr. for another interesting article on AtoN! If you would like to meet Bob just sign up for the American Lighthouse Foundation's Spring Event on Cape Cod! Check out the events at www.lighthousefoundation.org

All my best,
Paul Conlin
Acting Secretary,
ALF

Fascinating story. Thanks Paul and Bob. From the web site of the manufacturer, the price of the 702 in the US is about $1,200.

I love the remote control device that allows you to set one of the flash patterns, intensity and even check the battery condition!

With estimated servicing every 5 years, that will save us US taxpayers a lot of money and help stretch our already overworked USCG service personnel. Of course we've got to install a lot of these new devices before we realize the money and 'manpower' savings.

Are these a direct retrofit to the existing light, battery and cabling system or to they require a newly designed buoy?

John, To answer your question I contacted Bob Trapani and his response follows:

The new Carmanah LEDs can be retrofitted to existing buoys and lights such as pier, jetty and stand-alone towers. The beacons are attached by four bolts -- similar to how the current 155mm incandescent lanterns are affixed to buoys and towers. The Carmanah is AtoN made simple, reliable, safer for servicing personnel and very cost effective. With a Carmanah LED, there is no more troubleshooting a lighted aid when it is extinguished to ascertain whether the lamps, lampchanger, flasher, daylight control, solar panels, cables or batteries are the problem that caused the discrepancy. The Carmanah is a superb AtoN advancement for the Coast Guard in places where these lights can be utilized.

Best,
Paul Conlin

Cool