Wow - Boy did that thing ever look like a real Rube Goldberg throw
together! Home Depot would be
proud to see how their PVC plumbing caps are being used.
The most interesting picture on the page was the shot halfway down on the
right, where a girl
was holding up one of the lights at night, with the light pattern shining
on her shirt. The
pattern on her shirt showed that the lights had significant dead bands
between LED elements,
leaving you fairly unprotected from any vessels approaching from those
directions.
Given the low light levels shown in the photographs, I'd be surprised if
that light had a one
mile range, let along the two miles that is required.
Kevin
REPLY
Kevin allow me to play devils advocate for a moment. <VBG>
Given the projection angle of all the LED's there will be a convergence
point from two adjacent LED some distance from the individual LEDs.
Looking at the photos you mention I estimate this point of convergence of
individual beams to be less than 2 meters away. Even the ORCA Green nav
lights display sectors within a 2 meter distance from the LED assembly.
Delving further into the website I see there is also link to another page
wherein a detailed and complete explanation of beam angle, luminance and so
forth is covererd. The very issue you comment on is actually covered in
detail. The other issue that has confounded early test results is the
narrow spectrum band. the detailed explanation seems to cvover this
adequately.
So although this product looks home brew, I suspect it may well meet the
requirements of Col regs.
However only a very expensive lab test would confirm that.
A more practical test would be to have two lights - one being an approved
type - placed far enough apart so as to be distinguised separately from 2
miles away and then see which one is visible. A simple turning ON/OFF
should suffice to distinguish which is which. A further test would be to
keep moving away from the test light until it cannot be distinguished as a
light. If it remains visible for a much greater distance than 2 miles I
would think it could meet the official test .
Arild
----- Original Message -----
From: "KevinR" <kfredden@verizon.net>
> Wow - Boy did that thing ever look like a real Rube Goldberg throw
> together! Home Depot would be
> proud to see how their PVC plumbing caps are being used.
>
> The most interesting picture on the page was the shot halfway down on the
> right, where a girl
> was holding up one of the lights at night, with the light pattern shining
> on her shirt. The
> pattern on her shirt showed that the lights had significant dead bands
> between LED elements,
> leaving you fairly unprotected from any vessels approaching from those
> directions.
>
> Given the low light levels shown in the photographs, I'd be surprised if
> that light had a one
> mile range, let along the two miles that is required.
>
> Kevin
REPLY
Kevin allow me to play devils advocate for a moment. <VBG>
Given the projection angle of all the LED's there will be a convergence
point from two adjacent LED some distance from the individual LEDs.
Looking at the photos you mention I estimate this point of convergence of
individual beams to be less than 2 meters away. Even the ORCA Green nav
lights display sectors within a 2 meter distance from the LED assembly.
Delving further into the website I see there is also link to another page
wherein a detailed and complete explanation of beam angle, luminance and so
forth is covererd. The very issue you comment on is actually covered in
detail. The other issue that has confounded early test results is the
narrow spectrum band. the detailed explanation seems to cvover this
adequately.
So although this product looks home brew, I suspect it may well meet the
requirements of Col regs.
However only a very expensive lab test would confirm that.
A more practical test would be to have two lights - one being an approved
type - placed far enough apart so as to be distinguised separately from 2
miles away and then see which one is visible. A simple turning ON/OFF
should suffice to distinguish which is which. A further test would be to
keep moving away from the test light until it cannot be distinguished as a
light. If it remains visible for a much greater distance than 2 miles I
would think it could meet the official test .
Arild
