[Paddlewise] FW: paddling at night

From: Chuck Holst <CHUCK_at_multitech.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 13:42:49 -0600
>>
    This might open up another can of worms.......  LEDs have a specified
brightness that is also spec'd with an angle of viewproduced by having a
small reflector behind the active chip. Spread that energy over a wider
angle and what's seen by an observer would be far less. So as a small
source for reading a compass or a map, they'll do fine. As a marker or
beacon, though, they may be found wanting.
>>

True, but one of the desired features of a personal LED marker is not
being so bright as to ruin a fellow paddler's night vision, so in that
application, the low luminance of an LED is an advantage. Also, one
could diffuse the light and improve the angle of view somewhat by
lightly sanding the LED's epoxy lens. For navigation markers on the
kayak, high intensity LEDs are now available that could be treated
the same way. Nonetheless, I would still wear a headlamp at night for
signaling other watercraft.

Chuck Holst


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Received on Wed Mar 03 1999 - 11:44:38 PST

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