>> 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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> >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. I'm way more interested in having a potential boatcrasher see me at a distance than I am at ruining my night vision. The restricted beam of the led, on one hand, means I can set it someplace where it won't get into my eyes. On the other hand, this restriction means that I can't be certain that the light is directed toward some boat out there.... >Also, one could diffuse the light and improve the angle of view somewhat by >lightly sanding the LED's epoxy lens. but at the expense of intensity. Still, that's preferable and It's always possible to use a multitude of LEDs. Here in NJ it seems as though all the Red traffic lights have now been replaced with very bright led arrays. I once had to build a strobe system to "freeze" a rapidly moving part. I used a bank of high intensity yellow leds which worked fine, and I got good photos on B&W film. Would some of these other colors work well at night? How about foggy conditions? Would Yellow, Orange, or Green be more noticeable than red? > 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. In Pennsylvania, Fish & Boating Comm. regs require only a visible source of light for human powered craft. That could even be a candle or a match. Legal, but I wouldn't trust my life to it.... The headlamp's a good idea since you don't have to give up a hand to deploy it. > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I am currently playing with an LM3909 flasher and pulsing the LEDs at a high rate to increase battery life. They appear to be steady and provide excellent light output (4 Candle at 20 degrees) cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
The white LEDs from Nichia have a very distinctive blue/white light and they are easy to install in standard flashligght bulbs. cya -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Holst <CHUCK_at_multitech.com> To: 'Paddlewise' <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 3:04 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] FW: paddling at night > >>> > 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 > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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