Re: [Paddlewise] More Re: Being Seen At Night--LEDs etc.

Ralph,
    Actually both light sources are powered from one controller and 2 AA
batteries (a nine volt system will deliver 36 hours of continuous use). The
majority of the weight resides between the paddler's hands and through my
use have been unnoticeable. Granted I am not an extreme paddler but I do
paddle 20+ miles per day at my leisurely pace.

Al Mille


----- Original Message -----
From: "ralph diaz" <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 1:34 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] More Re: Being Seen At Night--LEDs etc.


> I have been getting good comments on this both within PaddleWise and back
> channel.  Do keep the info flowing!
>
> Someone passed the message on to a company that manufactures LED
components
> and a  fellow called me from therre (BTW, I don't think that such pass-ons
> are a violation of PaddleWise policy as my question was clearly open-ended
> and welcoming of inputs from anyone).  That led to most useful info.
> Basically you can get LEDs to the same luminens as an incandescent or
> halogen the only limit, at this time, being possible costs of such a unit.
> The fellow gave me some good pointers that are most appreciated.
>
> What was particularly revealing was that LEDS could be programmed to
> automatically run from, say, yellow light to white to blue and back again.
> This color change would have the benefit of drawing attention and being
> noticed.  That is what makes a flashing light such as a strobe or one of
> those red LEDs used for bicyclist so great in drawing attention.  But, as
we
> are aware, a flashing light in a maritime setting can only be used as a
> distress signal such as a white strobe.  Other flashing light colors, such
> as red, are also out because they may be confused with a navigation light
> and lead a large vessel astray aground or into a collision.  A changing
> light color is sort of like a flash but is not a flash.
>
> Someone mentioned using light sticks duct-taped to the paddle blades.
>From
> what I have seen that has not been as effective as it might seem to be but
> it is certainly something we will put to a real life test among other
> schemes.  Also someone mentioned using a flashing light on deck...a no-no
> for reasons explained above.  Having said this, however, a few of us
locals
> agree that if we were out in traffic accidentally at night and scared to
> death we would use our strobe as a last minute warning if that is all we
had
> and take our chances with the law.  I am not advocating this as a
> replacement for a workable normal lighting system just being realistic.
>
> Oh, an added comment to what Al Mille indicated he did (flashlights with
red
> and green lens on paddle blade powered by 2 AA batteries each).  His
system
> added 10 ounces of weight to the paddle.  That is a lot for most of us.  I
> am wondering whether LEDs would be great in such an application powered by
1
> AAA battery each.  This would reduce weight significantly, probably to
about
> 3 ounces total for the two flashlights.  Since it is the paddle motion
that
> draws the attention, this may be enough light.
>
> Again, keep the ideas coming.  Rest assured that whatever the results are
of
> the real-life tests, we will post them on PaddleWise immediately since it
is
> such an excellent circulation point and clearancehouse for valuable
> information.
>
> Another point: I want to acknowledge again the role that Manhattan Kayak
> Company is taking in this particularly Bonnie Aldinger, one of the
partners
> in the company, who is co-leading this effort with me.
>
> ralph diaz
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
> PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
> Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
> "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
***************************************************************************
> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
> here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
> responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
> Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
> Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
> Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
>
***************************************************************************
>

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************