Re: [Paddlewise] Running Lights

From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 21:13:37 +0200
On Friday 03 August 2007 22:59, Pam wrote:

>> Highly reflective tape on cap/helmet, PFD and paddle is probably
>> better, more fail safe, and what we use - combined with florousent
>> tape on one side of the paddle blades (highly reflective on the other
>> side) - we also have flourosent vests we can don, on top of the PFDs,
>> and strobes!
>
> I must admit to slight confusion here.  What is the difference between
> fluorescent tape and highly reflective tape?  I have my paddle blades
> painted with yellow "fluorescent" paint and then have reflective tape on
> them, but I am unsure what is most visible after dark.
>              

Fluorescence is an effect where a high energy photon triggers a low energy
photon - often it's a UV photon that triggers a red, ambler, green, blue, 
or yellow photon - especially visible in fog, where the sun's UV rays 
still trigger the photons in paddle jackets, PFDs, et cetera.

Reflective tape just reflects light: shine a red light on it and you'll
get a red reflection, shine a red light on a flourescent painted surface 
and you'll most likely get nothing!

So a mix is best, as I wrote before:  One side of our paddles have 
fluorescent tape, the other red reflective tape!

See http://foldingkayaks.org/gallery/XXL/Dayglo and the following four 
pictures!

All the best,
Tord
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Received on Sat Aug 04 2007 - 12:00:27 PDT

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