Although obstruction lighting on wind turbines is critical for safety, wind-farm owners and operators are looking for new ways to keep this necessary component cost effective. To do so, a growing trend is toward lights that consume little power, don’t weight much, and are easy to install. Another trend is using lights that minimize the…
LED obstruction lights pay their way with energy efficiency and reliability
Jeff Jacobs/Director of Technical Support/Hughey & Phillips/www.hugheyandphillips.com Ever since nighttime aviation became practical in the early 1930s, obstruction lighting has been a necessary safety feature to prevent midair collisions with tall structures. Incandescent lights were the technology of the day and are still common fixtures in the growing wind-energy industry where they are mounted on…
Remote Obstruction Lights Powered by Solar
A recent dc-powered lighting package for wind energy met towers uses a solar panel to recharge its batteries. The FTS 2301 dc-powered lighting package is an FAA-approved solar-powered obstruction lighting system. Key market requirements described the need for a compact, low-power unit powered by solar photovoltaic panels. The FTS 2301 addresses each need, and offers…
What are the lights on top of a wind turbine?
Flashing warning lights on turbine nacelles are mostly for the benefit of aircraft flying at night. The lights have progressed from incandescent to Led-based units. The details of several recent lights show advanced lighting systems. One model of obstruction light comes in a one-piece mount. An internal enclosure houses the flash circuitry and GPS synchronization…
LED obstruction light turns 20W into 2,000 candelas
A manufacturer of LED lighting equipment has taken the wraps off its latest LED-based L-864 Red Medium Intensity Beacon. The lighting from Dialight, Farmingdale, New Jersey, features a compact flash head to reduce wind load on fixed obstructions such as wind turbines, towers, and bridges. Operating at just 20 W, the series offers the lowest…