User:Jameslwoodward/Sandbox4

The VLB-44 is a lighthouse optical system designed and built by Vega Industries Ltd. in Porirua, New Zealand.

Components
The VLB-44 consists of one to eight tiers of LED bulb assemblies. Each tier draws approximately ten Watts. The tiers are available in 3 vertical divergences: They are available in white, red, green, blue, and yellow.
 * 2.5 degrees, for use in fixed lighthouses
 * 5 degrees, for use on pole lights on land
 * 10 degrees, for buoys

The light output and timing is controlled within tight limits. All of the features, including characteristic, day/night transition time, and synchronization is programmable with an IR programmer. The units are expected to have a service life greater than ten years, depending on characteristic and duty cycle.

End of an Era
From the first use of lighthouses with flashing lights, the light source has been continuous. Turning a flame on and off was impractical and flashing an incandescent electric lamp reduces its life substantially. The characteristic seen by the observer has been achieved by rotating a lens system. Since LEDs can be flashed on and off without degrading their lives, it appears that the use of rotating beacons in lighthouses is coming to an end.