Setting the towers alight

Pharos is to supply 44 of its FA-249 LED yellow flashing lights as well as a dozen two-nautical mile LIEX Fog Signals which will be controlled by the fog detector – visibility monitors.

The flashing LED lights are the much favoured FA-249 model. Featuring a highly efficient fresnel-type 155mm acrylic drum lens, it will be controlled by a photocell to ensure the flashing light is switched on during the night. The unit itself has evolved from a very rugged and compact standard marine signal lantern.

Owen James of Pharos says that ‘the units have been well proven in the field over the last two decades or so. With the uptake of recent technology, the model gained the brighter intensity of LEDs while keeping to its original remit as a compact unit.’

Mr James goes on to explain that the unit uses very high flux LEDs on a Stabrite array mount. These are driven by specially designed high-efficiency current controls, resulting in 82% of the battery current actually peaking on the flash, with no more than 2 milliamp of idle current between flashes.

The FA-249 LED lights are software programmable via Calibrator II software: some of the parameters which can be customised include the flash character, specialised current settings, photocell Lux levels and a solar charge control voltage setting. All Pharos’ LED flash controllers can be synchronised via a hard wire connection (the option that the Greater Gabbard towers are using) or by fitting a GPS Un-Flash system which can be integrated into the lantern base.

The fog detector is a microprocessor designed to detect and execute a specific signal when visibility has decreased below a pre-programmed level. This will measure the amount of light reflected from a pulsed infrared beam reflected by the atmosphere every two minutes.

Two consecutive, affirmative samples will instantly turn on the fog signals – marine cast units with three emitters, connected to the fog detector, omnidirectional 360 degree sound.

Pharos Marine have been very successful in providing offshore wind generators with the required obstruction lights and sound signals, as well as Greater Gabbard Pharos Marine equipment has alos been installed on other Wind Farm s in UK waters including Arklow Bank, Burbo, Gunflet sands, Barrow Lyn and Dowsing , Robin Rigg , Thornton Bank and Beatrice.