Solar Marine Lantern
Marine lanterns have been used since ancient times for various functions such as marking harbor entries or indicating various channels and for showing where docks start and end. The solar marine lantern performs all the same things except for the fact that it runs from self generated, free and renewable energy from the sun. It requires no backup generator or connection to any power grid of any sort. It stores the sun generated energy and uses it when need be.
Things To Look For When Buying
• The solar marine lantern you opt for needs to have a warranty of at least five years and they are supposed to last between seven and ten years since they are waterproof to the level of withstanding significant submersion without sustaining any damage to the unit.
• Opt for a manufacturer with a portfolio of having installed these before and obtained success with them.
• The mounting hardware should be such that it should be very difficult to vandalize or steal the marine lantern once it is up and operated. Theft regularly occurs for solar powered lighting as people steal the batteries which are connected closer to the ground and use them at home.
• Although every manufacturer out there uses LED technology for its obvious energy saving benefits, it is better to invest in patented designs because they are usually the product of years of individual research and market changing tactics.
Common Features Of Marine Lanterns
• The battery comes with the lantern and it is controlled by the charge regulator so that after installation no further work needs to be done.
• Upon installation the user can actually choose a light setting and the power will be supplied to the unit by the battery according to that setting. This determines the visual range that people in boats will see.
• Marine lanterns have the option of seasonal shutdown if they are not needed and their batteries do not suffer any kind of overheating damage because of overcharging during that time making them completely maintenance free.
• The lanterns made now are usually using photovoltaic technology for maximum power generation and performance. This type of technology is perfect for problematic areas that don’t typically get a lot of sunlight.
• LED bulbs regulate temperature and voltage and keep the lantern on even with minimal charge remaining in the battery.
• Most marine lantern models nowadays can rotate in accordance with their functions such as 20 degrees or more but almost never 360 degrees.
A common concern when people are having these solar marine lanterns installed is whether or not the battery will prove sturdy. These batteries are waterproof to say the least and they are either lead acid or lithium ion making them extremely efficient. It is only rare cases that they suffer corrosion due to acid leaks or moisture accumulation.
Marine lanterns are designed to be spotted easily from a distance even by people with poor visual skills so they do come in a few colors depending on the company that makes them.