'SL70' solar marine navigational lantern
Object No. 2004/132/1
The SL70 is a solar marine lantern used as an aid to navigation. It is an Australian innovation which enhances safety at sea by providing a reliable marine aid to navigation through the marking of hazards, or general navigation. The extremely low current requirements of the LEDs, and the solar-battery integration, allow the unit to operate with no human intervention for approximately 5 years. The lantern received an Australian Design Award and Powerhouse Museum Selection award in 2003. The principal technical significance of the SL70 is that the LED reflector increases the 360 degree horizontal uniformity of the light output and allows the unit to achieve a range of 3.2 kilometres. The solar modules are angled to maximise solar energy capture. The sealed battery compartment is isolated from the main internal compartment and is impervious to water. The SL70 can operate without sunlight for twenty days. The LED reflector has patent applications in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia and has been exported to 15 countries.
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Summary
Object Statement
Navigational lantern, 'SL70' solar marine lantern, plastic / electronic components, designed and made by Sealite Pty Ltd, Sommerville, Victoria, Australia, 2002-2003
Physical Description
Navigational lantern, 'SL70' solar marine lantern, plastic / electronic components, designed and made by Sealite Pty Ltd, Sommerville, Victoria, Australia, 2002-2003 Lantern with clear plastic upper section with angled solar panels and red plastic circular base. The base has a series of oval cutouts. Electrical wires can be seen through the clear plastic.
DIMENSIONS
Height
231 mm
Diameter
230 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The lantern was designed and made by Sealite Pty Ltd in Sommerville, Victoria in 2002 or 2003. The SL70 is a solar marine lantern used as an aid to navigation. The lantern has 6 ultra-high intensity LEDs (light emitting diodes) powered by a 3.6 volt nickel metal hydride battery. The unit contains software that enables the light to be set to 256 different flash characteristics as recommended by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). The product was designed to incorporate the ability to operate reliably in low sunlight regions, without manual intervention, to be able to operate without sunlight for more than 20 days, to achieve a light output covering a range of 3.2 kilometres, to be maintenance free for 4 years, to prevent water entering the sealed battery compartment, 256 international flash-characters that can be adjusted by the user, and adjustable intensity settings. The manufacturing process is made more efficient through a number of techniques: the assembly of the circuit board is performed by robotics, allowing for high volumes for consistent quality; injection moulding equipment allowed for the production of large volumes of the SL70 polycarbonate lens and base. The SL70 lantern has gained wide acceptance and proof of market success includes (to date): the 250 purchased by the Canadian Coast Guard only two months after the product was launched; strong sales in the United Kingdom after successful field trials by a number of agencies including Harwich Harbour Authority; strong sales in the Middle East, particularly Dubai and Lybia; adoption as the standard 3.2 kilometre light by the Port of Auckland. In general, field trials are currently underway with the United States Coast Guard, and marine authorities in Norway, Denmark, Holland and the Netherlands have appointed distributors for the product. The SL70 is currently being exported to 15 countries.
HISTORY
Notes
The lantern was on display in the 2003 Australian Design Awards exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum from December 2003 until June 2004. It received an Australian Design Mark for Engineering Design and a Powerhouse Museum Selection award in 2003.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Sealite Pty Ltd, 2004
Acquisition Date
6 September 2004
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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