Sealite USA Operating Principles

Sealite lanterns are designed to be extremely user-friendly, maintenance-free and offer years of reliable service.

Solar Module Operating Principles

The solar module of the lantern converts sunlight to an electrical current, which is used to charge the battery. The battery then provides power to operate the lantern at night.

A central microprocessor with very low current requirements controls the functions of the light through advanced software.

These functions include activating the light at night, enabling the selection of an appropriate flash code, and setting the intensity. The microprocessor drives an array of ultra high intensity LED's through a DC/DC converter. This enables the LED's to operate within the manufacturer's specifications at various input voltages and ambient air temperatures.

The battery is protected from over-charging by the central processor, and the unit is further polarity protected to prevent accidental damage. At dusk, the microprocessor will activate and the lantern will begin a flash pattern as determined by the settings of the user-adjustable rotary flash code switches.

Solar Module Performance

Solar modules are generally rated on the basis of being exposed to direct sunlight at 25°C at an angle of 15° plus latitude. At this point the module is receiving maximum sunlight. The output is rated in Watts (eg. a 2 Watt module will typically charge at 120mA on a 12Volt battery). Solar modules will provide reduced output on cloudy or overcast days (on a heavy overcast day battery charging could be reduced by up to 85% but light output will remain brilliant).

The angle of the module to the sun significantly affects battery charging, particularly as the latitude increases. For this reason, a number of Sealite models have either adjustable solar modules, or solar modules that are angled to face the sun.

You should ensure that the Sealite unit is installed in an open area where the solar modules are clear from shadows covering any part of the cell. Likewise, for maximum efficiency, it is important to wipe clean the solar modules occasionally.

 

---