Vega VLB-44 Lantern
25 Jan 2011 - Rev 9
Selection Criteria (cont’d)
range, luminous range, light color, light characteristic, background lighting, and meteorological
visibility are used to calculate intensity needs.
The VLB-44 has a feature that allows the lantern to produce the same effective intensity
regardless of flash rhythm. The intensities cannot be tabulated because the operating current and
peak intensity capabilities are different for each flash rhythm. Use one of the solar design
spreadsheets to select the lantern, number of tiers, color and flash rhythm, available at:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg4/cg432/publications.asp
.
Nonstandard and custom flash rhythms, along with double stack (16 tier) lantern combinations
are not listed in the solar design spreadsheets. In this case, use the Vega VLB-44 Current
Calculator available at the above link and enter the data in the Old Solar Sizing Program,
available at the same link. Assistance in using the Old Solar Sizing Program is available from
COMDT (CG-432A)
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg4/cg432/organization.asp
.
For most desired effective intensity settings, the user has the option of picking lanterns with
different numbers of tiers. For a desired effective intensity, the greater number of tiers will lower
the overall power draw. However, more tiers than necessary will significantly increase the cost
of the lantern and the height. Unless there is a compelling reason, pick the lantern with the fewest
number of tiers.
LED Version
– The capabilities of LEDs change rapidly. Periodically Vega uses new LEDs in a
specific lantern (or group of lanterns). This impacts the lantern’s intensity values, current draw
and solar sizing. In order to identify the LEDs used in a lantern, Vega uses a 3-digit number to
identify the “LED version.” For example, the white LEDs available in late 2007 and early 2008
were designated LED version 421. LEDs available in mid 2008 were designated version 422.
The Solar Sizing Programs used to size a solar power system for VLB-44 have a picklist that is
used to select the LED version. The picklist choices depend on the user-selected lantern and
color. The newest LED version is the upper-most choice in “LED version” picklist.
When ordering a lantern, one needs to know what LED version will be shipped with the lantern.
If ordering directly from Vega, contact Vega or COMDT (CG-432A) to find out what LED
version will be provided. If a VLB-44 will be sent from the supply stocked at the SFLC then
contact COMDT (CG-432A) to learn what LED version will be provided.
For lanterns in-hand, the LED version can be determined by: (1) the LED version
may
be
written on the lantern’s label; (2) the LED version can be retrieved from the lantern using the IR
programmer (see instructions below in the “Programming” section); or (3) use the Vega VLB-44
“Installation and Operation Manual” that was shipped with the lantern (go to the table at the back
of the manual that corresponds to the color and vertical divergence of the lantern – the LED
version is the number in parenthesis between the color and “Current (mA)”).
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