Solar lighthouse Inishtrahull PICS

inishindie · #1 (**permalink**) 22nd-June-2008, 12:45 AM

Hi

Here are a few photo's of the solar powered, Inishtrahull lighthouse. Inishtrahull is a small island off the coast of Inishowen County Donegal in Ireland.

The ighthouse was converted to solar power on the 20th September 2000. The light is a Pharos 350mm lens with a PRB22 rotating pedestal and electric 35W discharge lamps powered by two banks of 18 x 50W solar panels linked to two 24V 2,750 Ah batteries. The character remains the same as the electric version but the range has been reduced to 19 nautical miles. This light is exhibited during hours of darkness and in conditions of reduced visibility.

include · #2 (**permalink**) 22nd-June-2008, 07:06 AM

Looks good. So the panels just power the light or the whole house?

forfismum · #3 (**permalink**) 22nd-June-2008, 10:17 AM

Another first ?

biofuel in the '30s and now solar lighthouses.Not knocking it but the value of lighthouses and coastguards is seriously underestimated and the reduction in the range of the lamp would be of concern to me.There is the germ of an idea in this,maybe the number of lights could be increased using solar power? I am not too far from the Hook light ,the oldest in Europe.I think they used burning heretics as a light source there in the old days.