Talk:Lighthouse

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Could someone give a reference to a manned lighthouse, if there are any? I have heard from several sources that none remain, so some concrete reference for the claim that "a few" are still manned would be nice. --Andrew 07:09, 6 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I believe that at this point, all lighthouses are electrified and automated. That doesn't mean there are not people around. In many cases, the lighthouse is at the site of a Coast Guard (US term, but equivalent in other nations) stations, so I guess they are "manned" and in some nations "womened". Even with a fully electrified, solar powered light, the bulbs need replacement. Most have automated facilities to replace a burned out bulb, but at least once a year somebody needs to replenish the "cartridge" of spare bulbs. Charles W. Bash 21:58, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

These two sentences contradict each other in that regard:

Improvements in maritime navigation and safety such as GPS have led to the phasing out of non-automated lighthouses, with the last keepers removed in the 1990s.

Today there are a few keeper-run lighthouses left in existence; the vast majority have been fully automated.

Either they were removed in the 1990s, or not. BillyH 00:00, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

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I just uploaded a photo of the lens at the Cape Meares Lighthouse, but I don't know what kind of lens it is so I don't know where to put it (other than in the article on the lighthouse itself, but I thought it would be more useful as a lens example). Does someone know? Elf | Talk 03:27, 21 Jun 2004 (UTC)

It appears to be a first-order Fresnel lens; see [1], [2], [3], [4]. --Andrew 16:03, 22 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Thanks for the research; I put it on Fresnel lens. Elf | Talk 16:22, 22 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Contents 1 Screw-pile lighthouses, Keys lighthouses 2 too many images 3 concentration of light text 4 Navigation using multiple lights 5 Inland Lighthouses 6 RTGs

[edit] Screw-pile lighthouses, Keys lighthouses

I would like to have an article, or a section of this article, which describes the unusual lighthouses of screw-pile design. These lighthouse are constructed of cast iron, with iron pilings that are screwed into rock. Notable examples of this construction are the lights located several miles offshore on the edge of the reef along the Florida Keys in the U.S.

These structures include Carysfort Reef, Alligator Reef, and Sombrero Reef lights. They have stood for more than 100 years and survived intense hurricanes. They were manned for many years by Light Service employees who were isolated far from shore, living in small quarters within the framework of the towers.

Any suggestions about adding a section here or starting a new article? I can use the talk page to create a draft if anyone wants to see the content before deciding. Thanks for any feedback. DavidH 22:14, July 15, 2005 (UTC)

I suggest a seperate article, considering the main thing about them is their architecture, as opposed to their function (Although that has its hand in it). 68.39.174.238 04:46, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] too many images

There are too many images for the page to display without gaps in the text. Any suggestions as to which to remove? -- Samuel Wantman 01:52, 20 July 2005 (UTC)

I like the photos and see only one gap (after the intro) in my browser. Would like to see some other types, but wouldn't recommend removing any just to improve the layout, looks pretty good to me. DavidH 03:25, July 20, 2005 (UTC)

I rearranged to fix the gap problems. -- Samuel Wantman 20:36, 1 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] concentration of light text

This is confusing to me, and leaves out some important detail:

In order to conserve power, the light is concentrated. In old lighthouses:

• vertically the light is bundled into horizontal directions
• horizontally the light is bundled into one or a few directions at a time, but sweeping around, so that it can be observed from every horizontal direction

"Bundled" seems a strange adjective for light concentration. Also, many lights in the US at least have specific angular regions of visibilty and on/off patterns -- so the part about "sweeping around" doesn't apply in all cases. It does refer to "old" lighthouses, but many are old and don't operate this way. Maybe it should be "in the past." Actually, a section on actual light appearance in regard to navigation should probably be expanded. Comments? DavidH 18:28, August 1, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Navigation using multiple lights

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't some lighthouses have an additional light (eg. Red) that flashes once per revolution when the main light is aligned with North?

[edit] Inland Lighthouses

Not all lighthouses are built on coastal waters. The landlocked, freshwater lake Cobbosseeconte in Manchester, Maine has a small but important lighthouse constructed on a reef island to alert boaters of the hazardous rocks. New Hampshire and Vermont also have inland lighthouses. These lighthouses are not owned by the Coast Guard but by Yacht clubs and historical/preservational societies.

[edit] RTGs

I replaced, " The Soviet Union built a number of automated lighthouses powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators. These now pose serious concerns, as the radioactive material could leak, leading to radioactive contamination, or be stolen and used in a dirty bomb (see Bellona's report). Some of these lighthouses cannot be found, due to poor record keeping." with, " The Soviet Union built a number of automated lighthouses powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Supporters of powering lighthouses this way point out that they can operate for very long periods of time without external support, that they are very reliable, and that the strontium 90 in the RTGs comes from nuclear waste [5]. Critics argue that they are potentially dangerous, as the radioactive material could leak, leading to radioactive contamination, or be stolen and used in a dirty bomb (according to Bellona's report). Some of these lighthouses cannot be found, due to poor record keeping. While many have security concerns over this, it shows that the lighthouses are very reliable." The previous version was opposed to RTG lighthouses, while the current version states claimed advantages, claimed disadvantages, and states the opinions of RTG supporters ( like AEI). Polonium 22:04, 20 February 2006 (UTC)