University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Evaluation of Performance of Solar Powered Flashing Beacons at Room Temperature Conditions

Hajbabaie, Ali; Benekohal, Rahim F.; Medina, Juan C.

Content Files
FHWA-ICT-10-069.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/45890

Description

Title
Evaluation of Performance of Solar Powered Flashing Beacons at Room Temperature Conditions
Author(s)
  • Hajbabaie, Ali
  • Benekohal, Rahim F.
  • Medina, Juan C.
Issue Date
2010-04
Keyword(s)
  • Solar Powered Flashing Beacons
  • Discharge time
  • Charge time
  • Outputted Light intensity
  • Room Temperature Condition
Date of Ingest
2013-10-22T20:35:32Z
Abstract
This report presents the results of five tests on JSF flashing beacons and the results of 10 tests on Carmanah flashing beacons under room temperature conditions. Each test determined the time each module flashed in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) flashing pattern, the battery voltage over time, and the outputted light intensity over time. The results of the tests showed that for JSF flashing beacons, the voltage drops gradually over time. The red color of JSF flashed in the MUTCD flashing pattern for at least 24 days. The yellow color of JSF beacon flashed in the MUTCD flashing rate for at least 16 days. For both colors of JSF beacons, the outputted light intensity remained at an almost constant level over time at 22-27 foot-candles for the red color and 25-30 foot-candles for the yellow color. In the fall months, the JSF flashing beacons needed around three days to get fully charged. The six uninterrupted tests conducted on Carmanah modules proved the company’s claim that both modules would flash in the MUTCD flashing pattern for one day and then switch to the power saving mode if they do not receive any charge from the solar panel. On the other hand, the results of the four interrupted tests revealed that the red color of Carmanah beacon can flash in the MUTCD flashing pattern for 11.5 to 12.5 days. The yellow color of Carmanah can flash in the MUTCD pattern for 8.6 to 10.1 days. The Carmanah modules produced a high light intensity of approximately 100 ft-candle for red and 160 ftcandle for yellow at the beginning of the discharge period, but the intensity for the red module decreased to 20 ft-candle in 8 to 10 days and to 40 ft-candle for yellow in six to eight days. In the fall, Carmanah flashing beacons need around six days to become fully charged
ISSN
0197-9191
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
Technical Report
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45890
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Illinois Department of Transportation ICT-R27-59
Copyright and License Information
No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161

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Research and Publications - Illinois Center for Transportation PRIMARY