LED flares

I've seen these or something like them before. They're not really flares as we would understand them, not even like the "laser flares" that are trying to take over from pyrotechnics. They're basically just flashing lights, for use on the road, I think for marking accidents so that following traffic doesn't pile into you.

Pete
 
prv said:
I've seen these or something like them before. They're not really flares as we would understand them, not even like the "laser flares" that are trying to take over from pyrotechnics. They're basically just flashing lights, for use on the road, I think for marking accidents so that following traffic doesn't pile into you.

Pete
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thanks Pete, no use for having on the boat in that case then
 
maxi77 said:
The way people latch on to any thing laser as some sort of safety device is really scary
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I don't think there is anything Laser about them. They are just flashing LED's.
If they really do have a range of three kilometers and the battery life is any good they could be of use.
 
Maxi has it. They are not flares, get over it. If you think they will get you seen, better learn how to drown like a gentleman, and so had your crew.
There's no harm in them, in the same way that there is no harm in curing meningitis with witchcraft instead of antibiotics; the risk arrives when effective remedies are discarded.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
I don't think there is anything Laser about them. They are just flashing LED's.
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Indeed. In the US they have the concept of "road flares", burning things that you put in the road behind your broken-down car so that half-awake truckers don't drive into you. Same way we carry folding triangles.

Not surprisingly, people have become less keen on keeping pyrotechnics in the back of their cars, so the LED alternatives have come about. Note the rubberised case, so you can toss them into the road without damage.

They're not designed to summon help, just sit there on the road and twinkle. Really all they have in common with a distress signal is the word "flare".

Pete
 
If they have a steady mode then hoisting them on a halyard gives NUC or RAM. Leaving one flashing in a busy anchorage makes it easier to find the boat after a night in the pub. I'm sure there are many other uses!
 
BlackPig said:
I do like the idea of laser flares, but why don't they flash SOS. Green have better range, but red is associated with danger in the minds of sailors and public..
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Reading the description, it looks like they do

ELF: Emergency LED Flares are a bright flashing attractive, highly visible safety, battery operated alternative to incendiary toxic smokey flares. Super bright LED lights have 9x changeable flashing patterns to attract attention, including the internationally recognised SoS mode.
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colhel said:
if LEDs and batteries continue to advance at the same rate as in recent years, they'd become a viable alternative to flares wouldn't they?
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Eventually yes, but there's a way to go yet. High performance LED's are still very directional and to get true all round visibility with the intensity of a flare would need a lot of LED's and battery power.

We'll probably be seeing car headlights routinely made with LED's soon
 
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