![]() ![]() The original elevated standard taxiway fixtures each required installation of a 30- to 45-watt halogen lamp with a lifespan of 1,000 hours. While standard current regulators weigh 400 to 1,000 pounds, the new power supply weighs 15 to 20 pounds and occupies a significantly smaller footprint. However, the LED lighting allowed the airport to replace the existing 15-kilowatt regulator with an advanced power supply that draws less than 1 kilowatt of power. The project was implemented at a cost of $130,000. ![]() "By eliminating the requirement for electronics on the fixtures themselves, we were able to bring simplicity to the system and bypass other components." "We used the PWM concept to develop the advanced power supply which provides the right type and amount of current the LED wants," he adds. Because the LEDs require so little energy, the lamps don't need 30-/45-watt isolation transformers at every fixture to regulate the amount of power coming into the unit, explains Miguel Vasquez-Lavado, product manager at ADB Airfield Solutions. The APS is powered by an AC inverter, which receives DC current from a solar-charged battery bank. The new LED taxiway lights receive modulated DC current from an advanced power supply (APS) that provides the desired light intensity. But, once we eliminated the transformer, we were left with two wires connected directly to the new LED fixture." "It presented its own level of loss from an electrical standpoint. "We had some problems with the isolated transformer due to its age," Taylor explains. ![]() With 164 fixtures to replace, the project took nearly six weeks.Ĭrews removed the 30-/45-watt isolation transformer from each fixture can, and then used the existing wiring and connectors for the new taxiway inset fixtures.įalse River Regional replaced more than 160 quartz taxiway lights with new LEDs. The airport took the taxiway lighting system out of service and began replacing six to 10 old quartz fixtures per day with the new equipment. ![]() We could phase in the implementation with minimal disruption to airport operations." "It has a full parallel taxiway system with conduit that was installed in 1997. "False River is a well-maintained regional airport that I would say is one of the finest in the nation," he explains. Taylor selected the False River Regional Airport in New Roads, LA, to test the concept and fixtures. "They wanted to test the advanced power supply as part of an airport lighting system which could easily be converted to PWM technology." "My eyes opened wide because it was very interesting technology," Taylor recalls. A low-profile light fixture was his focus - until last year, when ADB briefed him about a new power supply it had developed that uses pulse width modulation (PWM) and consumes up to 90% less energy. His goal was merely to end a problem that has plagued airports for years: one staff member would install taxiways lights and another would accidentally take them out with a lawn mower or other maintenance vehicle. Several years ago, Taylor approached ADB Airfield Solutions about a concept he envisioned for low-profile fixtures similar to inset fixtures that would still meet all FAA specifications for medium-intensity runway lighting.Īt the time, Taylor hadn't considered the idea of solar-powered LED fixtures. Other Possible Applications: Runway lighting & airfield signsĪllen Taylor, airways systems manager for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, has been working on improving airport lighting for years by recommending standards to the Federal Aviation Administration. Lighting Supplier: ADB Airfield Solutionsīenefits: Reduced energy consumption, bulb replacement & fixture breakage Location: False River Regional Airport, New Roads, LA With an investment of $130,000, one Louisiana airport is reducing its need for both by storing the sun's energy for nighttime use. It takes a lot of energy and light bulbs to keep taxiway lights operating all night long. ![]()
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