Anyone know the difference? I ran across the answer on the Internet. No fair Googling. Let's see who already knows the answer.

The occulting light is actually on all the time. A screen of some sort periodically covers the light, so what results is a longer "light on" period as opposed to the flashing light.

Judy

Not by the definition I found, Judy. Those out at sea wouldn't know how the 'on' and 'off' were created, I guess.

I don't know how else to explain it. What I'm saying is the longer "light on" versus a flashing light means that you (the mariner) will see the light longer than a flashed light. The period of darkness is shorter with occulting lights and longer with flashing lights.

Curious as to what the definition says...

Judy

John,

I think of it as an uneven pattern of dark and light, e.g. 2sec dark, flash, 4sec dark, flash.
Sometimes a double flash, long dark, single flash, etc. An irregular pattern is how it was explained to me.

Dan

According to the lampist whom I heard gave a speech back in August: an occulting light usually had a long bright and short dark period. Usually a cover that rose and fell was used to block the light source. Kind of like placing a tin can over a light bulb and then raising and lowering the can to produce the "flash" pattern you wanted.

Here's what I ran across at: Best American Lighthouses

That means Judy is/was correct!

I think Eric's description is pretty much how they work. Eric, which lampist did you hear talk? I sure learned a lot from Jim Woodward.

A lot of off shore modern day bouy lights use this method.

Judy

Judy, I forget his name, but his day job is Capt. of the Copper Harbor lighthouse ferry. He restored the Old Presque Isle lens last year. He gave a speech to the WILD crew in the Marquette Maritine Museum. Suzanne Murphy could tell you his name.

For fun, here is a link to the mueseum's len's room. We were in this room for his speech

http://mqtmaritimemuseum.com/lens.htm

It was Kurt Fosburg.

Eric, that would be Kurt Fosburg who is part of Jim's crew. You'll see him in some of the photographs on this site...
The Lighthouse Consultant

This is my photo taken during the Hatteras lens restoration in '05 that I got to help with. That's Kurt in the middle, Jim Dunlap on the left and Jim Woodward on the right. A neat bunch of guys
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5da27b3127cce915cb5d2013c00000016108AZtWzNu2ZOH[/img]
Judy

Thank's Suzanne.

Of course, I guess "Occult" could be lights that have a sixth sense, while "Flashing" could get
them in jail.

Thanks group. If I am paying attention I can learn something new every day.

Dan