The Lensing system

Lens development is an ongoing process between OceanLED and Tritonium Optical technologies based in England. From the outset, three main problem areas plaguing the optical efficiency on traditional underwater lights were identified. Clarity, Strength and Sealife contamination OceanLED lenses are nearly optically perfect transmitting over 30% more light than borosilicate glass. Traditional underwater lights get tremendously hot and have to use borosilicate glass which handles having vast temperature differences on its surfaces. LEDs do not get warm in the beam, hence a newer more optically perfect type of glass can be used with lower thermal characteristics. A clear illustration of the differences between glass types can be seen below.Most glass is heat treated for toughening, this is done at a precise temperature for a set time. Borosilicate glass has resistance to this process whereas the glass OceanLED uses, toughens more readily and thus is stronger.One major advantage to OceanLED lights is the advancement in keeping the lens clean. You will hear all the underwater lighting companies retorting their lights ward off barnacle growth because the lights get so hot. However if that light is not on then what happens? You have to get a brush and a chisel to remove the buildup – thus damaging the lens – thus decreasing the light output.Tritonium looked at this problem from a different angle. What if a lens could resist all forms of growth, algae, barnacles and so on. This sparked the idea of a non-stick surface. A unique anti-fun- gal polymeric resin that cross-links with the glass, forming a strong chemical bond that is resistant to almost any substance. Not suitable for hot surfaces, so perfectly suited for LED lights, this chemical layer can be easily wiped clean and the Tritonium coating can be re-applied every 1 to 2 years to maintain its strength. Diagram A shows how normal glass looks under magnification Tritonium technologies will be appearing in many marine applications over the next couple of years as teh remarkable results shown over the past year have been astounding! The picture here shows a treated lens that has been in the water of New Jersey for 8 months. A quick wipe of the lens and it’s as it if were new. Diagram B shows how the unique polymeric resin bonds to the glass sur- face creating a smoother non-stick layer.