Victoria, BC, Canada – August 17, 2004 – Carmanah Technologies Inc.(TSX Venture: CMH), the award-winning leader in solar-powered LED lighting solutions, is pleased to announce the release of the world’s first completely unitized, GPS-synchronized marine light – a three nautical mile navigation light that coordinates with GPS time signals to allow any number of units installed anywhere in the world to flash in perfect unison.
“For many applications, GPS-synchronized lighting makes marine navigation easier by offering improved visibility and clearer delineation of waterways and navigational hazards,” said Carmanah’s CEO, Art Aylesworth. “Building GPS into our solar-powered LED lighting systems is one of our most significant technological innovations to date, markedly enhancing the potential applications in our core marine market.”
Carmanah’s new Model 701-GPS and 702-GPS marine lights use Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite signals as a timing tool. Each of the 24 orbiting GPS satellites has several on-board atomic clocks transmitting a time signal that is accurate to within 0.5 nanoseconds of Universal Time (UTC). Built-in GPS receivers in Carmanah’s lights require only one satellite signal to precisely synchronize the beginning of each flash sequence to this time code, thereby perfectly matching the timing of any other GPS-synchronized light. Multiple lights outlining features such as port entrances, channels and navigational hazards are easier to follow and to distinguish amidst background lighting when they flash together.
“The two new lights extend GPS capability to our field-proven 700 Series,” said Mimi Drabit Business Development Manager, Marine Lighting Division. “On the surface, they are virtually identical to the popular non-GPS versions, the Model 701 and 702. The GPS receiver is fully integrated into the light’s sealed housing.”
Originally designed and built under contract with the U.S. Coast Guard and meeting the rigorous standards of the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), the 700 Series are the first solar-powered lanterns using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) approved for use in the U.S. Navigational Aid System. Self-contained, waterproof and compact, the 700 Series are the next-generation replacement for traditional 155 mm 0.25 amp/0.5 amp navigation lights. They are used around the world for any marine application requiring a marker light of three nautical miles (5.4 kilometers) of visibility.
Requiring no external wiring or power source, Carmanah lights install in minutes and pay for themselves within one year through reduced installation and maintenance costs. They operate maintenance-free for five to eight years before battery replacement. Carmanah’s patented MICROSOURCE™ electronics control light output and charging for unparalleled performance in the greatest possible range of environmental conditions, even at latitudes above 55 degrees.
Effective March 8, 2004 a new U.S. Coast Guard regulation took affect officially endorsing the use of LED (light emitting diode) lighting technology for private aids-to-navigation (PATONs). Previous regulations specified the use of tungsten-incandescent bulbs. The new U.S. Coast Guard regulation means, for the first time, individuals, corporations, and all levels of government in the United States will be allowed to use approved LED-based marine lighting for their marine navigation aids. In the U.S., these aids account for more than half of all aids-to-navigation registered.
To learn more about Carmanah’s marine lighting products, visit www.SolarMarineLights.com.
About Carmanah
Carmanah is an award winning alternative energy manufacturer specializing in patented solar-powered LED lighting solutions for the marine, aviation, transit, roadway, railway and industrial worksite markets. The Company currently has more than 100,000 units installed in 110 countries. The shares of Carmanah Technologies Corporation (parent company) are publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “CMH” and on the Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol “QCX”. For more information, please visit www.carmanah.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described under the caption “Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements” and “Key Information – Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Carmanah’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. These risks and uncertainties are also described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Carmanah’s Annual Information Form dated December 31, 2003, as filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. Carmanah does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.