Fresnel Lens - Be Safer In UK & Overseas - Blind Spot Visibility Increased (1 Viewer)

Mar 15, 2019
518
933
Funster No
59,148
MH
AutoCruise Stardream
Exp
Newbie April 2019
Is the small one the 21x12cm? with sticky tape round the sides
 

Two on Tour

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 16, 2016
10,314
50,859
Near the junction of the A14 and A1, Cambs
Funster No
45,145
MH
Elddis Autoquest 175
Exp
Since 2010
Is the small one the 21x12cm? with sticky tape round the sides

Yes.

1570699863046.png

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Apr 27, 2016
6,872
7,988
Manchester
Funster No
42,762
MH
A class Hymer
Exp
Since the 80s
That's what they were originally designed for AFAIK.
They are commonly used in Overhead Projectors, as used to project slides in a lecture or presentation. They are used to collect and even out the light from the projector lamp. Not the actual projection of the image on the screen, which requires a sharper higher quality lens.
 
Apr 27, 2016
6,872
7,988
Manchester
Funster No
42,762
MH
A class Hymer
Exp
Since the 80s
Be careful with a lens, yes even a fresnel lens. Very easy to start a fire.
Good point. The heat-collecting power of a lens depends on the area. Double the width of a square lens, and the fire risk goes up by 4 times. Close the blind over it when leaving it in the sun.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Two on Tour

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 16, 2016
10,314
50,859
Near the junction of the A14 and A1, Cambs
Funster No
45,145
MH
Elddis Autoquest 175
Exp
Since 2010
Be careful with a lens, yes even a fresnel lens. Very easy to start a fire.


Yes I can see that a Fresnel lens can start a fire, but very unlikely with one fitted to a truck or motorhome, why, well the Fresnel lens used to start the fire in the video is designed with a circular pattern to take sunlight in straight onto the face of the Fresnel lens then bend the light to a focal point so concentrating the sunlight as does a magnifying glass.

I the case of the Fresnel lens designed for a lorry, it's job is to bend the light so the image is seen and magnified from an angle down from the height of the lorries side window, so the sunlight would have to come up in a reverse path to then concentrate it's light at it's focal length which is very unlikely. Also the focal length of the Fresnel lens designed for a lorry is way past the driver otherwise the driver could only view the image in one precise spot. As the focal length is effectively out past the drivers side window there is nothing for the concentrated light to act on.

I the case of a motorhome, the Fresnel lens is turned through 90 degrees rearwards and for the sunlight to act on the Fresnel lens it would be very low in the sky and being very low in the sky it will be very weak.

1571139218199.png


1571140929765.png


1571140948784.png
 
OP
OP
Wombles

Wombles

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 28, 2013
10,808
11,132
SW England
Funster No
28,783
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
A few years now
To allay any fears about fire risk - here are the facts from the manufacturer Lens-Tech:
"I am pleased to confirm that our Fresnel vehicle safety lenses are wide-angle lenses with a specified negative Focal Length and an off-centre Focal Point so they cannot be used as a magnifying Fresnel solar lens.

For your information - In order to start a fire, a magnifying solar lens with a positive Focal Length and a central Focal Point would be required in order to concentrate the sun’s light rays into a focused ‘hot’ spot. In other words, a completely different specified ‘concentrating’ lens, as opposed to a wide-angle lens which is used to achieve vehicle safety views.

So, we can categorically state that our Vantage Point LCV Fresnel vehicle safety lenses cannot focus sunlight in order to generate any meaningful degree of concentrated light/heat into a ‘hot’ spot in order to cause a fire."
 
Apr 27, 2016
6,872
7,988
Manchester
Funster No
42,762
MH
A class Hymer
Exp
Since the 80s
To allay any fears about fire risk - here are the facts from the manufacturer Lens-Tech:
"I am pleased to confirm that our Fresnel vehicle safety lenses are wide-angle lenses with a specified negative Focal Length and an off-centre Focal Point so they cannot be used as a magnifying Fresnel solar lens.
I didn't know that vehicle safety fresnel lenses had a negative focal length. If so they are safe, and there is no fire risk. Makes sense now I think about it - just like convex rear view mirrors, that also have a negative focal length.

The only Fresnel lenses I've had dealings with are OHP condenser lenses which have a definite positive focal length, hence the confusion. With these, the image would be upside down, not much use at all.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top