Mexico Remote Coastal Beacon – Self-Contained NFS3500 Fixed Solar Lantern Project
Proje Detayı
From a Heavy Power System to a Self-Contained 8 NM-Class Solar Lantern
How the NFS3500 Fixed enabled one-person transport to a remote coastal beacon in Mexico.
Location: Mexico
Application: Remote Fixed Coastal Beacon
Product: NFS3500 Fixed Solar Navigation Lantern
Completion: August 2026
Project Overview
For a remote coastal beacon, selecting the light is only part of the challenge. The equipment still has to reach the installation point.
At this site in Mexico, there was no direct vehicle access to the beacon. The installation team had to cross dense vegetation and uneven rocky terrain before lifting the lantern onto an elevated platform.
The project needed more than an 8 NM-class navigation light. It needed a complete lighting system that could be transported to a difficult site without relying on a large external power installation.
The Installation Problem
More Range Used to Mean More Equipment to Carry
A conventional power arrangement for an 8–10 NM fixed navigation light could include a separate 12V 100Ah AGM battery, a large external solar panel, a controller box, mounting brackets and multiple cables.
At an accessible site, these components can be transported and assembled using standard equipment. At a remote beacon reached only on foot, every additional component means more weight to carry, more wiring to complete and more work at height.
The challenge was not simply installing a navigation light. It was transporting and assembling an entire lighting and power system in a location with restricted access.
The Integrated Solution
One Lantern Replaced a Multi-Component Power System
Dexonmarine supplied the NFS3500 Fixed as a self-contained solar navigation lantern for the project.
High-efficiency LED optics, solar charging and a 12V 24Ah lithium battery are housed within one compact structure. The lantern provides 8–10 NM nominal visibility without requiring a separate battery cabinet, external solar panel assembly or field-mounted controller box.
For the installation team, this meant fewer components to transport, less wiring on the elevated platform and a simpler installation process.
Transport and Installation
Carried to the Beacon. Mounted as One Unit.
From the last accessible point, the NFS3500 Fixed could be carried by one person through dense vegetation and rocky ground.
After reaching the beacon structure, the lantern was lifted onto the existing platform and mounted directly. Because the light, solar charging system and energy storage were already contained within the unit, the team did not need to assemble a distributed power system at height.
Instead of transporting and connecting multiple power components, the installation team could focus on positioning and securing one complete lantern.
Customer Feedback
“We used to prepare for an 8 NM beacon installation as if we were carrying a small power station—battery, solar panel, controller, cables and tools.
This time, the Dexonmarine NFS3500 made the work much lighter. One person could carry the lantern to the site, mount it and configure the flash pattern—and still have enough energy left to enjoy the view.
For remote beacon projects, simple installation is not a small advantage. It changes the whole job."
— Customer Project Team, Mexico
Fixed Optical Configuration
A Fixed Beacon Requires Different Optics from a Floating Buoy
Fixed AtoN lights generally use a narrower vertical divergence than floating buoy lights because they do not pitch and roll with wave movement.
A floating lantern requires a wider vertical beam to keep the signal visible as the buoy moves. The NFS3500 Fixed is configured with a 3° vertical divergence, concentrating the optical output for a stable beacon structure while meeting the applicable IALA requirements for fixed lights.
This directs the available light output more effectively toward the required viewing area.
Configuration
The required light colour, optical version and synchronization configuration can be confirmed according to project requirements before delivery.
Flash characters can be configured through Bluetooth or an infrared remote control, with 256 IALA flash patterns available. This allows the installation team to complete the required setup without adding a separate external control system.
Project Configuration
- 8–10 NM nominal visibility
- 2.5° fixed optical configuration
- Integrated solar charging
- 12V 24Ah lithium battery
- IP68 protection
- 256 IALA flash patterns
- Optional GPS synchronization
- Installation on the existing beacon platform
Project Highlights
- Deployed at a remote fixed coastal beacon in Mexico
- Lantern transported manually through difficult terrain
- One self-contained unit replaced multiple external power components
- Reduced on-site wiring and assembly work
- Fixed optics selected for a stable beacon structure
- Installed directly on the existing elevated platform
Client Value
Designed Around the Real Work of Reaching the Beacon
For a remote beacon, nominal range is only one part of the equipment decision.
How the system is transported, how much work must be completed on the platform and how many external components may require future attention are equally important.
By combining the light, solar charging and battery storage in one unit, the NFS3500 Fixed addressed both the optical requirement and the site-access constraint. Fewer external components also mean fewer cable connections and power-system items to inspect during future maintenance visits.
For this project, the result was a long-range fixed navigation light better suited to the practical demands of transport, installation and ongoing support at a remote coastal site.
Planning a Fixed Beacon Where Access Is Difficult?
Share your required nominal range, light colour, flash character, site conditions and mounting interface. Dexonmarine can help confirm the appropriate optical and power configuration for your project.
Request a Remote Beacon Configuration
View NFS3500 Technical Data
