Editing Lighthouse (section)

===Power===
Originally lit by open fires and later candles, the [[Argand lamp|Argand hollow wick lamp]] and [[parabolic reflector]] were introduced in the late 18th century.

[[Whale oil]] was also used with wicks as the source of light. [[Kerosene]] became popular in the 1870s and electricity and [[acetylene]] gas derived on-site from [[calcium carbide]] began replacing kerosene around the turn of the 20th century.<ref name="Crompton"/> Carbide was promoted by the [[Dalén light]], which automatically lit the lamp at nightfall and extinguished it at dawn.

In the second half of the 20th century, many remote lighthouses in [[Russia]] (then [[Soviet Union]]) were powered by [[radioisotope thermoelectric generator]]s (RTGs). These had the advantage of providing power day or night and did not need refuelling or maintenance. However, after the collapse of the Soviet government in 1990s, most of the official records on the locations, and condition, of these lighthouses were reportedly lost.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/nuke-weapons/nonproliferation/28067|title=Nuclear lighthouses to be replaced - Bellona|date=June 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623055427/http://www.bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/nuke-weapons/nonproliferation/28067 |archive-date=2011-06-23 }}</ref> Over time, the condition of RTGs in Russia degraded; many of them fell victim to vandalism and scrap metal thieves, who may not have been aware of the dangerous radioactive contents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellona.no/bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/navy/northern_fleet/incidents/37598|title=Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators - Bellona|date=March 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315151209/http://www.bellona.no/bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/navy/northern_fleet/incidents/37598 |archive-date=2011-03-15 }}</ref>

Energy-efficient LED lights can be powered by [[solar panel]]s, with batteries instead of a Diesel generator for backup.<ref name=baraniuk/>