Street Lights

[bravado67]

I live in a new housing tract with a home at the end of a T-section so viewing is great from every angle with the caveat of a street light that illuminates my entire home. Last year I shined a shop light at it from a low angle for Halloween and Christmas which worked. I want to know if others have had this experience and what they might have done to turn down the lights so to speak. I would like to put a matrix on the bottom part to become a model in the show.

[MrChristmas2000]

This is the oldest FAQ in the list.

Each street light is structured differently but most of them have the sensor on the top of the light.

My street light has what looks like a hat wit a knob on top. I designed a hat with a light in it to sit over that knob and when I turn the light on the street light goes out.

Some people that do not have easy access to that sensor has used a laser aimed at the sensor to control it as well.

You can post a picture of the street light and perhaps others have similar and have a solution for you.

[bravado67]

This is the oldest FAQ in the list.

Each street light is structured differently but most of them have the sensor on the top of the light.

My street light has what looks like a hat wit a knob on top. I designed a hat with a light in it to sit over that knob and when I turn the light on the street light goes out.

Some people that do not have easy access to that sensor has used a laser aimed at the sensor to control it as well.

You can post a picture of the street light and perhaps others have similar and have a solution for you.

I searched in the FAQ but found nothing. I'll look again. I was able to turn the street life off last year with a flood light. I was hoping someone might have experience working with their city or code enforcement that turned the lights off for a period of time. I remember reading am article where the homeowner worked it out with their city.

Ron

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[MrChristmas2000]

Have you searched some of the other general Christmas forums?

For example:
Planet Christmas Forum
http://forums.planetchristmas.com/

or

Do it yourself Christmas
http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/

or

diychristmas.org
http://www.diychristmas.org/

and there may be others, but these are some of the more widely known.

Hope that helps your research.

[drlucas]

I would definitely give the town/city a call before doing this. I'm sure there will be different bylaws in every place for this. Last thing you want is a knock at the door and the city offering up a fine.  I'm sure if you get someone ticked off at you for traffic on the street this may add fuel to the fire.

I know my city is generally Christmas light friendly as there is a mayors bus tour every December but I've never had to deal with this scenario before. Good luck with it and let us know what they say. 


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[Gilrock]

Call the city?  Are you crazy? LOL...I can tell you the answer you'll get.

[Dave Nibeck]

If you call and they say no,  you will have been put on actual notice.  Then should something happen or they check....

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[algerdes]

Call the city?  Are you crazy? LOL...I can tell you the answer you'll get.

And the expected answer is... ??

[arw01]

Donuts to the street light maintenance department..  It just might have a temporary malfunction

[bravado67]

Call the city?  Are you crazy? LOL...I can tell you the answer you'll get.

I have to agree with Gil on this. It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission in situations like this. I live in a small town where police are contracted out via Highway Patrol. There were no complaints when I turned the lights off during Halloween and Xmas in 2015 so I think I will leave it alone. I'll find a crafty way to use a laser instead of the shop light as it draws too much power! and can be seen if you look for it.

Ron

[bravado67]

Donuts to the street light maintenance department..  It just might have a temporary malfunction

Agreed. I have seen woodpeckers up there. I hope they damage the sensors. LOL
The sensors face my home so very easy to turn off with enough light. I tried an LED shop light but no luck. A halogen works. I was able to hand hold a laser pointer to make it work.

Ron

[sean]

I saw a post , in an astronomy blog, about a person who would use a laser (5mw i think) and aim it at the sensor on top of the street lamp. When he wanted to use his telescope, he would zap the lightpost.

He said red lasers work, green lasers do not.

Infrared would prob be best, no visible light. Shining a laser up to a light post seems to run the risk of blinding passing airplanes. If there is an accident in front of your home and they know you turned off the light, could be lawyer fodder. I wish there was a way to make a shade that would cast a shadow only on my home and leave the street illuminated.

[bravado67]

I saw a post , in an astronomy blog, about a person who would use a laser (5mw i think) and aim it at the sensor on top of the street lamp. When he wanted to use his telescope, he would zap the lightpost.

He said red lasers work, green lasers do not.

Infrared would prob be best, no visible light. Shining a laser up to a light post seems to run the risk of blinding passing airplanes. If there is an accident in front of your home and they know you turned off the light, could be lawyer fodder. I wish there was a way to make a shade that would cast a shadow only on my home and leave the street illuminated.

Sean, there is another light across the street catty corner. Both of these lights have to lanterns so plenty of ambient light. Hopefully, the light show will produce more light than the streetlights so visibility is somewhat improved with the exception of distraction. Last year a Highway Patrol officer stopped across the way and took video. He wanted to share it with his daughter. There are no light contamination laws in my county or for the city so okay there. The  neighbors all love it - even when I blasted the music each night for Halloween and Christmas. I do plan to use a transmitter this year for the cars. I will take donations for Wounded Warriors as well. One of my neighbors was an sniper instructor for Chris Kyle.

Ron

[mcas4380]

We had. Street light that would shine straight into my child's room at night. We called the city and they put a shade in the lamp to prevent the light from shinning at our house. Maybe your having problems sleeping due to that bright light directly in your window?

[RoboMello]

We had. Street light that would shine straight into my child's room at night. We called the city and they put a shade in the lamp to prevent the light from shinning at our house. Maybe your having problems sleeping due to that bright light directly in your window?

If my neighbors use that excuse I would have to turn my Christmas lights off.
I leave right on a corner, so I have 3 neighbors to shine on. :-)