tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post608029111631608404..comments2024-01-09T00:39:13.955+00:00Comments on Oh what NOW!: Street LightingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-20753288611604992052013-12-05T05:53:29.517+00:002013-12-05T05:53:29.517+00:00Many years ago, a favourite activity was to park i...Many years ago, a favourite activity was to park in a position which afforded a good view of the urban sprawl and watch the street lights progressively go out at about 1:30am. It was such a romantic moment that possibly 15% of the population were conceived very shortly after. Many years later I found that the lights were controlled by a separate circuit from each transformer and a timeclock. Later this circuit was replaced by photo electric cells in each light. The local councils generally pay for street lighting (at least here) and that is calculated on the type of light and the number of hours it runs on average. Further developments could be a time switch to turn the light off when there is minimal traffic and/or motion detectors to turn the lights on when needed. These devices are not expensive and can be installed progressively when lights etc. are changed. <br /><br />As far as tickets go, you're responsible adults and should know and be comfortable with driving within the prevailing limits and road conditions or stick to public transport.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-89504589871982634022013-12-03T22:05:48.715+00:002013-12-03T22:05:48.715+00:00Thanks Ed, there was a slightly logical side to my...Thanks Ed, there was a slightly logical side to my question and what you say makes sense. However if I got a ticket I would still argue that if the street lights are officially not in use (didn't say 'switched off' but said 'streetlights not in use') that must also cancel their other 'use' as speed limit notifiers - even in daytime - because the sign declares them to have no uses?woodsy42noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-11474660091887314372013-12-03T21:55:31.110+00:002013-12-03T21:55:31.110+00:00You are correct - see some .GOV site for details. ...You are correct - see some .GOV site for details. It states that if the lighting in not in use after "lighting up time", the 30mph limit cannot apply by itself (but does still apply if "30" signs are visible). However, in daylight, the presence of street lights indicates the 30mph limit is in force.Ed Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-76226836416534921482013-12-03T18:11:28.417+00:002013-12-03T18:11:28.417+00:00I wondered about this speed limit thing myself. Fa...I wondered about this speed limit thing myself. Fairly recenty driving at night (can't remember where it was, poss Nottingham) I came across an official sign that said the street lights on that road were not in use. Does that mean the speed limit is cancelled?woodsy42noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-71754498229195930282013-12-03T10:58:45.572+00:002013-12-03T10:58:45.572+00:00If the lights go out, all the snooping cameras wil...If the lights go out, all the snooping cameras will have to converted to infra-red, just to spot the burglars.Ed Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-24159733812306174552013-12-03T10:13:28.449+00:002013-12-03T10:13:28.449+00:00That was just an example of how expensive it would...That was just an example of how expensive it would become to retrospectively fit street lights with dimmers.The filthy engineernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-10307889118520326832013-12-03T07:04:23.271+00:002013-12-03T07:04:23.271+00:00MD beat me to the technical bit....
This year the...MD beat me to the technical bit....<br /><br />This year they held a "consultation" before changing all the lights (pillars and all). This was done on PFI, just to make sure that it was as big a waste of tax-payers hard-earned as possible,<br /><br />I would have preferred them to just turn the lights off after midnight, because in this village the only people out are all in vehicles, all of which have headlights.<br /><br />These are also white streelights, so as a driver I've lost useful information about whether there is another car around any corner I'm approaching.Mick Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-60448091739202411512013-12-02T23:32:12.084+00:002013-12-02T23:32:12.084+00:00Didn't the lack of street lights in London dur...Didn't the lack of street lights in London during WW2 cause a lot of casualties?malpashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03465468581504191466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-66386694452875667102013-12-02T22:35:00.960+00:002013-12-02T22:35:00.960+00:00It's not that simple, I'm afraid FE. Tungs...It's not that simple, I'm afraid FE. Tungsten filament lamps haven't been used for street lighting for decades - they don't last long enough and cost too much to run. Variations of low and high pressure Sodium, and high pressure Mercury vapour or Metal Halide are the main ones used up to now. None of these can be dimmed, either by simple resistive or electronic dimmers. <br /><br />Fluorescent lamps can be dimmed, by thyristor "chopper" circuits, but need extra transformers to keep the cathode filaments warm. This old fashioned system is used in my friends chicken sheds. The modern way is electronic ballasts which can be used with full sized tubes or compact types such as PL or 2D. These would be one of the 2 candidates for street lighting, the other being LED's which also require electronic control gear. In both cases efficiency is high as the conversion is done at high frequency, but it will cost a hell of a lot to retrofit all the existing street furniture, or even replace them completely. <br /><br />I'll leave you to consider the cost/benefit figures involved to save "nasty" CO2 from being emitted by the power stations still needed to provide base load. But then it's only the taxpayer footing the bill after all...microdavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01352078582764696261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508346572086151757.post-1734890292389549852013-12-02T21:48:21.728+00:002013-12-02T21:48:21.728+00:00Is there such a thing as an efficient dimmer?Is there such a thing as an efficient dimmer?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com