Solar panels roadside on the way back from Geelong

[Heywood Jablome]

Hi all,

I was driving to melbourne from geelong the other day and I noticed that
there were solar panels every 500m or so along the freeway. There were also
separate street lights that certainly did not look like they were solar
powered. So there must have been mains power around the area. I think the
solar panels were used to power transmitters that let some central control
know how much traffic there was in the area as some towers had antennas on
them. But I am not sure. In any case, this led me to wonder why the
transmitters are not simply connected straight to the mains, and why a
seemingly expensive solar panel was used to power them instead. Could this
be beurocracy gone mad again?

-H

 

[Alan]

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 14:53:03 +1100, "Heywood Jablome" <reply to
thread> wrote:

Hi all,

I was driving to melbourne from geelong the other day and I noticed that
there were solar panels every 500m or so along the freeway. There were also
separate street lights that certainly did not look like they were solar
powered. So there must have been mains power around the area. I think the
solar panels were used to power transmitters that let some central control
know how much traffic there was in the area as some towers had antennas on
them. But I am not sure. In any case, this led me to wonder why the
transmitters are not simply connected straight to the mains, and why a
seemingly expensive solar panel was used to power them instead. Could this
be beurocracy gone mad again?

-H

You'll probably find these are "emergency phones". They are more than

likely GSM type phones packaged in the pillar with a small battery and
with a solar panel to charge the battery.

The solar panel and battery will work out cheaper than having to get
mains power to each pillar.

Alan

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jenal Communications
Manufacturers and Suppliers of HF Selcall
P O Box 1108, Morley, WA, 6943
Tel: +61 8 9370 5533 Fax +61 8 9467 6146
Web Site: http://www.jenal.com
Contact: http://www.jenal.com/?p=1
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[Fred Ferd]

"Heywood Jablome" <reply to thread> wrote in message
news:41cf871c$0$6541$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

Hi all,

I was driving to melbourne from geelong the other day and I noticed that
there were solar panels every 500m or so along the freeway. There were
also
separate street lights that certainly did not look like they were solar
powered. So there must have been mains power around the area. I think the
solar panels were used to power transmitters that let some central control
know how much traffic there was in the area as some towers had antennas on
them. But I am not sure. In any case, this led me to wonder why the
transmitters are not simply connected straight to the mains, and why a
seemingly expensive solar panel was used to power them instead. Could this
be beurocracy gone mad again?

Not really, The lights are only turned on sometimes. I cant remember when
but you might be able to call up and ask when the lights are turned on. The
entire grid is turned on, with some timer devices causing the chain effect
so they turn on one at a time in sequence. (not all at once) SO anyway the
power for the lighjts is turned on only sometimes. Oh maybe only at night,
may its night, i can never remember these things.


The monitoring equipment and antenna would need a seperate power supply.
They calculated the cost of installing fixed power in the ground and of
using solar,
and so they decided to use solar to save money.

Thats not mad, is it.

 

[KLR]

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 14:53:03 +1100, "Heywood Jablome" <reply to
thread> wrote:

Hi all,

I was driving to melbourne from geelong the other day and I noticed that
there were solar panels every 500m or so along the freeway. There were also
separate street lights that certainly did not look like they were solar
powered. So there must have been mains power around the area. I think the
solar panels were used to power transmitters that let some central control
know how much traffic there was in the area as some towers had antennas on
them. But I am not sure. In any case, this led me to wonder why the
transmitters are not simply connected straight to the mains, and why a
seemingly expensive solar panel was used to power them instead. Could this
be beurocracy gone mad again?

-H

Not knowing the area, but I would very much doubt that these would

power streetlights. You just couldn't generate via a small solar
panel enough power or store it efficiently to run even one those 400w
lights that line our highways for an entire night.

The power for emergency phones is another possibility, however when I

have seen this system here - the solar cell is usually mounted on top
of the same pole that contains the phone, and it is of course
signposted as an emergency phone.

They likely would power traffic monitoring systems,as you suggest and

the transmitting equipment for them. They may also be possibly
monitoring the status of underground water/sewerage/gas plant or even
be for small roadside mobile phone base stations to improve highway
coverage.

The cost of connecting mains power to such things would be
astronomical, especially if there are 100's of them along a length of
road. I could just imagine the bureacracy involved too , as well as
the cost of installing the underground cabling, switchboard and so on.

when you are running only really small loads or ones that are only

used occasionally, a solar and battery installation would win hands
down every time ]



Mabye (if its possible) stop and look at one or more of these
installations next time, take a pic and post it here ?

 

[Dingo]

Yeah I think the park lights are solar powered because they don't need as
much power as highway lights.

I was just driving between Sydney and Brisbane (New England Highway) and saw
a few solar panels on poles, These were 100s of kilometres from anywhere. I
wonder how they protect them from theft? I think they were traffic
monitoring and some others were to drive warning lights.



"Mike Harding" <mike_harding@nixspam.fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:lm63t0hi59en6nqttob4trepfmd0gpfdf1@4ax.com...

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 01:22:25 +1000, KLR <kenreed@yahoo.com> wrote:

Not knowing the area, but I would very much doubt that these would
power streetlights. You just couldn't generate via a small solar
panel enough power or store it efficiently to run even one those 400w
lights that line our highways for an entire night.

I saw some which were doing exactly that on lamps in
a park somewhere near Templestowe in Melbourne
yesterday - I have no idea of the lamp power though.

Mike Harding

 

[Ross Herbert]

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 14:34:25 +0800, Alan <me@somewhere.com.au.invalid>
wrote:

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 14:53:03 +1100, "Heywood Jablome" <reply to
thread> wrote:

Hi all,

I was driving to melbourne from geelong the other day and I noticed that
there were solar panels every 500m or so along the freeway. There were also
separate street lights that certainly did not look like they were solar
powered. So there must have been mains power around the area. I think the
solar panels were used to power transmitters that let some central control
know how much traffic there was in the area as some towers had antennas on
them. But I am not sure. In any case, this led me to wonder why the
transmitters are not simply connected straight to the mains, and why a
seemingly expensive solar panel was used to power them instead. Could this
be beurocracy gone mad again?

-H

You'll probably find these are "emergency phones". They are more than
likely GSM type phones packaged in the pillar with a small battery and
with a solar panel to charge the battery.

The solar panel and battery will work out cheaper than having to get
mains power to each pillar.

Alan

Possibly like the one's used by Main Roads WA
http://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/NR/mrwa/run/start.asp?G={0AA292D0-8B14-4B7C-9DF9-BE0A23A2F81F}

 

[Ross Herbert]

That didn't work too well did it?

Try this
http://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/internet/safety/publication/emergency_phones.asp

 

[Fred Ferd]

"Dingo" <nsjunkstuff@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:41d0bada$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...

Yeah I think the park lights are solar powered because they don't need as
much power as highway lights.

I was just driving between Sydney and Brisbane (New England Highway) and
saw
a few solar panels on poles, These were 100s of kilometres from anywhere.
I
wonder how they protect them from theft? I think they were traffic
monitoring and some others were to drive warning lights.

mainly by sticking them up on the pole,
but also by the fact that its obviosly radio linked and therefore alarmed..
anyone climbing up the pole may be caught red handed up the pole.

(and the rego off their vehicle taken, the vehicle description taken by
camera, etc)

Its why video cameras watching speed cameras are effective. You cant
approach the speed camera without first being seen by the video camera. If
you disable the video camera then that sets of the alarm meaning you have a
risk of being caught.

"Mike Harding" <mike_harding@nixspam.fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:lm63t0hi59en6nqttob4trepfmd0gpfdf1@4ax.com...
On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 01:22:25 +1000, KLR <kenreed@yahoo.com> wrote:

Not knowing the area, but I would very much doubt that these would
power streetlights. You just couldn't generate via a small solar
panel enough power or store it efficiently to run even one those 400w
lights that line our highways for an entire night.

I saw some which were doing exactly that on lamps in
a park somewhere near Templestowe in Melbourne
yesterday - I have no idea of the lamp power though.

Mike Harding

 

[Mike Harding]

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 01:22:25 +1000, KLR <kenreed@yahoo.com> wrote:

Not knowing the area, but I would very much doubt that these would
power streetlights. You just couldn't generate via a small solar
panel enough power or store it efficiently to run even one those 400w
lights that line our highways for an entire night.

I saw some which were doing exactly that on lamps in
a park somewhere near Templestowe in Melbourne
yesterday - I have no idea of the lamp power though.

Mike Harding

 

[Dingo]

I seriously don't think these ones had all the fancy protection. I mean, I
hope they do so taxpayers like myself don't have some scum rip us all off
but these panels were on a single two metre high pole. No obvious camera etc
and even if there was one I doubt it was close enough to have a live feed
going back to base.

Anyway I just assume they were for driving warning lights at night time
(i.e. autonomous switching on with an LDR or similar)

"Fred Ferd" <fred@ferd.com> wrote in message
news:41d0c9ee$1@news.comindico.com.au...

"Dingo" <nsjunkstuff@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:41d0bada$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
Yeah I think the park lights are solar powered because they don't need
as
much power as highway lights.

I was just driving between Sydney and Brisbane (New England Highway) and
saw
a few solar panels on poles, These were 100s of kilometres from
anywhere.
I
wonder how they protect them from theft? I think they were traffic
monitoring and some others were to drive warning lights.

mainly by sticking them up on the pole,
but also by the fact that its obviosly radio linked and therefore
alarmed..
anyone climbing up the pole may be caught red handed up the pole.

(and the rego off their vehicle taken, the vehicle description taken by
camera, etc)

Its why video cameras watching speed cameras are effective. You cant
approach the speed camera without first being seen by the video camera.
If
you disable the video camera then that sets of the alarm meaning you have
a
risk of being caught.


"Mike Harding" <mike_harding@nixspam.fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:lm63t0hi59en6nqttob4trepfmd0gpfdf1@4ax.com...
On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 01:22:25 +1000, KLR <kenreed@yahoo.com> wrote:

Not knowing the area, but I would very much doubt that these would
power streetlights. You just couldn't generate via a small solar
panel enough power or store it efficiently to run even one those 400w
lights that line our highways for an entire night.

I saw some which were doing exactly that on lamps in
a park somewhere near Templestowe in Melbourne
yesterday - I have no idea of the lamp power though.

Mike Harding

 

[Richard Freeman]

"Mike Harding" <mike_harding@nixspam.fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:lm63t0hi59en6nqttob4trepfmd0gpfdf1@4ax.com...

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 01:22:25 +1000, KLR <kenreed@yahoo.com> wrote:

Not knowing the area, but I would very much doubt that these would
power streetlights. You just couldn't generate via a small solar
panel enough power or store it efficiently to run even one those 400w
lights that line our highways for an entire night.

I saw some which were doing exactly that on lamps in
a park somewhere near Templestowe in Melbourne
yesterday - I have no idea of the lamp power though.

There are some in a park down our way the light could be described as
adequate (maybe 50W tops Flourescent) at best and remember it does not have
to run all night. these only have to provide relatively low levels of
illumination and are a different kettle of fish to a street light which
needs to clearly illuminate a street for an entire night.

Regards
Richard Freeman

 

[Richard Freeman]

"Dingo" <nsjunkstuff@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:41d1f0ba@duster.adelaide.on.net...

I seriously don't think these ones had all the fancy protection. I mean, I
hope they do so taxpayers like myself don't have some scum rip us all off
but these panels were on a single two metre high pole. No obvious camera
etc
and even if there was one I doubt it was close enough to have a live feed
going back to base.

Anyway I just assume they were for driving warning lights at night time
(i.e. autonomous switching on with an LDR or similar)

Most of the scum are not really bright enough to realise how expensive Solar
panels are, and even if they were how saleable would a Solar panel be ? it
is not the sort of thing that lots of people would purchase (like VCRs etc)
unless they were really cheap and then that defeats half the point doesnt it
? .
I suspect it actually works out cheaper not bothering to put too much effort
into security and risking having one disappear every now and then. whereas I
have noticed a couple of speed cameras with Security cameras mounted on
poles next to them ......

Regards
Richard Freeman

 

[swanny]

If they are spaced at regular intervals of 400 - 500m then they are
likely part of an incident detection and management system. You might
notice a pair of loop detectors in each lane of the roadway near each
pole. They simply detect vehicle speed, direction, classification etc
and, using sophisticated algorithms, determine the probability of an
incident having occurred between two locations. This aids in getting the
appropriate resources to the location quickly. They are usually backed
up with some cctv cameras, but this is not always the case.

Geoff

Dingo wrote:

I seriously don't think these ones had all the fancy protection. I mean, I
hope they do so taxpayers like myself don't have some scum rip us all off
but these panels were on a single two metre high pole. No obvious camera etc
and even if there was one I doubt it was close enough to have a live feed
going back to base.

Anyway I just assume they were for driving warning lights at night time
(i.e. autonomous switching on with an LDR or similar)

"Fred Ferd" <fred@ferd.com> wrote in message
news:41d0c9ee$1@news.comindico.com.au...

"Dingo" <nsjunkstuff@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:41d0bada$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...

Yeah I think the park lights are solar powered because they don't need

as

much power as highway lights.

I was just driving between Sydney and Brisbane (New England Highway) and
saw
a few solar panels on poles, These were 100s of kilometres from

anywhere.

I
wonder how they protect them from theft? I think they were traffic
monitoring and some others were to drive warning lights.

mainly by sticking them up on the pole,
but also by the fact that its obviosly radio linked and therefore

alarmed..

anyone climbing up the pole may be caught red handed up the pole.

(and the rego off their vehicle taken, the vehicle description taken by
camera, etc)

Its why video cameras watching speed cameras are effective. You cant
approach the speed camera without first being seen by the video camera.

If

you disable the video camera then that sets of the alarm meaning you have

a

risk of being caught.



"Mike Harding" <mike_harding@nixspam.fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:lm63t0hi59en6nqttob4trepfmd0gpfdf1@4ax.com...

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 01:22:25 +1000, KLR <kenreed@yahoo.com> wrote:


Not knowing the area, but I would very much doubt that these would
power streetlights. You just couldn't generate via a small solar
panel enough power or store it efficiently to run even one those 400w
lights that line our highways for an entire night.

I saw some which were doing exactly that on lamps in
a park somewhere near Templestowe in Melbourne
yesterday - I have no idea of the lamp power though.

Mike Harding