Street-light sensors

J

jtaylor

Guest
Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to it...
 
jtaylor wrote:
Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to it...
It might work. It depends on which way the sensor is facing. If you
don't want to get caught, consider using an IR source.

--
Paul Hovnanian mailto:paul@Hovnanian.com
note to spammers: a Washington State resident
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"jtaylor" <jtaylor@hfx.deletethis.andara.com> wrote in message
news:y4Ssc.45973$kc2.695201@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to it...
Is there a little access cover near the bottom of the pole? I'll bet the
wires providing electricity for the light are right behind it.
 
On Tue, 25 May 2004 22:15:06 -0300, "jtaylor"
<jtaylor@hfx.deletethis.andara.com> wrote:

Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to it...
In Phoenix, if you complain about street lights illuminating your
yard, they come out and install a shroud so that it only lights the
street.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
 
Paul Hovnanian P.E. <Paul@hovnanian.com> wrote:
jtaylor wrote:

Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to it...

It might work. It depends on which way the sensor is facing. If you
don't want to get caught, consider using an IR source.
Is it actually illegal anywhere to do this?
The above scheme has been reported on some amateur telescope makers
lists.
 
It might work. It depends on which way the sensor is facing. If you
don't want to get caught, consider using an IR source.
It does work.. Great fun on halloween night, when the kids are checking
their loot.
Of course one needs to play responsibly, and not cause problems.
In my case, it was the only streetlight in a very small town, and traffic
was not an issue.
 
jtaylor wrote:
Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to it...

How about a 30.06?
 
"jtaylor" <jtaylor@hfx.deletethis.andara.com> wrote in message
news:y4Ssc.45973$kc2.695201@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to it...
Yes. The problem is that the sensors are far more sensitive to green
light than to red light. At least the ones in my area are. I use a green
laser pointer and it knocks them out immediately. A red pointer has no
chance of doing it. However, I would that that if you went to the flea
market, bought about 5 to 10 of them and placed the beams to focus into one
dot, you could do it. Red lasers are dirt cheap and cost about $2 US apiece
these days with the batteries.
Hint: measure the operating current of the laser directly from its
batteries- then place an inline resistor to limit the current to that value
when using some other power supply. This will keep the laser from smoking.
They go dim real fast when applied to an unrestricted 3 volt supply (or 4.5,
based on the type you have). As it is, the cheap laser pointers use the
internal resistance of the batteries to limit the current they can draw.
Without a current limiting resistor in series, they die.
You know, you might even pulse the things to make the streetlight stay
off. They have quite a dwell time. A pulse every second ot so whould be
enough to keep it off indefinitely, once you get a bundle of red lasers that
work as one.

Cheers!

Sir Charles W. Shults III
 
"Sir Charles W. Shults III" <NOaichipSPAM@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:_%atc.7542$w34.161361@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
"jtaylor" <jtaylor@hfx.deletethis.andara.com> wrote in message
news:y4Ssc.45973$kc2.695201@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of
the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to
it...

Yes. The problem is that the sensors are far more sensitive to green
light than to red light. At least the ones in my area are. I use a green
laser pointer and it knocks them out immediately. A red pointer has no
chance of doing it. However, I would that that if you went to the flea
market, bought about 5 to 10 of them and placed the beams to focus into
one
dot, you could do it. Red lasers are dirt cheap and cost about $2 US
apiece
these days with the batteries.
Hint: measure the operating current of the laser directly from its
batteries- then place an inline resistor to limit the current to that
value
when using some other power supply. This will keep the laser from
smoking.
They go dim real fast when applied to an unrestricted 3 volt supply (or
4.5,
based on the type you have). As it is, the cheap laser pointers use the
internal resistance of the batteries to limit the current they can draw.
Without a current limiting resistor in series, they die.
You know, you might even pulse the things to make the streetlight stay
off. They have quite a dwell time. A pulse every second ot so whould be
enough to keep it off indefinitely, once you get a bundle of red lasers
that
work as one.

Cheers!

Sir Charles W. Shults III


The street lights out our way are on poles which are designed to break off
on impact from a vehicle - they are fitted out so that an impact on the pole
cuts the power for about three or four minutes, then tries to re-apply
power. If you attached a solenoid on a timer (assuming you were fortunate
enough to have these pole/lights in your area) I guess you could
periodically give the pole a kick in the groin to keep the light out. :)

Ken
 
"Ken Taylor" <ken123@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:2hl3f1Fe8q4gU1@uni-berlin.de...
"Sir Charles W. Shults III" <NOaichipSPAM@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:_%atc.7542$w34.161361@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
"jtaylor" <jtaylor@hfx.deletethis.andara.com> wrote in message
news:y4Ssc.45973$kc2.695201@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
Is there any chance I could aim a diode laser at the sensor on top of
the
local streetlight and trigger the sensor into thinking it was daytime?

Would sure beat shinnying up the pole and duct-taping a maglight to
it...

Yes. The problem is that the sensors are far more sensitive to
green
light than to red light. At least the ones in my area are. I use a
green
laser pointer and it knocks them out immediately. A red pointer has no
chance of doing it. However, I would that that if you went to the flea
market, bought about 5 to 10 of them and placed the beams to focus into
one
dot, you could do it. Red lasers are dirt cheap and cost about $2 US
apiece
these days with the batteries.
Hint: measure the operating current of the laser directly from its
batteries- then place an inline resistor to limit the current to that
value
when using some other power supply. This will keep the laser from
smoking.
They go dim real fast when applied to an unrestricted 3 volt supply (or
4.5,
based on the type you have). As it is, the cheap laser pointers use the
internal resistance of the batteries to limit the current they can draw.
Without a current limiting resistor in series, they die.
You know, you might even pulse the things to make the streetlight
stay
off. They have quite a dwell time. A pulse every second ot so whould
be
enough to keep it off indefinitely, once you get a bundle of red lasers
that
work as one.

Cheers!

Sir Charles W. Shults III


The street lights out our way are on poles which are designed to break off
on impact from a vehicle - they are fitted out so that an impact on the
pole
cuts the power for about three or four minutes, then tries to re-apply
power. If you attached a solenoid on a timer (assuming you were fortunate
enough to have these pole/lights in your area) I guess you could
periodically give the pole a kick in the groin to keep the light out. :)

Ken
Before interfering with the proper operation of the light I suggest you
contact a lawyer.

Charles
 

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