TW & TPD Perpetuate Lighting Myths

[Cetary]

  Wow. I'm surprised that there are lighting systems for freeways that extensive outside of Las Vegas. By the lights' NEMA wattage stickers it seems each light is pulling a big 200 watts before energy losses in the ballast.

http://goo.gl/maps/t3I1p

http://goo.gl/maps/OM1Fk

http://goo.gl/maps/35RFK

and the highway billboards are lit to...

http://goo.gl/maps/A69dL

though the NEMA sticker isn't visible, those floodlights in their mercury vapor form typically consume a 'cool' 80 watts each.

http://goo.gl/maps/gtgvJ

    Now I see what you meant by expensive expressway lights. You could run a whole handful of the more kosher 'street lights' each pulling 50~100 watts a piece for the power of a single expressway light.

   You may like the typical Caltrans setup. Caltrans only lights on and off ramps and interchanges as well as signs. The typical lighting for on and off ramps is always full cut off or shielded lights, typically HPS, with 2~3 approach lights for merging off and 1~2 departure lights for merging back on.

http://goo.gl/maps/GpQ70

http://goo.gl/maps/8Ko9W

Interchanges can vary in the number of their 'approach-departure' lights, but they certainly don't extend for miles.

[patric]

Caltrans only lights on and off ramps and interchanges as well as signs. The typical lighting for on and off ramps is always full cut off or shielded lights, typically HPS, with 2~3 approach lights for merging off and 1~2 departure lights for merging back on.

It's called "Interchange-Only" lighting where only those parts that need to be lit, are.

That's opposed to the "Continuous Lighting" method that pedestrians find so inviting.

[PonderInc]

As a kid, I remember the surprise when my family drove through Indianapolis at night.  We all laughed b/c the expressways were so brightly lit.  We joked that they wanted to be able to race the Indianapolis 500 on the expressways at night.  It was really weird, around 1980 to see this phenomena.  It seemed ridiculous.  I wonder if it's still like that, or if they realized that was overkill?

[patric]

I do also find the full moon to be plenty of light to see, though. I don't get people's obsession with streetlights. Even interchange lighting on expressways can make it hard to see past the end of the lit area. On surface streets, corner lighting just makes for midblock blind spots.

In more dense and pedestrian friendly areas, I'm all for ample lighting. Pedestrians don't generally have headlamps and lit up businesses can create deep shadows, making it hard to see. In residential neighborhoods and more car-oriented areas, that's not usually an issue because the lighting is less intense or set back from the road/sidewalk, making it less blinding.

No argument that municipal lighting can serve a beneficial purpose, it's just we sometimes loose focus of what that purpose is.
Municipal lighting extends the city's life after sundown.  It helps us navigate streets and curbs, avoid hazards and identify threats, which is all the more reason why it must be done right.  

Yet, some people still insist it's the Wolf-bane that will drive away crime, or bet their lives on the "any light is good light" approach as they step out onto a street or expressway.   Folks are figuring out "the right light for the right reason" at a snails pace, but it's still progress:


"The connection between light and crime may not be what most of us think it is, but the connection between light and our sense of safety is exactly what it's always been."
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/housing/2014/02/street-lights-and-crime-seemingly-endless-debate/8359/

[heironymouspasparagus]

Wow. I'm surprised that there are lighting systems for freeways that extensive outside of Las Vegas. By the lights' NEMA wattage stickers it seems each light is pulling a big 200 watts before energy losses in the ballast.

I haven't been able to find an inductive ballast for years - even in some larger commercial lights.  If they are all electronic, they will be about 90 to 95% efficient...maybe 20 watts heat losses....?

[patric]

I know there have been TPD officers in the past that understand security lighting well enough to give meaningful, useful advice... I just dont know where they are right now with regard to the current panic about a serial fondler on the loose.  Media have been tightly managed with this one, but seriously, how hard is it to give an example of good lighting when recommending "good lighting"?

The Chief, about 12 minutes in:

PIO, about 50 seconds in:

The message:  Light it up! 
Seems simple enough, but how effective is your neighbor's watchfulness going to be when your new super security blaster all-night floodlight is so annoying and blinding they have to shutter their windows?

Motion detectors?  They attract attention, but not when they are set off by every passing car or neighbors cat.

Sometimes good advice can be badly given.

[patric]

A Bixby neighborhood is having a rash of thefts from people entering open garages.
Police Cpl. Michael Konshack advises "Have all of your exterior lights on. Lights are a big thing."

Now all he has to do is explain how that prevents the daytime burglaries.


http://www.fox23.com/videos/news/video-bixby-police-increase-patrols-in/vDYSpF/

[heironymouspasparagus]

A Bixby neighborhood is having a rash of thefts from people entering open garages.
Police Cpl. Michael Konshack advises "Have all of your exterior lights on. Lights are a big thing."

Now all he has to do is explain how that prevents the daytime burglaries.


http://www.fox23.com/videos/news/video-bixby-police-increase-patrols-in/vDYSpF/

BA has been having a lot of that, too.   Had a guy walk about two steps into my garage one time, caught sight of me, then instantly reversed direction.  Keep garage doors closed, and front doors locked.  Always!  Even when you are there.