WWMD- Alternatives to shooting out a street light

[concretejungle]

There is a street light across the street that flashes about every five seconds all night long and it used to not work at all which was nice. It's next to the neighborhood trails and the lots adjacent are under construction. None of our bedrooms are on the street side so it's not bothering me but I would like to "fix" the flashing. Other than shooting it out what are my options? Borrow the neighbor kids slingshot?

Ask the construction workers if they can do anything or what do I ask them to do as a beer or weed fueled favor? Which guy to ask, the electrician, framer, etc. Use a ladder and black out the light before the houses are finished? I would like this to be as close to permanent i.e. a PITA to fix as possible.

I don't want to contact the HOA or the city because they'll just replace it.

[XXX-er]

A "duh" moment here, if you shot it out would they not just replace it ?

[concretejungle]

A "duh" moment here, if you shot it out would they not just replace it ?

It's been out for 2 years until the other week when it started flashing and no one has fixed it yet so I assume that neither or I nor my neighbors give a shit about it actually working. That's why I'm hoping for a solution that would involve something more than involved and permanent than mr. city worker changing the bulb. I read about using a laser to hack the sensor that controls the light but I'm not sure I'd be able to do it from ground level on a regular basis.

Also, this is in uber suburbia so the street light isn't keeping kids off my lawn or from dealing crack i.e. safety isn't an issue.

http://hackaday.com/2013/10/24/hacki...t-with-lasers/

[nickwm21]

Have the electrician open the hand hole at the base and unwire it.

[Tippster]

Complain to your town manager?

[TomCrac]

Shooting it out and using a slingshot are 2 different things? Put it out of its misery already. I had one in our neighborhood yrs ago that was a pita. Threw a rock at it and hit this little 3 inch canister on top of the light that put it out for good.

[concretejungle]

Have the electrician open the hand hole at the base and unwire it.

This is the type of info I'm looking for. I'll wait for the electrician then.

Complain to your town manager?

They'll just fix it if we have a town manager. When is totally dependent on how worthless of a civil servant they are. I don't want it to work. The flashing is preferable to a working street lamp.

Shooting it out and using a slingshot are 2 different things?

There is no 144 page thread in the PR about slingshots so I'm going to say yes they are different.

[mmmm...pow!]

A little love tap with your truck should take care of it. Don't ask me how I know.

[iceman]

Get a switch installed and fuck with people.

[wendigo]

Get one of us to move next door.

[boarddad]

Probably won't be able to shoot it out with a slingshot.. Those lights are tougher than they look.

Ever think of calling the city? They usually have a vested interest in getting the lights fixed. Unless the light is part of the construction project (like, they installed it) they probably can't/won't touch it.

[wooley12]

As I recall, when I needed to darken a spot to park in the local park after dark: If the light was an "industrial type" type glass, the quieter .22 short was the ticket. A pellet gun would also work. For a light with a bare bulb, a rock thrown straight up underhand only took a couple of tosses. If your going to do that at night, wear a helmet.

[nickwm21]

As I recall, when I needed to darken a spot to park in the local park after dark:

Please don't explain that.

[hutash]

Have the electrician open the hand hole at the base and unwire it.

That is the kind of think that drives union wages. "I can't plug in plug and need a licensed electrician to do it" This shit seriously happens at trade shows.


This is all you need.

[Plainview]

^^ That'll work, though for the size of wire found inside street light poles (typically #8 or larger) this will work better:



Just be sure you're not grounded and only cut one wire at a time and be sure that wire cutter isn't touching anything else when it's touching the wire.

Most of the street lights I've installed are fused. The fuses are usually inside the hand hole. Just take the hand hole cover off and look at the wires inside. If there's a big taped up lump in one or more of the wires that's where the fuse is. Peel off the tape and pull the fuse holder apart. The fuse holder might not even be taped (we always did just to make sure it wouldn't come apart on it's own).

If the fuses aren't inside the hand hole they're probably inside the nearest j-box. Go look for the j-box that should be within a few feet of the pole.

WARNING: The wires inside the light pole and j-box can be live even when the light is not on. There is typically no fuse/breaker upstream of the one at the j-box or pole, which means there is no safety device between you and the transformer. A LOT of fault current is available and the voltage can be as high as 480 (though typically 277). In short, you can kill yourself fucking with this stuff.

[hutash]

A LOT of fault current is available and the voltage can be as high as 480 (though typically 277). In short, you can kill yourself fucking with this stuff.

Yeah, GoPro this

[MakersTeleMark]

Throw black paint balloons at it.

[Ted Striker]

Get one of us to move next door.

man, that thread is memory lane. jer, timvw, highangle... all currently residing in the where are they now file.

[goldenshowers]

buy some good blinds? you'll cut down on cooling and heating costs too.

[Skistack]

1. Cut up pole w/ sawzall.
2. Take cut up pieces to metal recycler.
3. Profit!

[Bromontana]

Slingshot or BB gun could work. If you really don't want that light functioning for a while I'd focus on the housing as well. Put some holes in it. A 7.62mm round or 5 will eliminate this problem and increase the difficulty of the repair. A well placed round or two once the town comes to fix it and they might abandon the effort altogether. This approach does carry risk so tact and approach are paramount.

[powdork]

tannerite is the obvious solution

[TomCrac]

Looked like a lot of fun but also a lot of waste.

[assman]

pellet gun. quiet, powerful and a lot of fun to plink with

[Lawless]

Is the pole wood or metal? If metal, open hand hole, dump in self lighting charcoal, deploy lighter, and walk away. That will melt the wiring in the pole and most likely the conduit running to it. They would have to pull the whole base out and repour a new one before they could get it working again. They will be in no hurry to do that.