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Street lighting control

Does anyone have an insight into how Councils control street lights? My client is a residents association in a private road just off a Lincolnshire County Council public highway. They have seven street lights in the private road, each appears to have a single feed to them and there is no (apparent) control box for them - it appears their street lights are fed from the public highway (unless I am missing something). In the middle of the night the public highway lights get turned off, but those on the private road do not.  I have been asked to quote for providing a timer(s) for the lights  in the private road - in my opinion the installation cost and inconvenience in the event of power cuts does not justify this approach - am hoping they can be included in whatever switching on/off the Council do. Any pointers please on who to speak to to see if the private road lights can also be controlled by the Council?

Parents
  • Many street lights are now controlled by a radio link, such as the one linked below.

    Older ones have either a single photocell operating all of them, or, each of them have a photocell in the fitting. It isnt always obvious that a photocell is fitted, some are tiny, and not visible from the ground.

    The bonus of the radio link is that thet can be programmed to come on/off whenever the Owners want, or, they can come on with the integral photocell, and be turned off via radio link, and back on in the early morning.

    It costs though, so a small street could be financially better off by fitting timers. Newer ones have an internal battery, so do not lose their time when the power is cut, and automatically adjust for daylight saving time adjustments.

    www.sundrax.com/.../

Reply
  • Many street lights are now controlled by a radio link, such as the one linked below.

    Older ones have either a single photocell operating all of them, or, each of them have a photocell in the fitting. It isnt always obvious that a photocell is fitted, some are tiny, and not visible from the ground.

    The bonus of the radio link is that thet can be programmed to come on/off whenever the Owners want, or, they can come on with the integral photocell, and be turned off via radio link, and back on in the early morning.

    It costs though, so a small street could be financially better off by fitting timers. Newer ones have an internal battery, so do not lose their time when the power is cut, and automatically adjust for daylight saving time adjustments.

    www.sundrax.com/.../

Children
  • A simple photocell on the top of the lighting head is cheap and reliable. It also automatically adjusts for shortening days. Some need a permanent supply to the photocell on the head. Years ago councils had the cell at the top of the column on the head and a control relay at the base by the street light cut out. This enabled testing of the lamp by means of a switch. The units were marked MAN and AUTO. The picture is of a wall mounted photocell, but illustrates the general design of the cell unit. The socket is a NEMA type. The removable cell unit unlatches by a slight twist. There is a time delay to prevent flashing on and off if clouds cause cover or the cell is illuminated by car headlights etc.

    Hers is a picture of a typical traditional photocell on a street light head......

  • This is the type of photocell that has the testing control unit that is situated at the base of the column. The unit plugs into a base for ease of replacement. They used to be of  the type with a thermal bi-metallic strip, but if still available I imagine are now electronic in operation. The older units' photocell varied the current in the base unit circuit and warmed or cooled the bi-metallic strip to switch on or off. The process incorporated a natural  automatic delay action to prevent nuisance flashing on or off of the lamp.