Adding a Switch to the "Street" Lamp in my Backyard

[automobiliben]

Looking for some advice from the collective on this.

My property includes 2 street (secuirty) lamps that Duke Energy (our power company) provides, powers and maintains for roughly $8 a piece per month. We like them, they give us a sense of security and provide light for getting things done into the night. One light is outside my shop, which is a perfect place to have it, also lights up a portion of the driveway. The other though, is in the backyard.

My wife and I would like to add a switch to the one in the back yard so we can turn it on and off when we want to. It isn't nice to have bright light shining when you are trying to drink a beer on the porch or have a bon fire.

The problem: Duke will not add a switch to the light for me, they are strictly dusk to dawn sensor lights.

Do I have any options on how to install a switch to the light? Since Duke won't help me on this, I am looking for other options.

The one outside the shop (top right):

The one in the backyard:

 

[rlitman]

I wouldn't touch that with a . . . oh wait, it's already on a 20 foot pole.
Um, don't go messing with that. And BTW, they're not going to be 120V lights either, so be careful, if you really think this is a good idea.

A better idea, would be to add something that could block the light that's entering your windows. Careful application of aluminum tape to the inside of the lens can offer some shade in the right directions.

 

[lametec]

Shine a light on the sensor. Use an LED flashlight with a focused beam.

It'll work if the angle the light enters at actually reaches the sensor.

 

[RECox286]

It ain't ch'yer light, so don't be foolin' with it. Two choices, get it moved, or removed.

Uncle Bob

 

[rlitman]

Shine a light on the sensor. Use an LED flashlight with a focused beam.

It'll work if the angle the light enters at actually reaches the sensor.

The sensor is supposed to point up. If it pointed down, it would be triggered by the light itself.

I guess you could mount a tiny light above the sensor. Maybe a single white LED stolen from a holiday light string?

 

[pattenp]

A couple of questions, did you request the lights to be installed and do you pay the electricity for them? If you did and do. Then tell Duke to either put switches on them or remove them and see which option they take.

Edit: re-read your post closer and see you do pay for them.

 

[automobiliben]

Thanks for the replies guys, I knew that this wasn't going to be easy, and judging by the wire going up the pole, it isn't a 120V like was said.

The only thing I could think was if they made something you could put between the bulb and socket, like this on a standard bulb...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LNMTUA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[EOC_Jason]

Is there a disconnect on the light pole? Can't really tell how power is getting to that pole.

What is the voltage on the lamp? Some old ones that are Mercury Vapor are 120v, but there are some higher voltage models that look almost exactly the same (but use a different bulb and ballast obviously).

My guess is you probably called up the corporate # and got some customer service rep? I would try working backwards, talk to a guy in a service truck, maybe see if he can give you the number for his boss or someone to help you out with your issue on a more personal level.

Let them know you would be willing to cover the costs for the work, you just need them to (probably) disconnect the power to the light so said work can be done.

 

[Steevo]

Buy some LED puck lights, and wire up with really long extension cords.
Climb the poles and tape the puck lights onto the top of the sensors, facing down into them. Plug the cords into a switched outlet in your garage.
When you turn them on, the street lights will go off. When you turn them off, the street lights will come on.

You could even use LED backup lights from a truck supply, so that you could run them on 12VDC.

Instead of tape, you could use a rubber pipe coupler to shove down over the sensor, and put your LED light into the end of it. They come in a lot of sizes:

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The lights nor poles are yours, you merely pay the POCO for the service and lights. You are not allowed to touch them or the poles. If you don't like them, have them removed and install your own light and pole with a switch. There was one here when I moved in. Took several calls just to get the POCO to disconnect it. The were not charging me for it, and had a hard time understanding that I wanted it DARK. I have my own floods that are on motion sensors. They finally removed the light a couple of years later when I had them connect power to my shop, which came from that pole.

The light sensors are directional. They generally have an opening in the side of them for the light to enter and this opening faces east (if properly installed). As far as voltage, the ones around here are usually 120 volt. I can look up at the pole and wires and see that they tapped on the neutral and off one of the transformer outputs, making it 120v.

Charles

 

[lametec]

The sensor is supposed to point up. If it pointed down, it would be triggered by the light itself.

Right. That's why I said it'll work if the angle's right. Depending on the sensor, if you put enough bright light on it, it might reflect into it enough to turn the light off.

Won't cost anything to try, assuming OP has a flashlight. And if he doesn't, he should buy one anyway.

 

[rlitman]

Right. That's why I said it'll work if the angle's right. Depending on the sensor, if you put enough bright light on it, it might reflect into it enough to turn the light off.

Won't cost anything to try, assuming OP has a flashlight. And if he doesn't, he should buy one anyway.

These sensors also take a long time to activate. It would probably take shining the light for several minutes, as they're designed to prevent the lamp from blinking on and off too frequently. It'll take a steady hand, and a lot of patience. And after all that, is he going to have a flood light wired to turn on every night, to force the streetlight to go off at night? And won't that end up just increasing the glare?
Shining a light on the sensor is really not the right path to go down.

 

[lametec]

I'm thinking OP doesn't want it off every night. Just occasionally.

A tripod takes care of the "steady hand". And notice I didn't say flood light, but rather a focused beam flashlight. There will be no glare.

I'm not forcing OP to try this approach, it's just a suggestion. Since it's not his light, and the POCO won't add a switch, what other recourse does he have? My approach is unintrusive, cheap and worth a try, and doesn't require him to climb the pole like some other suggestions.

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

Not sure if this helps you or not.



(ACEC) is an effective source of light for outdoor areas around the home, farm, or business. For over 40 years they’ve been a popular fixture across the rural countryside. Their metal reflector and plastic refractor lens casts light downward and outward in a circular pattern. They’re great for general outdoor lighting.

ACEC’s standard yard light operates on a dusk-to-dawn electric eye with a 100-watt sodium lamp. They’re available to all members, on a rental basis, with a signed yard light lease agreement. They’re installed only on existing ACEC-owned poles so call for current basic charge pricing. All maintenance and energy charges are included in this base rate. An additional per-month charge is added for installation of a pole set solely for a yard light.

Convenient as they are, property owners may prefer to alter the light output of their dusk-to-dawn yard light. Some may prefer a more direct downward light pattern while others may want to limit the light in one direction. ACEC has two products available to reduce or direct light output from a standard yard light. Both are reasonably priced and both attach easily to any yard light leased from ACEC.

The Star Gazer replaces a conventional reflector and refractor lens. Made entirely of aluminum, it directs the light into a relatively tight circular pattern on the ground directly below the yard light, protecting the night sky.

The second option is called the Lite Blocker. Also made of aluminum, it attaches to a standard yard light and essentially covers one-half of the refractor lens. It can be rotated in any position to shield about half the surrounding area from receiving direct light.

Both the Star Gazer and the Lite Blocker are available for installation on any yard light leased from ACEC. They may be an inexpensive solution for your specific lighting needs.

 

[BARN ONE]

I would not think twice about hooking it up myself. I would not recomend it for someone that does not know about electrical work, but I do it all the time.

You could try calling in and say that it does not work, then when the service guy comes talk to him. If you have the material and a few cases of beer he might hook it up.

 

[Binrat]

a nice air rifle might work, when you want it off.... :0

 

[Chukster]

.....
The light sensors are directional. They generally have an opening in the side of them for the light to enter and this opening faces east (if properly installed). As far as voltage, the ones around here are usually 120 volt. I can look up at the pole and wires and see that they tapped on the neutral and off one of the transformer outputs, making it 120v.
Charles

Minor correction; the opening in the sensor body most often faces North, that way it can equally sense 'twilight' both AM & PM. This is important for radio towers, as the FAA is not friendly about towers unlit at nite.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

You'd think that the power company would have some options. Switch in the house, timer plus the photocell, etc.

 

[Aceman]

All the power company light poles I've seen have been tapped STRAIGHT off the transformer with no overcurrent protection other than the transformers. There is no way in hell anyone should be touching a switch fed straight from a transformer without a proper breaker ahead of it.

If you want control of some light poles, install and wire some yourself. Fed from your panel.

That's all there is to it. Live with the dusk-dawn only or install your own lights/poles and switch them however you want.

 

[ElectroLight]

Shine a light on the sensor. Use an LED flashlight with a focused beam.

It'll work if the angle the light enters at actually reaches the sensor.

That is your DIY answer. As noted the sensor should point north. Bright flash light on a tripod, maybe a laserpointer?

 

[Mattlt]

Rig up a black 5-gallon bucket that you can pull up from underneath to act as kind of an upside-down lampshade. This would just cover the light, not try to put it out. Remember to put it down for the night when you're done with your bonfire. Heat may also be a problem.

 

[ryaninmichigan]

Air rifle done.......

 

[gr8laker]

Watch the "Red Green Show". He usually has handy tips for the DIY types.

 

[luvit]

i hate the utility owned lights. i rigged-up something like this with extra pole length at my first house.
it was easiest to turn it just a couple times prior to dark, then screw it back-in the next morning when i could see again. the bulb grabber was barely just large enough for my situation..

 

[billsr4]

ask them to replace the shade with a metal one ,this will make the light shine down and in a 360 degree pattern. Photo cell catches the light from the side not the top.

 

[automobiliben]

i hate the utility owned lights. i rigged-up something like this with extra pole length at my first house.
it was easiest to turn it just a couple times prior to dark, then screw it back-in the next morning when i could see again. the bulb grabber was barely just large enough for my situation..

luvit,

Is the bulb just a standard "twist in" like every other bulb out there? You might have the best solution thus far, just unscrew the thing when I don't want it on!

Thanks for all the other replies guys, both serious and not. All good ideas...

It does **** that the power company owns and maintains it, but it isn't like it was something that I requested be installed, just trying to deal with the cards I have been dealt!

 

[luvit]

my previous owner had that utility light installed at that house.
yes.. if your bulb is shaped anything like these, they are *most likely* large base twist bulbs (Mogul bulb base).

 

[DoyleDee]

I had one at my house... it was around 10% of my electric bill for just that one light. I had to pay them extra to disconnect it, and all they did was just cut their feed wire to it- still hanging there as it has been for many years.
If you go with the bulb changer stick- remove the bulb when it is still light out and the light is off- they create an amazing amount of heat and will burn the rubber "pads" on the changer quickly- as well as possibly shatter the bulb (that would be worst case).

 

[1Garageman]

Simple solution
Bye bye pole!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

It does **** that the power company owns and maintains it, but it isn't like it was something that I requested be installed, just trying to deal with the cards I have been dealt!

Get the POCO to disconnect it and quit paying for it!

Charles

 

[automobiliben]

Get the POCO to disconnect it and quit paying for it!

Charles

For $7/month it is worth the sense of security and when it does come in handy, like late night washer and bags games!

 

[luvit]

For $7/month it is worth the sense of security and when it does come in handy, like late night washer and bags games!

for dusk to dawn, at nearly an average of 12hrs of darkness per day, that's just the operational cost with all the fees built-in.
.

 

[sunman76]

I called my power co. and all they had me do was buy mount a outdoor weather proof switch and conduit with a weather head on and they came out and wired it up for for free...

 

[skyking]

I had one over my ranch house for security. Got cheap and had them disconnect it. I saved $7 per month. I also got robbed twice in 3 months.
It is hooked up again !!!!!!! Not much left to steal but I still have more peace of mind.It ***** that I have to carry everything to and from each time.

 

[Kevin54]

I'm interested to know why you have one beside the garage and one in the backyard if you didn't request them. Does the one in the backyard light up any neighbors or is there something at the tree line on the other side like a walking path or something like that? If not, and it doesn't light the neighbors, and only lights your backyard, I'd be tempted to put in a switch myself. If you get caught, about all they will do is slap your hand anyways. A;ll you have to do is break one wire and add the switch in.

 

[rodm1]

I would remove the bulb then install some flood lights around the backyard. Probble on the house and garage.

 

[automobiliben]

I'm interested to know why you have one beside the garage and one in the backyard if you didn't request them. Does the one in the backyard light up any neighbors or is there something at the tree line on the other side like a walking path or something like that? If not, and it doesn't light the neighbors, and only lights your backyard, I'd be tempted to put in a switch myself. If you get caught, about all they will do is slap your hand anyways. A;ll you have to do is break one wire and add the switch in.

They were there when I moved in, so this is all speculation. But there used to be a pool in the backyard, so perhaps this helped them light the pool at night?

I don't really understand the light in the backyard either.

The one in the front is for security since it lights up both garages and a part of the house.