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ATM Streetlight control?
Many of us complain about nearby streelights that spoil our observing
and often fantasize about shooting the bulbs with a pellet gun.
Talking with a friend who used to live in Wyoming - he and a friend
used to pass the time when they were bored teenagers by turning off
the streetlights in his neighborhood by remote control. How?
They'd use a 200,000 candle power (12V DC) handheld spotlight and
shine it on the photocell that tells the light when it's night and
time to swtich on. Even though they were below these lights (and
about 20 yards away so they weren't directly below) they could still
fool the photocell and shut off the lights. They even got good
enough they could do this while driving down the road - one driving,
the other with the spotlight.
This trick only turns off the light for about 10-15
minutes.
I don't want to come across as some anarchist, vigilante that
advocates civil disobediance in the name of dark skies, but this may
come in handy from time to time. And I know of no permanent damage
or consequences - except getting caught by the police. ;-)
Hmmmm, that light in our apartment parking lot that's only 50 feet
from my porch observing site. . . .
Tom Krajci
Capt Tom Krajci
B-52 Intelligence Officer
"In God we trust, all others we monitor!"
http://spur.barksdale.af.mil