ATM Re: Streetlight Control

[cshaw@ghg.net (Charles W. Shaw)]

>From: "Tom Krajci" <krajcit@det5wg57.barksdale.af.mil>
>Many of us complain about nearby streelights that spoil our observing
...<snip>...
>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.



Tom,

I use a small telescope made from a copy lens, and the flash from my 35mm
camera.   Hold the flash at the focus of the lens and POW!  The light winks
right out.   I have a 12v powered flash from a kit, and a photocell that I
put together so that I could set up the scope with the tube and photocell
in a 35mm film can inserted as you do an eyepiece.  Then, when the
streetlight starts to come back on, the photocell triggers the flash and
turns it back off.

Good baffling on the copyscope keeps the collateral flash to a minimum and
it just goes "Poof" about every 5 minutes....

Fun to do even if I do not have my scope out!!!!!!  (maybe I am a 50 year
old J. Delinquent?????)

Chuck



Chuck Shaw
cshaw@ghg.net  (home e-mail)
cshaw@ems.jsc.nasa.gov  (work e-mail)
http://www.ghg.net/cshaw  (Yes, the links need updating!!)

"Confetti" (Catalina 25 #1)