How to switch lighting on 15 separate buildings?!

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stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#201860 7-Sep-2016 13:31

We have 15 separate buildings spread over about 200 meters that we want their individual exterior lights to all switch on and off the same time as the street lights.
Initially told by the local power company that could do it via ripple but they have gone quiet on us!
No don't want to use Philips Hue but the area has wifi coverage.
There must be a simple inexpensive method?!
Thanks

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

1 | 2

655 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1625093 7-Sep-2016 14:55

15 timers in wall sockets shouldn't cost too much.

Zeon

3916 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1625094 7-Sep-2016 14:56

You could probably programme something yourself with a Rasberry Pi etc. and relay switch - maybe use some kind of camera pointed at a street light using openCV to detect contrast. However you probably would want to get something that is designed and supported for such applications. Does it need to be the exact time as the street light or can you just set a time?

Speedtest 2019-10-14

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1625096 7-Sep-2016 15:01

Street lights use daylight switches. Why not just put a daylight switch on each building

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1625097 7-Sep-2016 15:01

Street lights use daylight switches. Why not just put a daylight switch on each building

stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1625099 7-Sep-2016 15:04

Thanks but we want it instantly the same time as the street lights. Imagine trying to set 15 timers to allow for different twilight times!
No problem accessing the street lights for getting a switch.
We may have to use redundant Cat 5 cabling ex CCTV but would like to see if there is a smarter option!

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

wellygary

8313 posts

Uber Geek

#1625124 7-Sep-2016 15:38

stuffed: We may have to use redundant Cat 5 cabling ex CCTV but would like to see if there is a smarter option!

See if your local council is using remote LCU based LED street lights anywhere, then install your own lights with LCU controllers and get them turned on with the radio control signal-( apparently it has a 20 Km range)

(NZTA are certainly using LCU based devices for State highway upgrades, so local councils may also be using them...

http://www.telematics-wireless.com/files/36c8addc5a5789f756d84f82c77e21b7.pdf

stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1625136 7-Sep-2016 15:52

Hey thanks for the heads up on that and will investigate although it may be a bit too expensive for us.

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

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ghettomaster

387 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1625146 7-Sep-2016 16:05

@OP - any thoughts on the daylight switch option mentioned by andrewNZ?

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#1625152 7-Sep-2016 16:14

Last week I saw a streetlight on during the day - seagull sitting right on top of the daylight switch.

Mike

SumnerBoy

2074 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1625153 7-Sep-2016 16:15

Does each individual light have its own D/N sensor?!

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

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Vocus

#1625156 7-Sep-2016 16:24

Why the requirement to turn on the lights at exactly the same time as the streetlights ... it seems like a daylight sensor would be close enough for any practical purposes?

Anyway, here's an option:

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/inventions-patents-and-trademarks/page-1

Poultry power

The first electric street lighting in one Nelson suburb was powered by a small hydroelectric generator in the hills above the city. To switch the lights on and off, a chicken run was added to the power plant. At dusk every night the hens would go inside their coop and roost on a special hinged perch. This sank under their weight and connected a switch which turned on the street lights. At first light the hens would leave the coop, the spring-loaded perch swung back and the lights went out again.

stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1625157 7-Sep-2016 16:25

Will have a think about the daylight switch but don't think that there will be the spontaneity that we are looking for.
BTW - this is a heritage lighting project for our small Arrowtown CBD.

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

wellygary

8313 posts

Uber Geek

#1625174 7-Sep-2016 16:49

stuffed: BTW - this is a heritage lighting project for our small Arrowtown CBD.

Cool, I was in Arrowtown last week, lovely part of the world,

NZTA will certainly use LCU LED units on the new Kawarau falls bridge, and I suspect they probably used them on the new Ladies Mile roundabouts, so its likely there will be some use of radio triggering in the area that you might be able to piggyback onto..

Techlight NZ appear to be the local agents for the gear in NZ, and given there is a receiver on every street light, I can't imagine they are hideously expensive...

http://techlight.co.nz/proDetails.php?hID=4&cID=24&pid=137