Ban sensor lights!!

Lee · #1 06-09-2005, 10:29 PM

Both of my rear neighbours have backyard sensor lights, which point out basically parallel to the ground, ie directly at my place! It is driving me mad!!

Ban the sensor!
I have to set up my scope in the very back corner of my yard with my back to them, else my night vision is endangered (prob the best place to sit anyway - but I'm still mad!)....

Thanks for listening to me vent.....

fringe_dweller · #2 06-09-2005, 10:44 PM

the old fortress mentality at work - I know the feeling, these things are a curse. naturally they are a million watts a piece designed to blind the invading hordes into invading another country - but it is called light trespass. i have heard/read somewhere sometimes you can turn them off (with some of them) with a laser pointer if you can hit the photo-electric switch (if visible) which makes them think it is daytime. You didnt hear that from me tho - dont even know if it works??? or you could go and nicely ask them I guess?
kearn

davidpretorius · #3 06-09-2005, 10:49 PM

have you got a gun????

[1ponders] (Paul) · #4 06-09-2005, 10:57 PM

Check out Australian Standard AS 4282 - 1997. "Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting" It covers all the things you need to know about the effects and requirements to control obtrusive lighting.

davidpretorius · #5 06-09-2005, 10:59 PM

do the standards mention guns?

toetoe (Peter) · #6 06-09-2005, 11:15 PM

Talk to your neighbours in a civil manner and they should be able to adjust the angle of the beam. Or do what i have to do with this new street light which lights up my back yard and not so much in the street, string up a tarp and create a barrier between you and the light, if it's possible of coarse.

RapidEye · #7 06-09-2005, 11:37 PM

Try talking to your neighbors first - maybe even invite them over for a quick look through the scope. Once everyone is good and dark adapted, toss a rock or something near the lights to set them off so your neighbor can see what it does to night vision and how it wrecks observing.

If that doesn't work, try this:
Usually those motion sensors have a light sensor on them so that they don't come on during the day. See if you can find that sensor location and hit it with a strong, tightbeam flashlight or even a laser pointer. IIRC, the ones I have (which are on a switch and are in my carport before I get yelled at) have a 30 minute timer on them after they are exposed to "daylight". So you might have to nail them every 20 minutes or so just to keep them off.

<shrug> worth a try...

dhumpie · #8 07-09-2005, 01:25 PM

I agree with the talking to the neighbour suggestion. If that does not work you can do three things:

Call the city council and get them to take action against your neighbours (you could use the light shining into your backyard causing glare)

Use a monks hood while observing (just a two layered black cloth not unlike a jedi cloak

Create a large screen to "block" out the lights.

Hope that helps.

Darren

ving (David) · #9 07-09-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RapidEye

Try talking to your neighbors first - maybe even invite them over for a quick look through the scope. Once everyone is good and dark adapted, toss a rock or something near the lights to set them off so your neighbor can see what it does to night vision and how it wrecks observing.

If that doesn't work, try this:
...

if that doesnt work start throwing rock at them

i have the same problem. councils wont do much i am afraid. been there and done that

mojo (Terry) · #10 07-09-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plasmodium

Both of my rear neighbours have backyard sensor lights, which point out basically parallel to the ground, ie directly at my place! It is driving me mad!!

We must have the same neighbours!
I think it keeps turning on when their cat strolls around. I'm contemplating whether to shoot out the light or shoot out the cat.

#11 07-09-2005, 06:07 PM

I reckon erect a very large mirror to reflect the light back on them. See how they like it.

dhumpie · #12 07-09-2005, 06:24 PM

Strange! I had problems with one of the street lights shining directly onto my observing balcony and I asked the council if they could do something and they did. They installed one of the full cutoff lights. Guess they did it because it was public property. Could you erect some sort of barrier between you and the offending lights?

Darren

Striker (Tony) · #13 07-09-2005, 07:38 PM

I dont think shooting the light with a gun is very practical....

Shoot the owner then shoot the light.....lol

#14 08-09-2005, 12:55 AM

Does anyone know if the green lasers will turn them off, I am considering purchasing a 20mw one, should blow the sensors socks off I reckon. There are 2 street lights that are giving me grief at present..

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #15 08-09-2005, 01:55 AM

A fast growing hedge grown to the appropriate height will work. I expect my Lilly Pilly hedge to be as solid as a brick wall to light. Trim and shape them to any height you like!

See my thread on the "Neighbours Be Gone" Lilly Pilly.

RapidEye · #16 08-09-2005, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exfso

Does anyone know if the green lasers will turn them off

On those motion sensor lights, yup - that will work, no problem. It will keep them off for around 30 mins.

On the big street lights, at least here in the US, they will try and restart shortly after the light source is removed from the sensor.

There is a guy on one of my observing lists that has a small red laser with a on/off button (as opposed to a momentary button) that he's mounted on a tripod. He aims it at the sensor on the street light, and presto - the light is out until he turns the laser off

The only trick is finding where the sensor is and getting it lined up.