You can never have too many street lights

Mixolydian

Lifer
Nov 7, 2011
14,566
91
91
gilramirez.net
...well I do. :\

Couldn't pass up this one on eBay. After all, this is my favorite street light model. New old stock from the mid-late 1980's. It's missing the ignitor circuit, but I can snag one of those for under $20. It even came with the original instructions! :)



Yes, I am crazy. :p
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,824
11,164
126
What is it you like about street lights? I could see collecting stuff from the 50s and earlier, but they had style. New lights are just functional. They efficiently make light.
 

Mixolydian

Lifer
Nov 7, 2011
14,566
91
91
gilramirez.net
What is it you like about street lights? I could see collecting stuff from the 50s and earlier, but they had style. New lights are just functional. They efficiently make light.

I dunno. I always liked electrical stuff, so I assume it stems from that. There are so many different kinds of street lights out there.

I have like 15 of 'em now. :\
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,824
11,164
126
How about railroad signal lamps? Some of those are pretty cool.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
71,226
14,046
126
www.anyf.ca
Funny as a kid I was obsessed with them, and always wanted to get to see one up close, don't know why, the closest one was near an overpass where you can walk on, and the light was maybe like 5 feet from the rail, for the street that passes under.

Never even thought ebay would have those, almost tempting to order one just for shits and giggles. Could light up my whole back yard lol. I imagine these probably use quite a bit of power compared to equivalant lumens produced by neon/CFL though right?

Also did not realize how involved those were electrically. Huge transformer (ballast?) and all.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,627
35,392
136
...well I do. :\

Couldn't pass up this one on eBay. After all, this is my favorite street light model. New old stock from the mid-late 1980's. It's missing the ignitor circuit, but I can snag one of those for under $20. It even came with the original instructions! :)

Yes, I am crazy. :p

Get them wired up and you'd be the neighbor from hell.
 

Mixolydian

Lifer
Nov 7, 2011
14,566
91
91
gilramirez.net
Funny as a kid I was obsessed with them, and always wanted to get to see one up close, don't know why, the closest one was near an overpass where you can walk on, and the light was maybe like 5 feet from the rail, for the street that passes under.

Never even thought ebay would have those, almost tempting to order one just for shits and giggles. Could light up my whole back yard lol. I imagine these probably use quite a bit of power compared to equivalant lumens produced by neon/CFL though right?

Also did not realize how involved those were electrically. Huge transformer (ballast?) and all.
This is a 250w HPS fixture.

I'm not sure what the fficiency of CFL (lumen/watt) is but I believe they are about the same.

Electrically, yes, they are complex. What's more, there are several different types of ballast circuits that have different performance characteristics.

This one appears to be a CWA (Constant-Wattage Autotransformer) type.

Get them wired up and you'd be the neighbor from hell.
I have one street light hooked up at my parents' house on the shed in their backyard. No complaints from neighbors. :p
 

ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2004
1,188
0
86
I also like street lights
My three all time favorites are the GE M400/M1000 and the Line Materials Unistyle 175
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,718
31
91
I always thought the heads were metal being a kid and seeing them from the ground. Now working for a utility I came to find out they're plastic, hehe. Makes sense. You don't want the poor guy up in the bucket killing himself manhandling a heavy metal fixture into place.
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,718
31
91
You should get one of the new LED style. There were some vendors in here last year demo'ing those.
 

Mixolydian

Lifer
Nov 7, 2011
14,566
91
91
gilramirez.net
I also like street lights
My three all time favorites are the GE M400/M1000 and the Line Materials Unistyle 175
I have a Unistyle 175. I like those fixtures too,

I always thought the heads were metal being a kid and seeing them from the ground. Now working for a utility I came to find out they're plastic, hehe. Makes sense. You don't want the poor guy up in the bucket killing himself manhandling a heavy metal fixture into place.
Plastic? All the lights I own (of various manufacturers) are metal, even the newest ones.

You should get one of the new LED style. There were some vendors in here last year demo'ing those.
Still too expensive. I hear the longevity is quite poor too. :\
 

I Saw OJ

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
4,923
2
76
Interesting hobby.

Edit: I've found myself staring at street lights today when I was out and about town. Damn you OP!
 
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Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
52,320
7,600
136
...well I do. :\

Couldn't pass up this one on eBay. After all, this is my favorite street light model.
New old stock from the mid-late 1980's. It's missing the ignitor circuit, but I can
snag one of those for under $20. It even came with the original instructions! :)

Yes, I am crazy. :p

Not sure if we're eventually going to see you on an episode of Hoarders or an episode of HGTV restoring a lighthouse :hmm: