[Cyberdog]

The street lights use some sort of timer that's tracking dates? Don't they typically just use light sensors to know when to turn on? It seems to me that'd be a simpler solution and also provide light during solar eclipses, thick storms, etc.

[anonymfus]

First, these systems generally predate invention of semiconductor light sensors.

Second, how much light you need is proportional to human activity, not only to darkness. At deep night artificial lighting should be minimal to save energy, minimise disturbance to nature and people's sleep, while during early morning when kids go to schools it should be maximal.

Third, you need a central control over street lights anyway because you need to implement blackouts during wartime.

[jpc0]

> Third, you need a central control over street lights anyway because you need to implement blackouts during wartime.

You heard of switches? Hell in our country with mandated rolling blackouts to prevent failure of the national electrical grid some sucker gets paid to drive around town every 2-3hours and flip a switch. Unrelated one municipality is failing to follow the mandate because they cannot afford said suckers overtime pay...

I also strongly believe well lit streets at all times are important, its better to try to limit the lights' bleed than it is to have darkness. One human killed or otherwise injured (rape/assault) due to bad lighting should be enough to say this is a bad idea.

[iforgotpassword]

Why should we pick a simple solution like that? Is it the 90s or what? Only a complete clown would pick anything other than a network of zigbee relays controlled by an unmaintained node.js app written by an out-of-business contractor, pulling in sunrise/sunset data from an external API and syncing its local time via a homegrown NTP alternative.

I mean look at electric cars.