Who turned out the lights? - LED Street lights

[Dos_Box]

At some point last week, we're not sure exactly when, all the street lights in our neighbourhood were swapped from the regular yellow incandescent bulb types to the light-pollution friendly LED ones.

And the difference is amazing.

If you are not up to speed with how these lights work, effectively the simply direct the light downwards in a rather controlled way rather than the old method of illuminating the rooftops and a portion of the lower atmosphere, these new ones just keep the street lit, albeit dimly.

I really am waiting for a clear night now to see what difference this will make to the visibility of stars.

Another positive I have found (although some press will have you belive this is the opposite) is that the lack of excess street lights making it through the curtains give me a much better nights sleep.

 

 

Has anyone else had these fitted yet, and what do you think of them?

[MatthewL]

They did the entire council area around here a while back and I find it alot easier on the eye when driving through the areas. Some areas you don't notice but others you do.

 

The next authority along (Lincolnshire) are in the process of swapping areas out of LED and on the wolds on one road I have noticed a massive difference in light pollution but also the way the street lights followed the road you knew where you as and this has been lost due to the lights not been as obvious. They are also turning off street lights from 11pm till 5/6am and in some areas it is pitch black and has caused a few issues.

 

I'm yet to go out to the wolds when its dark enough and clear enough to see if there is any difference but suspect its miles different.

[newpersn]

Don't get me wrong. About time they changed normal lights for old ones. The only downside is there not that bright compared to the old ones. (More direct than spead as you said)

 

Clear sky's are nice around here. Clear and bright.

[elsiegee40]

Ours got done last week. The old ones were rubbish and we only ever seemed to have 50% lit. Being a cul de sac we were pretty low on the priority lust for ever get them sorted.

 

They all work now!

[psydii]

I find it weird. They are ridiculously bright and it's almost like walking around in daylight. They shine brightly through curtains too.

 

Actually I'd say it's quite a lot like having the town flood lit.

 

I don't like them.

[Dos_Box]

I find it weird. They are ridiculously bright and it's almost like walking around in daylight. They shine brightly through curtains too.

 

Actually I'd say it's quite a lot like having the town flood lit.

 

I don't like them.

 

That is weird, as has been mentioned earlier, if you are stood at an angle to the you really can't see them at all, and when driving you can't see the path of a road by looking for the lights as all the light is directed straight down.

I wonder if you have some (very) badly fitted ones near you?

[psydii]

I'm in quite a densely packed metropolis, So I suspect it's more a case of being too close to them to be able to benefit from their directionality.

 

Also the harsh blue-white is jarring. See also 'night-mode' on iOS.

 

I note that some round the corner have recently had additional 'hoods' fitted to throw the light away from houses.

[6Foot2]

Nothing I am aware of in my part of Hertfordshire.

 

I have been aware of these for some time but haven't seen any in situ.

 

[webman]

I live in a small cul-de-sac - some lights are LED and other are not. Huge difference to clarity, focus and pollution - much prefer LED ones.

 

[Dos_Box]

I live in a small cul-de-sac - some lights are LED and other are not. Huge difference to clarity, focus and pollution - much prefer LED ones.

 

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Once they get rid of the last traditional bulb you'll really notice it then!

[webman]

Once they get rid of the last traditional bulb you'll really notice it then!

 

Absolutely! Can't wait. Although I have a feeling they're on a "replace/upgrade them when they break" schedule

[MkII]

We had a spate of turning off half of the old type lights to save the council £80k. Then about a year ago we had them all swapped for led.

 

Spread is less, and some areas that were covered are no longer. Boy it's bright under the lights. The one outside my house shines brighter into my house, but it doesn't bother us.

 

I guess if the lampposts were installed with LEDs in mind they'd be positioned differently.

 

Lots have died or part died with some amusing flickering effects. I question the longevity.

Edited December 6, 2016 by MkII

[MatthewL]

Quite a few around here when they are close to houses or where bedrooms are have a shield plate fitted so it doesn't shine towards the house.

[sparkeh]

Had them put in a couple of weeks ago round here. The difference is amazing and you can get a much better look at the stars

[Dos_Box]

The glow in the pic is actually Preston, several miles distant. Previously you would not have been able to see this.

[hardtailstar]

Ours were done about 6 months ago. My friend who has got really bad eyesight (almost blind with glasses on) says they are much better for her to see at night.

[Joanne]

They do my nut in when driving... always thinking there is a car coming around the corner and they dazzle me, just like the horrible new headlights in cars!

 

I would prefer the LEDs in them to be a warmer colour, so less harsh on the old stigmatisms.

[dry]

They do my nut in when driving... always thinking there is a car coming around the corner

Same here. They've got a similar colour temperature to Xenon/LED headlights and it often looks like there's a car oncoming.

 

I do like them though. They make the neighbourhood feel a bit more modern compared to the old yellow/orange lights.

[witch]

... priority lust....

 

!

 

Do tell....

[LincolnE]

I quite like them. Not as bright as the old ones, but honestly I don't think that's an issue these days.

 

Better quality lightbulbs/headlamps in cars mean that they aren't needed as much. Certainly when, for the most part, people don't need to look out their window to get a bearing for directions thanks to the sat nav!

[arwen]

Glad to see these are finally working their way around the country. The street at my mums house got them about 15 years ago! Places I've stayed in since have at a mix of these and the old style ones.

 

From talking to council folk, it seems on "big roads" they adjust the output to be stronger than in cul-de-sacs and quiet residential streets. This was to reduce street lights shining in peoples windows.

 

I much prefer them, much easier on my eyes when walking and driving :-)

[Duranis]

Had the ones outside ours replaced a week or two ago. As someone who regularly likes to stargaze I love them. Sadly one of my neighbours has what must be a *10,000W stadium flood light on the front of their house which is on all night and lights up the whole cul-de-sac.

*Actual wattage may be exaggerated.

[unixman_again]

They are doing random streets where I live. They've done the road that mine runs off (but not mine), the car park for the park (but not the road that leads to the park), the platforms at the railway station (but not the station car park) and other random roads. There are two street lights which have been out for about a month on station road, which I reported to the council. They haven't replaced them - thought that would be a good opportunity for a swap out, but apparently no - they would rather we grope our way from the station in the dark.

[DalekSec]

Saw thread title, instantly thought of this... Whovians will know

 

 

 

Back onto topic, I like them they do see more modern, the old yellow glow just feels outdated now and the few LED lamps i have seen do seem a lot brighter. But they are strange at 1st!

[thebatman]

Fitted correctly I love them. If the beam angle and intensity are set for the type of road they are on and they work perfectly. But too many times I have seen them fitted in a rush and not set up correctly (Or using poor quality parts that fail quickly), giving too much spill light or not working at all. But on the hole I like them.