Can Cars Cause Electrical Interference with Streetlights?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential for cars to cause electrical interference with streetlights. Participants explore various explanations for the observed behavior of streetlights turning on or off as vehicles pass beneath them, considering both electrical interference and the influence of headlights on light sensors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls a personal experience with a car affecting streetlights and questions whether this is a genuine phenomenon or a perceptual coincidence.
  • Another participant explains that the ignition system in gasoline cars can produce high voltage pulses, which may interfere with electromagnetic devices if not properly shielded, suggesting this could affect streetlight circuits.
  • Some participants argue that the observed behavior is likely due to headlights reflecting on the streetlights' daylight sensors rather than electrical interference from the car.
  • One participant humorously reflects on the simplicity of the explanation and questions the design of the sensors in relation to car headlights.
  • A later reply acknowledges the possibility of different headlight designs affecting the interaction with streetlight sensors.
  • Several participants express a lighthearted disillusionment regarding their previous beliefs about their influence over streetlights.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views regarding the cause of the streetlight behavior, with some attributing it to electrical interference and others to the functioning of light sensors. The discussion remains unresolved with no consensus reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the reliability of their observations and the design of streetlight sensors, indicating a lack of definitive conclusions regarding the mechanisms at play.

Gnophos
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This is going back a ways, but we used to have a car (I think it was the '89 Camry) that seemed to affect our streetlights. The lights often seemed to go on or wink out as we passed under them.

Was this one of those you-wouldn't-see-it-if-you-weren't-there things, where it only seems to be related to your presence because you were present to observe something that's always occurring anyway, or can a car actually affect a somewhat unstable electrical system like some cheap streetlights?
 
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The ignition system in gasoline cars pulses a very high voltage down the spark plug wires to allow the electricity to jump the gap at the end of the spark plug.

If the spark plug wires are not properly designed and shielded (or old age has caused them to breakdown), they can cause all types of interference with electromagnetic devices like TVs or radios. If the street lights had a circuit on them to determine when to turn on/off, its possible the circuit (or a sensor) wasn't shielded and when presented with the interference it behaved oddly.

Its typically blocked by the metal body of the car, and if you look at older Corvettes (all had plastic bodies) they had an additional metal cover over the ignition distributor to help shield this noise.
 
Well I've seen this before. It's not the electrical noise of the car that causes the lamps to go off. It's your headlight shining on or reflecting to the street lights daylight sensor. If you notice, you can see the photoelectric sensors that are usually mounted above the lamps.
 
dlgoff said:
Well I've seen this before. It's not the electrical noise of the car that causes the lamps to go off. It's your headlight shining on or reflecting to the street lights daylight sensor. If you notice, you can see the photoelectric sensors that are usually mounted above the lamps.

Precisely!
 
Didn't Einstein have something to say about keeping problems simple? :smile:

I would have thought it logical to mount an ambient light sensor outside of the range of headlights for that reason, but then again maintenace would be more difficult and maybe the car in question had headlights that were misadjusted?
 
Well, the headlights were perfectly normal, I think, but that sounds like the answer. Duh! Although I don't see it happening now with our other cars, it could just be a different kind of headlight that doesn't trip the light sensor.

I still think the electrical leakage idea is cooler, though. :)
 
I am crushed. Disillusioned.

I have been sure for many, many years now that I am the God of streetlamps, and they have been bowing to me.

Now I'm finding out it's not just me?
 
DaveC426913 said:
I am crushed. Disillusioned.

I have been sure for many, many years now that I am the God of streetlamps, and they have been bowing to me.

Now I'm finding out it's not just me?


Actually it IS you. The above was just to placate Gnophos. :biggrin:
 
: relieved :
 

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