Lamp Post Lights On/Off?

[Roaddog53]

In driving through The Villages at night, we see homes that do not keep their lamp post lights on. We are just curious what are the reasons since TV put in nice lights for every home and looks very consistent until some are off..

Here are some thoughts and issues
1.If off, it is dark and more susceptible to break ins, making it look like no one is home with all other lights off.
2. We thought it was or should be part of deed restrictions for consistency. Sure looks nicer with all on.We see lighted name signs on while the lamp post is off.
3. Some say to keep away small bugs, but than they have garage lights on or others. When looking at model homes, we see no bug issues on the houses.
4. It SURELY can't be due to cost.. Really? One with a 60 watt incandescent bulb would cost on average $2.34 a month ran 10 hrs a night. Converting to a 13 watt led (60 watt equivalent) would cost $0.51 a month. A payback of about 2 months. Cost can't be an issue if worried about $6 per year. Cost of one alcoholic drink.

Does the $6/year whether up north or here warrant the look of no one home?

So maybe we haven't heard all the other side's?

[MikeV]

Or it could just be bad sensors or burned out bulbs.

[villagetinker]

As far as I know, the post lamps do not have switches, unless these were added by the homeowner or they are using the circuit breaker. I agree with above, probably a blown bulb, or sensor, or the GFCI tripped. Ours was out for 2-3 days before a neighbor mentioned it, found a bad connection. As for the lighted name signs, some of those are solar powered.

[Roaddog53]

The homes at least south of 466a have separate circuit breakers for the lamp post that can be turned off.
Otherwise, could be the other reasons, but after days, weeks, they never notice it is out with a bad bulb? Not sure where the gfi is since it is not on the breaker and it is a separate circuit.

[sunset seeker]

I have a Begonia in Labelle and the lamp post is hooked to the GFCI on the right garage wall. It had tripped for whatever reason and the light quit working. Some people just might not know from where it is fed maybe??

[Phanatic Luvr]

Could be snowbirds who have gone for the summer months and their home watch is not aware, as they do not go in the evening. If a neighbor doesn't tell them, they have no way of knowing. I always tell people to change their bulbs before they depart, some do, some don't. Same with smoke detector batteries.
I also see where bugs can be an issue. Some place aluminum foil in the rear of their bulbs, so bugs do not get all over the fronts of their homes, especially the courtyard villas, the lamppost is very close to the garage area. If there is a street light out front, some rather not spend the money to keep their lamppost lit and let the street light do the job.
Just my thoughts ....

[Jima64]

Maybe some just want to turn them off and not waste resources.

[RickeyD]

Street light directly across the street from me, so I keep it off.

[Roaddog53]

Could be tripped I see. Scary why so many though. However I do see some just are trying save save $.50 a month. To turn them off though while gone seems to me asking for trouble. Pay the $.50 for peace of mind.

[2BNTV]

Maybe some people have found a way to take their money with them. :D

I am amused at one friend who purchased a $700,000 home and was dead set on replacing all lights in the house with LED type bulbs to save a few pennies. BTW - He is a generous guy in a lot of ways.

Another guy always pulls to the attended side to get through a gate as he doesn't want to roll down his window for fear he may incur a repair. He is just cheap.

Penny wise and dollars foolish applies. I would rather have the peace of mind letting someone think my home is attended to. Lamp post has it's own breaker in the garage and it's own sensor. I was using regular bulbs but switched to the LED type as they were burning out fairly frequently.

[justjim]

Maybe some just want to turn them off and not waste resources.

I don't have my deed restrictions in front of me but I believe you are suppose to keep your yard light working and on at night. This is not enforced unless there is an official complaint filed. Most of us have got "other" things to do.

[NYGUY]

I suspect the majority are burned out bulbs, that people do not replace. I agree, it looks much nicer when all are on. Even though they are a pain to replace, the LED's last a long time.

[Nucky]

My light is on. My Father was teased to no end about turning off lights in our house. My Uncle Bill who lived several blocks away teased my dad about leaving the door bell on overnight. He just took it in stride. One day out of nowhere he explained what it was like to grow up during the depression and being the youngest of thirteen children he was cared for but it was a rough time for many. He explained that if he reacted to my Uncle it would please my Uncle and my dad didn't want him to know how much the doorbell comment bothered him. This for me fall's into the category of....gimme a break. Maybe the person with the light off could use a helping hand or has a reason for having it off that they are to proud to speak of. I think that if your neighbors post being off is a problem for you maybe professional help is needed before you start wondering about their bank statement or other personal info. Isn't it enough to live your own life without trying to live someone else's also.

[RickeyD]

I don't have my deed restrictions in front of me but I believe you are suppose to keep your yard light working and on at night. This is not enforced unless there is an official complaint filed. Most of us have got "other" things to do.



Not in CDD 10 you don't.

[asianthree]

Some shut them off due to it shining into their bedroom. We have a streetlight that ours does not come on until later than others

[Ruth519]

I didn't even know the lamppost can be turned on or turned off! My post is off often because the light seems to burn out! I'm not at my house very often but when I come down I'm often frustrated to see that the light has been burned and I've always been surprised that security has notified me.

[photo1902]

I don't have my deed restrictions in front of me but I believe you are suppose to keep your yard light working and on at night. This is not enforced unless there is an official complaint filed. Most of us have got "other" things to do.

The deed says you have to have a post light. It doesn't say it has to be on. I personally like the look of ours being on, and I switched to LED's. Instead of 120 watts, I now only use 15 per hour for the 8-10 hours it's on.

[Chellybean]

A 7 watt CFL bulb last for years and gives the light of a 40 watt and a 13 watt CFL gives the light of a 60 watt.
All the sensors in the post lights plays nice with the CFL's today and the cost of running these are penny's a month.
(FYI CFL's don't play Nice with Electronic dimmers inside the home even if there rated for Dimmers.)
I have had one for over three years in my post light and its still running.
They make CFL's Fine white closest to sunlight fast starting so you don't have a yellow dim light.
If you don't like those then get a LED bulb which is even cheaper to Run and the bulbs have come way down in price.
good luck!

[BK001]

Wow, hadn't thought about this in the 2 months we've lived here. Just spoke to DH who says that ours goes on and off automatically. Pfew -- one less thing to worry about (until the light bulb burns out, that is)

[Chellybean]

My light is on. My Father was teased to no end about turning off lights in our house. My Uncle Bill who lived several blocks away teased my dad about leaving the door bell on overnight. He just took it in stride. One day out of nowhere he explained what it was like to grow up during the depression and being the youngest of thirteen children he was cared for but it was a rough time for many. He explained that if he reacted to my Uncle it would please my Uncle and my dad didn't want him to know how much the doorbell comment bothered him. This for me fall's into the category of....gimme a break. Maybe the person with the light off could use a helping hand or has a reason for having it off that they are to proud to speak of. I think that if your neighbors post being off is a problem for you maybe professional help is needed before you start wondering about their bank statement or other personal info. Isn't it enough to live your own life without trying to live someone else's also.

Bravo, to many people worrying what others are doing.
Jezzzzzz!!!!!!! l.o.l

[spring_chicken]

It's not always a money thing. Mine is off because it lights up my bedroom even with the blinds closed.
Not that it's any of your business.


"If you just worry about yourself, you'll have plenty to do"
daddy

[DeanFL]

We have a nice post lamp, and we live in between street lamps. So I like the light on but it shined a bit into the front guest bedroom. I cut a small piece of light aluminum (about 6" high and 6" wide). Bent it so there was a lip on the bottom, drilled 2 holes in it and the base of the lamp - and mounted it inside the lamp to shield the light rays from shining into the window - but still on the rest of the house and of course the front. Did the trick and a couple neighbors asked for me to make one for them.

Our lamp has 3 candelabra bulbs - at 40w each. Been here 2 years and went thru 2 sets. Got a set of 4 LEDs (installed 3 and have 1 extra) in the lamp - these have vertical "filaments" that appear just like an expensive incand bulb and amberlike. Will last many years and now 12W total for 3.

on ebay - 4 bulbs for $19:

Mooncolour 4W LED Filament Candelabra Bulb,40-watt Equivalent,Warm White 2700K,Use in Chandeliers,Wall Sconces,and Pendant Lighting,4 Pack

[2BNTV]

My light is on. My Father was teased to no end about turning off lights in our house. My Uncle Bill who lived several blocks away teased my dad about leaving the door bell on overnight. He just took it in stride. One day out of nowhere he explained what it was like to grow up during the depression and being the youngest of thirteen children he was cared for but it was a rough time for many. He explained that if he reacted to my Uncle it would please my Uncle and my dad didn't want him to know how much the doorbell comment bothered him. This for me fall's into the category of....gimme a break. Maybe the person with the light off could use a helping hand or has a reason for having it off that they are to proud to speak of. I think that if your neighbors post being off is a problem for you maybe professional help is needed before you start wondering about their bank statement or other personal info. Isn't it enough to live your own life without trying to live someone else's also.

:agree:

I used to tell people I qraduated from the Helen Keller school of the blind, as my parents left the stairwell lights off and I had to navigate those stairs, in total darkness. :D

I remember my aunt reusing and straightened aluminum foil. When questioned, she snapped back, "shut up, you didn't have to stand in line in the cold for 5 hours for a block of cheese". Obviously, this was during the depression.

My father was very big on shutting off lights if your weren't in the room. His favorite saying was, "do you work for Con Ed"?

OMG - I do that now. :smiley:

I don't think they ever got over those tough times, in certain respects.

Oh well, back to the lamp post issue.

[maryanna630]

The main reason that we replaced our kitchen lights with LEDs was because the incandescent spots generated a lot of heat. We spend quite a bit of time in our kitchen and the LEDs produce no heat at all. The electrician told us that the best brand is Cree and Home Depot has them on sale perdiodically. Frank DeAngelo, our home inspector, also recommends LEDs for the post light. We got a beautiful edison type for our post lamp and it creates a very warm vintage look.
Our electric bill for an expanded new begonia ranges from 85 to 92 dollars per month....we are pleased.