 | 2 |  | Colin Dunn |  | 2005 |
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Cromarty Boat Compound - dazzling floodlight
Asymmetric floodlight on 10m pillar is angled at approximately 70 degrees above horizontal. Maximum recommended tilt is 15 degrees, though 0 degrees better to reduce glare. The 70 degree tilt creates a lot of very dazzling glare, and actually results in _less_ light reaching the ground than if light set at correct angle (this has been confirmed using computer light design software by a profesional light engineer). A polite letter has been sent to the Cromarty Harbour Trust requesting adjustment, but so far no changes have been made.
Interestingly, the boat compound was broken into within 2 weeks of these lights being sited, and an inflatable dinghy thrown over the fence into the sea. Further proof that lighting, per se, will not stop crime. It's probably better to have all of the lighting off at night to make it harder for vandals to see what they are doing.
Picture Added on 08 April 2005.
Comments
in response to my request that these light be angled downwards, Cromarty harbour trust adjusted these lights late 2006 so that they have reduced glare considerably, and provide better lighting down on the ground.
they're not ideal - one is still tilted at about 20 degrees, which is realy a bit to high. Much better, though. Well done Cromarty harbour trust.
still seems daft, though, to have lights on all night to light a boat compound that no-one uses at that time. Leaving it unlit would also make it easier to spot intruders as they'd need to use a torch to break in or do damage. As it is, several yachts have been damaged by youths throwing stones at the brightly lit boats.
Added by Colin Dunn on 27 March 2007.