Solar Powered Street Lights

[Hartraft 100]

Following on from:

http://dayzmod.com/f...hat-about-1744/

Where Someone quoted Rocket explaining why there would be no power:

I did a massive amount of research into power generation during natural disasters. There is a great thread on straight dope about the subject, actually.

It would appear, that under most circumstances unless authorities made a very concerted effort and had plenty of time to prepare, prior to abandoning a power station, that it would trip within hours (maximum days) of being unmanned.

The problem is the inter-connectivity of the power grid. Unless an area is deliberately disconnected to become an island in the power supply, even if you try and restart the power station it is going to trip. This issue was covered in Stephen King's "The Stand" quite well. Starting up a power station from having tripped is an extremely complex task, and very daunting, even for professionals.

It would take only a few problems in a country before, left unmanned, the power stations would turn themselves off and when one starts doing it, the cascading effect happens very fast. This has already been seen from recent disasters. Luckily, most natural disasters are reasonably localized so personnel are available and online to assist with prevent a serious power issue from becoming catastrophic across a nation.

Generation isn't the major key, it is the complexity of the system. Powering a few lamps is one thing, powering a town or a city is another.

Certainly, we do need some more work on lights to bring up the atmosphere, but I'm a total geek when it comes to the reality behind the situation. It is also terrifying to me, and important, to demonstrate to people just how fragile our system is when you take personnel out of a system. If the workers go home from the power-station, most will trip within hours.

I think a great suggestion would be that certain suburbs/cities or the whole country (perhaps not) had begun to dapple in greener electricity. This initiative saw countless street lights removed and replaced with solar powered lamp posts. These lamp posts run on individual solar panels and are independant of each other. If one gets broken or faulty it does not affect the others.

This would not mean all street lamps would be shining brightly every night. As mentioned some would end up faulty over time, some would have globes blown (Perhaps another item that can be found and you could repair lamp posts) Add to this if you have a very cloudy and overcast day, your lamp posts will not be running that night (or very birghtly)

I think it would be a nice addition.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Hartraft

[Hartraft 100]

I thought it was a good idea:(

[DemonGroover 8836]

Possible, but i don't think it will happen. I'd rather lanterns. Survivors could light towns or buildings by leaving them behind rather than any kind of electrical grid (solar powered or not). Even the ability to light up a drum and leave it in the street.

I suppose you could also have generators that can be used to light things up - i am sure that will be the case when underground bases get put into the Standalone.

[enforcer1975 1111]

And how in hell do you think will build this system after or while the apocalype is spreading...? Civilisation is gone, nobody is there to keep the systems running. Abandoned for years not a single single system will be running anymore.

[Sutinen 635]

Solar powered street lights in a post-soviet state? Hahaha, this is the best one I've heard this week.

[Hartraft 100]

Solar powered street lights in a post-soviet state? Hahaha, this is the best one I've heard this week.

Could happen :D

Each street lamp has its own litle nuclear reactor then?

I do get your point though.

And how in hell do you think will build this system after or while the apocalype is spreading...? Civilisation is gone, nobody is there to keep the systems running. Abandoned for years not a single single system will be running anymore.

The system was bult before the outbreak?

But in all seriousness how long has it been since the zombie outbreak? Months? Years? Genuine questions because I don't know if there is exact info on this?

I am no expert but I would think some solar powered equipment would still be functional after a year or two. Something as simple as a solar powered light could alst for a while I am sure.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Hartraft

[Hartraft 100]

Double post

Edited December 19, 2012 by Hartraft

[enforcer1975 1111]

Could happen :D

Each street lamp has its own litle nuclear reactor then?

I do get your point though.

The system was bult before the outbreak?

But in all seriousness how long has it been since the zombie outbreak? Months? Years? Genuine questions because I don't know if there is exact info on this?

I am no expert but I would think some solar powered equipment would still be functional after a year or two. Something as simple as a solar powered light could alst for a while I am sure.

SA is a couple of years after the outbreak, so i doubt without proper maintenance these things would work properly. They have batteries and they need to be changes from time to time, too. No power plant to power them. In an apocalype i would imagine there are enough idiots who would either shoot those lights, or steal them or have sex with it. As one said above...post soviet backwater state and high tech...? You can be happy that they have electricity...look at the toilets ( outhouse )...

[Sutinen 635]

Could happen :D

Each street lamp has its own litle nuclear reactor then?

I do get your point though.

The system was bult before the outbreak?

But in all seriousness how long has it been since the zombie outbreak? Months? Years? Genuine questions because I don't know if there is exact info on this?

I am no expert but I would think some solar powered equipment would still be functional after a year or two. Something as simple as a solar powered light could alst for a while I am sure.

There's nothing wrong with the actual idea, it's just pretty ridiculous if you could find solar powered lamps in a post-soviet state.

And keep this on mind too: They aren't very bright, I have one in my room right now. There's no direct sunlight coming to my room for more than 2 hours, so it will last maybe a minute before going out.

And to the post above as well, they do not need any other power sources. You know what a solar panel is, right?

[TheSushi 28]

Personally, I'd rather have it so players could undertake their own missions to establish power in areas.

As in, they find large generators, like the sort used for construction or disaster response and can fuel them up with jerry cans to light up cities at night. Same concept for placing an oil or battery-operated lantern around an area to make it safer.

[scoffield77@gmail.com 192]

solar panels are to easy I think. I like the idea of powering towns, after all it was my idea ;) But it needs to be hard, require groups of people to work together and rebuild Power plants/ generators. I do like the idea of lanterns and bum barrel fires. But that it seems like more then a pain in the ass then anything. To light up a town, even a small one you would need at least 50, 55 gallon drums to put out the light to do so.

If ya'll are interested there's a thread in my sig that is a way more polished suggestion of pretty much the same idea ;)