With the 2017 college football season here:

Backyard Basketball Court Lighting

Lighting Project

Recently, we decided to add some outdoor lighting to our backyard basketball court. Last year we had a contracting company put in our yard, which they did a great job. As part of that work, they installed a one inch conduit to both sides of the court to allow for electrical access to allow for outdoor lighting.

Then, I found a great supplier, LightPolesPlus.com to get light poles and LED lights.  From LightPolesPlus.com I ordered two 18 foot light poles, black finish and two LED 121 watt fixtures.  Each light fixture provides about 16,000 lumens.

Here's exactly what I ordered:

• 121W, 12" LED Shoebox hercules, 120-277v, 15,595 nominal lumens, L70 LED life 182,000 hours, USA Made
• 18' Tall x 4" OD x 11ga Square Straight Steel Anchor

Step by Step Implementation

Here are the steps we took in implementing our backyard lighting:

Step 1:  prepare the hardware

One of the difficult steps with the mounting bolts is setting the hardware in the concrete and making sure they stay in place during setting. To make this easier, I made two templates that would allow the bolts to be locked in position. I used 3/8 inch thick particle board 12" x 12" in size. I locked it in place between two bolts, one on top and one below.

Step 2:  lay the foundations

I created two 2'x2' holes that were 4 feet deep.  I ordered one yard of concrete and I still had a little left over.

Rented a single yard mixer

Added rebar for strength

Step 3:  install connection bolts

Once I had the bolts in positioned in the wet concrete, I spent a good amount of time ensuring that the wood plate was level and that each corner was the same height off the top of the concrete.











Step 4:  mounting and electrical

The light poles were each 18 feet high and I had several people help me lift them up and put in place.  It was a bit easier than I thought it would be.

Step 5:  home automation

Once I had the lights installed and wired-up, I used a GoControl WS15Z-1 Z-Wave Non-Dimming Wall Switch and the Wink Hub controller.  With those two items, I was able to control turning on the lights and off from anywhere.  I also got Alexa (Amazon Echo) configured to control the lights.  Now, we just ask Alexa to turn on the basketball court lights.

Results

I have a friend that installed two Metal Halide Mega Floodlights with 40,000 Lumens and I was really worried that the LED lights I installed wouldn't be sufficient.  However, after 2 months of usage it is no longer a concern.


Final thoughts

We are really happy with the outcome. We are also very satisfied with the the quality and craftsmanship of the light poles and lights from LightPolesPlus.com. It was a fun project and has added a lot of value to our usable backyard area.

State of Cyber of Security

Last week was the annual conferences of Blackhat and Defcon.  I really like attending both of these conferences since they help in giving insight into the direction of both attackers and protectors of Cyber information and resources.

One of the most interesting presentations was from Dan Geer, in which he provided a political analysis of cyber related interests.  Of the ten areas he covered I wanted to discuss only a few:

• Net Neutrality.  I have always heard this term but never really given it much thought.  What I liked about Dan's comments was he proposed the internet service provides take a stance between two options:
• Either review everyone's traffic and then be help liable for what's in the traffic...or
• Don't review everyone's traffic and treat all protocols the same.
• Abandonment.  Dan posed the question about what happens to items that we abandon (i.e. an old couch left on the street).  What right do we have to the couch once someone else has taken it?  Are we liable for it?  Now, what about software?  When a software vendor stops making updates?  Are they liable for what others do with it if they are no more upcoming updates?

There was an incredible amount of data presented during the conferences and I hope to provide many more updates.

Getting Going

For years I have wanted to put together a blog to help document, mostly for myself, the things that I find interesting and important to remember.  Today I am beginning my blogging...mostly helped out by the Social requirements of my employer...Domo.  Let's see what happens...