[SMS]

The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4 x
1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need 8000
watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two days a
week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four
90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost
about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4
years.

I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

[[email protected]]

On Thursday, September 26, 2013 8:04:17 PM UTC-5, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4 x 1000W bulbs). We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need 8000 watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two days a week. There is no electricity available at the practice field. My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four 90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4 years. I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use the car/truck headlights.

[Dean Hoffman[_13_]]

On 9/26/13 8:37 PM, wrote:
On Thursday, September 26, 2013 8:04:17 PM UTC-5, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks,
not including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt
lights (4 x 1000W bulbs). We'd like to find an alternative, even if
we have to spend three-four times as much as five weeks of rentals
cost. We don't actually need 8000 watts worth of light. We need
lights for two hours a day, two days a week. There is no
electricity available at the practice field. My idea is to purchase
sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four 90AH deep cycle
batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost about $4000.
The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4 years. I
was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use
the car/truck headlights.


Inverters for the vehicles to power the tower lights? Generators
with super muffler systems? Used RV generators?

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/26/2013 9:37 PM, wrote:

Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the
practice field and use the car/truck headlights.

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

With a good vehicle and maybe a trolling battery
in series with the starting battery, that might
work. 12 volt lights will need some hefty cables,
lot of amps. When I'm a bit more awake, I'll run
some numbers, and see how that works out.

Never know, might get by with two batteries instead.
Who can tell?

My ETQ generator, 1200 watts, is quiet enough I can
stand next to it, and have a conversation with it
running. Hondas are better than that.

..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/26/2013 10:50 PM, Dean Hoffman wrote:


Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use
the car/truck headlights.


Inverters for the vehicles to power the tower lights? Generators
with super muffler systems? Used RV generators?

[The Daring Dufas[_8_]]

On 9/26/2013 8:37 PM, wrote:
On Thursday, September 26, 2013 8:04:17 PM UTC-5, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks,
not including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt
lights (4 x 1000W bulbs). We'd like to find an alternative, even if
we have to spend three-four times as much as five weeks of rentals
cost. We don't actually need 8000 watts worth of light. We need
lights for two hours a day, two days a week. There is no
electricity available at the practice field. My idea is to purchase
sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four 90AH deep cycle
batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost about $4000.
The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4 years. I
was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use
the car/truck headlights.


It's for a marching band practice, not a gang fight. O_o

TDD

[Ashton Crusher[_2_]]

On Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:04:17 -0700, sms
wrote:

The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4 x
1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need 8000
watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two days a
week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four
90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost
about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4
years.

I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.


Why don't they just practice during the day?

[[email protected]]

On Thu, 26 Sep 2013 22:30:34 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/26/2013 8:37 PM, wrote:
On Thursday, September 26, 2013 8:04:17 PM UTC-5, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks,
not including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt
lights (4 x 1000W bulbs). We'd like to find an alternative, even if
we have to spend three-four times as much as five weeks of rentals
cost. We don't actually need 8000 watts worth of light. We need
lights for two hours a day, two days a week. There is no
electricity available at the practice field. My idea is to purchase
sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four 90AH deep cycle
batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost about $4000.
The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4 years. I
was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use
the car/truck headlights.


It's for a marching band practice, not a gang fight. O_o

After the band practice, they could have a Klan meeting.

TDD

[RBM[_2_]]

On 9/26/2013 9:04 PM, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4
x 1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need
8000 watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two
days a week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights,
four 90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would
cost about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced
every 3-4 years.

I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.
I bought a perfectly good diesel light tower with 4- 1000 watt fixtures
on it, used, with only 500 hours on it, for $2000

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

Might turn into both?

I have a couple concerns. First, the 12 volt DC lights
probably more expensive than 120 volt AC lights. (You
know, it is so much harder to manufacture DC filaments...)

The batteries also promise to be a huge expense. Golf
cart batteries may be more forgiving. Designed to be
driven around, and deep discharged by golfers. Trying
to sneak in another nine holes on the same charge.

The wiring for 12 volt will be heavier cables.

..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/26/2013 11:30 PM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use
the car/truck headlights.


It's for a marching band practice, not a gang fight. O_o

TDD

[CRNG[_2_]]

On 9/26/2013 8:37 PM, wrote:
On Thursday, September 26, 2013 8:04:17 PM UTC-5, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks,
not including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt
lights (4 x 1000W bulbs). We'd like to find an alternative, even if
we have to spend three-four times as much as five weeks of rentals

It sounds like you live in a rural area (as I do). In your situation,
what we would do here is cut down a number of cedar trees and strip
them into poles. We would plant the number of poles we need around
the field in appropriate locations, and then mount lights such as this
http://www.amazon.com/Lithonia-OFL-3...light+fixtures

on the poles, with a wire running down the pole to a 3-prong 120v mail
plug such as this
http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-3-W...rong+male+plug

then all you need is a generator or two with extension cords. I don't
see how you can avoid the generators.
--
Web based forums are like subscribing to 10 different newspapers
and having to visit 10 different news stands to pickup each one.
Email list-server groups and USENET are like having all of those
newspapers delivered to your door every morning.

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

I wonder if fluorescent lighting would be better than
high intensity filament? More energy efficient.

And if you use the right laundry soap, those Klan robes
will be whiter than white. Not necessarily a bad thing
for Klan rally.

..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/27/2013 5:04 AM, wrote:
Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use
the car/truck headlights.


It's for a marching band practice, not a gang fight. O_o

After the band practice, they could have a Klan meeting.

[The Daring Dufas[_8_]]

On 9/27/2013 4:04 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 26 Sep 2013 22:30:34 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/26/2013 8:37 PM, wrote:
On Thursday, September 26, 2013 8:04:17 PM UTC-5, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks,
not including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt
lights (4 x 1000W bulbs). We'd like to find an alternative, even if
we have to spend three-four times as much as five weeks of rentals
cost. We don't actually need 8000 watts worth of light. We need
lights for two hours a day, two days a week. There is no
electricity available at the practice field. My idea is to purchase
sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four 90AH deep cycle
batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost about $4000.
The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4 years. I
was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

Park automobiles/trucks in a circle around the practice field and use
the car/truck headlights.


It's for a marching band practice, not a gang fight. O_o

After the band practice, they could have a Klan meeting.


Which Klan? There are thousands of them. ^_^

TDD

[The Daring Dufas[_8_]]

On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

TDD

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

I hereby wish to nominate this as post of the year.
Do I hear a plus one?

..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/27/2013 10:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:

Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

TDD

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

16 x 75 watts is 1200 watts. Since you mention four
batteries,I'm guessing you figure to set up four
lamp poles with four lights each.

4 x 75 watts is 300 watts. At 12 volts, that makes
for 25 amps. I guess you could run 10 gauge copper
wire, that's not too awful.

I remember from some where, it's not wise to discharge
trolling batteries lower than 50% at most. So, the
90 AH batteries would provide "about" two hours of
run time before damaging the cells.

If you rigged a cable from the trolling battery to
the battery (charging system) of a running car,
you could extend the light time, a LOT. Might not
run till you were out of gas, but it should extend
the runtime.

Sounds like a fun project. Hope you tell us how it
all works out. I'd still be thinking in terms of
gasoline generator, some how.

..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/26/2013 9:04 PM, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4 x
1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need 8000
watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two days a
week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights, four
90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would cost
about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced every 3-4
years.

I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

[DerbyDad03]

The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

TDD

Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, sell them as a fund raiser and buy the $4K
worth of equipment that you have been looking at.

[SMS]

On 9/27/2013 3:47 AM, RBM wrote:
On 9/26/2013 9:04 PM, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4
x 1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need
8000 watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two
days a week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights,
four 90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would
cost about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced
every 3-4 years.

I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.
I bought a perfectly good diesel light tower with 4- 1000 watt fixtures
on it, used, with only 500 hours on it, for $2000

We'd do that, but I've been unable to find any used ones for sale.

[SMS]

On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

[SMS]

On 9/27/2013 7:32 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
16 x 75 watts is 1200 watts. Since you mention four
batteries,I'm guessing you figure to set up four
lamp poles with four lights each.

If we got 90AH batteries they would actually be about 50AH at the
discharge rate we're doing. So that'd be about 600WH so we could do 300
watts (4 lamps) for two hours.

We'd run one cable for every two lamps, so 12.5 amps per cable.

Two lamps would be on each tower, and each battery would power two
towers. However we might decide to use smaller batteries and have one
per tower.

We need to be able bring them out to the practice field as well, which
is a long way from the band room, so we'd need to put them into one of
our golf carts (one battery powered one gasoline powered).

We'd like to avoid gasoline or diesel powered generators. Batteries we
can charge for "free."

The school district is too cheap to pay for permanent lights.

They can't practice in the daytime.

We also have the option of buying some generators and getting AC powered
lights. This may be a better option just because there is no need to
have someone maintaining all the batteries.

[DerbyDad03]

sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp

[The Daring Dufas[_8_]]

On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp


The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights now but I
wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light source. I seem to
recall movie theaters getting movies in digital format now so I wonder
what those projectors are like? Oh well, a backpack for the power supply
and an arc light tied to each kid's head might work. ^_^

TDD

[DerbyDad03]

The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp


The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights now but I
wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light source. I seem to
recall movie theaters getting movies in digital format now so I wonder
what those projectors are like? Oh well, a backpack for the power supply
and an arc light tied to each kid's head might work. ^_^

TDD

I went to a high-school football game a few weeks ago and I'm thinking they
had an LED scoreboard. I'd never seen a scoreboard that bright before.

As it got darker, it got to a point where the lights were so bright that it
was hard to see the permanent writing on the scoreboard (Quarter, Down,
Guest, etc.) The lights were so bright that they drowned out the white
writing.

[chaniarts[_3_]]

On 9/27/2013 9:37 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp


The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights now but I
wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light source. I seem to
recall movie theaters getting movies in digital format now so I wonder
what those projectors are like? Oh well, a backpack for the power supply
and an arc light tied to each kid's head might work. ^_^

TDD

I went to a high-school football game a few weeks ago and I'm thinking they
had an LED scoreboard. I'd never seen a scoreboard that bright before.

As it got darker, it got to a point where the lights were so bright that it
was hard to see the permanent writing on the scoreboard (Quarter, Down,
Guest, etc.) The lights were so bright that they drowned out the white
writing.


newer billboards are all led.

[chaniarts[_3_]]

On 9/27/2013 9:37 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp


The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights now but I
wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light source. I seem to
recall movie theaters getting movies in digital format now so I wonder
what those projectors are like? Oh well, a backpack for the power supply
and an arc light tied to each kid's head might work. ^_^

TDD

I went to a high-school football game a few weeks ago and I'm thinking they
had an LED scoreboard. I'd never seen a scoreboard that bright before.

As it got darker, it got to a point where the lights were so bright that it
was hard to see the permanent writing on the scoreboard (Quarter, Down,
Guest, etc.) The lights were so bright that they drowned out the white
writing.

come to think of it, there's a few merchant signs that i've seen around
that are illuminated with led strips. a single strip about 6' long
throws out an incredible amount of light, that can be seen for 1/2 mile
or so and downcasts a large area of light. it uses multicolor leds
(red/green/blue) each of which can be turned on/off to cast different
colors, and white-ish when all are on. it has to need less power
requirements.

quick google searches

http://www.gelightingsolutions.com/S...%AE_PowerStrip
http://www.signlightingworld.com/Pag...EDModules.aspx

[[email protected]]

On Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:04:17 -0700, sms
wrote:

The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4 x
1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need 8000
watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two days a
week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

Use that money to rent a lit practice field?

[RBM[_2_]]

On 9/27/2013 11:27 AM, sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 3:47 AM, RBM wrote:
On 9/26/2013 9:04 PM, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4
x 1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need
8000 watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two
days a week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights,
four 90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would
cost about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced
every 3-4 years.

I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.
I bought a perfectly good diesel light tower with 4- 1000 watt fixtures
on it, used, with only 500 hours on it, for $2000

We'd do that, but I've been unable to find any used ones for sale.
There are always several on Ebay

[[email protected]]

On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:58:28 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp


The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights now but I
wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light source. I seem to
recall movie theaters getting movies in digital format now so I wonder
what those projectors are like?

Digital theater projectors use the TI DLP technology. Basically, they
shine a light at an array of micro-machines mirrors which direct the
light either to the screen or somewhere it can be absorbed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...Digital_cinema

I don't believe LEDs aren't bright enough for theaters, though LED
sources are used for smaller projection monitors. I imagine theaters
use some sort of HID light sources.

Oh well, a backpack for the power supply
and an arc light tied to each kid's head might work. ^_^

[The Daring Dufas[_8_]]

On 9/27/2013 6:40 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:58:28 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp


The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights now but I
wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light source. I seem to
recall movie theaters getting movies in digital format now so I wonder
what those projectors are like?

Digital theater projectors use the TI DLP technology. Basically, they
shine a light at an array of micro-machines mirrors which direct the
light either to the screen or somewhere it can be absorbed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...Digital_cinema

I don't believe LEDs aren't bright enough for theaters, though LED
sources are used for smaller projection monitors. I imagine theaters
use some sort of HID light sources.


Yea, I remember when the TI DLP tech was used in a lot of TV's and was a
lot more preferable to the plasma sets because the bulb could be
replaced in the DLP set if it burned out but if a plasma set goes bad,
you're screwed. Now we have an LED-LCD set at the house replacing a
wonderful old 57" Sony rear projection TV set that had an expensive
failure. The repair to the Sony would cost more than what we paid for
the new 55" LCD-LED set and I can pick up the new set by myself. ^_^

TDD

[[email protected]]

On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 19:59:06 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 6:40 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:58:28 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by
leaving it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which
dried it out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor Freight,
and one or two small gasoline generators would do the
trick? Have the advantage of being backup power for
someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a free LED
flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the lights, put the LED
and reflector assemblies in several frames, wire them up and power
them off a few car batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp


The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights now but I
wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light source. I seem to
recall movie theaters getting movies in digital format now so I wonder
what those projectors are like?

Digital theater projectors use the TI DLP technology. Basically, they
shine a light at an array of micro-machines mirrors which direct the
light either to the screen or somewhere it can be absorbed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...Digital_cinema

I don't believe LEDs aren't bright enough for theaters, though LED
sources are used for smaller projection monitors. I imagine theaters
use some sort of HID light sources.


Yea, I remember when the TI DLP tech was used in a lot of TV's and was a
lot more preferable to the plasma sets because the bulb could be
replaced in the DLP set if it burned out but if a plasma set goes bad,
you're screwed. Now we have an LED-LCD set at the house replacing a
wonderful old 57" Sony rear projection TV set that had an expensive
failure. The repair to the Sony would cost more than what we paid for
the new 55" LCD-LED set and I can pick up the new set by myself. ^_^

But plasma TVs kick both their asses. ;-)

[The Daring Dufas[_8_]]

On 9/27/2013 10:04 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 19:59:06 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 6:40 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:58:28 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by leaving
it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which dried it
out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor
Freight, and one or two small gasoline generators would
do the trick? Have the advantage of being backup power
for someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a
free LED flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the
lights, put the LED and reflector assemblies in several
frames, wire them up and power them off a few car
batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be
enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp




The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights
now but I wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light
source. I seem to recall movie theaters getting movies in
digital format now so I wonder what those projectors are like?

Digital theater projectors use the TI DLP technology. Basically,
they shine a light at an array of micro-machines mirrors which
direct the light either to the screen or somewhere it can be
absorbed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...Digital_cinema



I don't believe LEDs aren't bright enough for theaters, though LED
sources are used for smaller projection monitors. I imagine
theaters use some sort of HID light sources.


Yea, I remember when the TI DLP tech was used in a lot of TV's and
was a lot more preferable to the plasma sets because the bulb could
be replaced in the DLP set if it burned out but if a plasma set
goes bad, you're screwed. Now we have an LED-LCD set at the house
replacing a wonderful old 57" Sony rear projection TV set that had
an expensive failure. The repair to the Sony would cost more than
what we paid for the new 55" LCD-LED set and I can pick up the new
set by myself. ^_^

But plasma TVs kick both their asses. ;-)


It's my understanding that the plasma TV sets had a superior picture to
the earlier LCD sets but if the plasma tube died, it would be more
expensive to replace it than the price of the same model TV which would
invariably fall to on a clearance sale as the newer models arrived. At
least the florescent light can be replaced in an LCD set if it goes
dark. I remember replacing dozens of 25" color CRT's with a rebuilt
picture tube back in the good old days and there was even a local
company rebuilding the darn things and a friend of mine ran a shop that
rebuilt mechanical TV tuners. It's hard to find a TV shop these days as
the sets have become less expensive which cracks me up since I ran a TV
shop back in the 1970's where we were selling a Sanyo 19" color CRT
mechanical tuner set for $300.00 and people were buying us out on a
regular basis. ^_^

TDD

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

On 9/27/2013 11:38 AM, sms wrote:

If we got 90AH batteries they would actually be about 50AH at the
discharge rate we're doing. So that'd be about 600WH so we could do 300
watts (4 lamps) for two hours.

We'd run one cable for every two lamps, so 12.5 amps per cable.
CY: Yes, that's workable.

Two lamps would be on each tower, and each battery would power two
towers. However we might decide to use smaller batteries and have one
per tower.
CY: Also workable.


We need to be able bring them out to the practice field as well, which
is a long way from the band room, so we'd need to put them into one of
our golf carts (one battery powered one gasoline powered).
CY: Or back of someone's pickup truck?


We'd like to avoid gasoline or diesel powered generators. Batteries we
can charge for "free."
CY: Please research charging of trolling batteries. IIRC, takes a
different charger, different than vehicle starting batteries. And if the
detail minded adult doesn't hook up the charger every night after
practice, the second night, the battery goes below 50% charge, and
damages the battery. Seems risky, to me.


The school district is too cheap to pay for permanent lights.

They can't practice in the daytime.
CY: Budgets are tough every where.


We also have the option of buying some generators and getting AC powered
lights. This may be a better option just because there is no need to
have someone maintaining all the batteries.
CY: Sounds like you're already using generator and 120 VAC lights, but
they are rented. Sounds like you're trying to decide if you want to buy
and maintain your own equipment. I think in the long run, the "own the
equipment" can be cheaper.

[[email protected]]

On Sat, 28 Sep 2013 00:08:03 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 10:04 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 19:59:06 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 6:40 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:58:28 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 9/27/2013 10:40 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
sms wrote:
On 9/27/2013 7:07 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/26/2013 10:02 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
They did that on one episode of MASH.

My gut sense is that the marine battery route might
work. Need to find someone who is competent to charge
them correctly. I've killed a marine battery by leaving
it on a Harbor Freight float charger, which dried it
out and it never came back to life.

I wonder if a couple halogen lamps from Harbor
Freight, and one or two small gasoline generators would
do the trick? Have the advantage of being backup power
for someone during the next power cut.

You're using generator and lights on towers -- so buy
your own?


Get every member of the band and their families to get a
free LED flashlight from Harbor Freight, dismantle the
lights, put the LED and reflector assemblies in several
frames, wire them up and power them off a few car
batteries. ^_^

I thought we'd give each kid a 500 lumen LED head lamp.

Duct tape one of these to each kid's head. That ought to be
enough light.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...560-led?pfm=sp




The old spotlights for the theaters were arc lights as were movie
projectors. The LED's are bright enough for theater spotlights
now but I wonder if some projectors are using LED's as a light
source. I seem to recall movie theaters getting movies in
digital format now so I wonder what those projectors are like?

Digital theater projectors use the TI DLP technology. Basically,
they shine a light at an array of micro-machines mirrors which
direct the light either to the screen or somewhere it can be
absorbed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...Digital_cinema



I don't believe LEDs aren't bright enough for theaters, though LED
sources are used for smaller projection monitors. I imagine
theaters use some sort of HID light sources.


Yea, I remember when the TI DLP tech was used in a lot of TV's and
was a lot more preferable to the plasma sets because the bulb could
be replaced in the DLP set if it burned out but if a plasma set
goes bad, you're screwed. Now we have an LED-LCD set at the house
replacing a wonderful old 57" Sony rear projection TV set that had
an expensive failure. The repair to the Sony would cost more than
what we paid for the new 55" LCD-LED set and I can pick up the new
set by myself. ^_^

But plasma TVs kick both their asses. ;-)


It's my understanding that the plasma TV sets had a superior picture to
the earlier LCD sets but if the plasma tube died, it would be more
expensive to replace it than the price of the same model TV which would
invariably fall to on a clearance sale as the newer models arrived.

Oh, hell no. They're all about the same cost to replace.

At
least the florescent light can be replaced in an LCD set if it goes
dark. I remember replacing dozens of 25" color CRT's with a rebuilt
picture tube back in the good old days and there was even a local
company rebuilding the darn things and a friend of mine ran a shop that
rebuilt mechanical TV tuners. It's hard to find a TV shop these days as
the sets have become less expensive which cracks me up since I ran a TV
shop back in the 1970's where we were selling a Sanyo 19" color CRT
mechanical tuner set for $300.00 and people were buying us out on a
regular basis. ^_^

Nobody fixes these things (out of warranty) anymore. Upgrade to the
latest model.

[Moe DeLoughan[_2_]]

On 9/26/2013 8:04 PM, sms wrote:
The marching band at my son's school needs lights for the practice
field. We've been renting lights for about $2600 for five weeks, not
including fuel for the generators. This is for two 4000 watt lights (4
x 1000W bulbs).

We'd like to find an alternative, even if we have to spend three-four
times as much as five weeks of rentals cost. We don't actually need
8000 watts worth of light. We need lights for two hours a day, two
days a week. There is no electricity available at the practice field.

My idea is to purchase sixteen 4000 lumen 75W 12V HID flood lights,
four 90AH deep cycle batteries, and eight 18' light towers. This would
cost about $4000. The batteries would probably need to be replaced
every 3-4 years.

I was looking for some other ideas on how to do this.

I would call your local professional/wholesale electrical supply
company and have a chat with them. Their sales force may come up with
helpful ideas.

BTW, have you contacted the local electric utility to find out what it
would cost to run power to the field? Is that something you could do,
if the billing went to the band association and not to the school
district? Or would the district be willing to foot future electric
bills if your group paid for the installation?

[DerbyDad03]

Moe DeLoughan wrote:

....snip....

BTW, have you contacted the local electric utility to find out what it
would cost to run power to the field? Is that something you could do, if
the billing went to the band association and not to the school district?
Or would the district be willing to foot future electric bills if your
group paid for the installation?

That reminds me of the power situation with the scoreboard for our Varsity
Softball field.

I was in charge of using some state grant money to purchase a scoreboard
for our district's Varsity Softball field. Since my 9th grade daughter
would be on the varsity team the following year, I was thrilled to be able
to purchase a scoreboard for the team. The scoreboard arrived and I
started talking to the Buildings and Grounds department about running power
to the field and getting the scoreboard installed.

Well, it turns out that a major capital project was in the planning stages
and they weren't sure that they wanted to run the power in case the
softball field got moved. "Let's wait until next year when the plans will
be complete."

Next year comes and I find out that not only will they be moving the field,
but the new field won't be complete for another 2 years - the year after my
daughter graduates.

To add insult to injury, the new pool building was going to be built right
where the existing field was and that construction was starting right away.
So, not only didn't my daughter and I get to enjoy the scoreboard that I
bought, she didn't even get to use the Varsity field for her last 2 years
of high school. They had travel to the middle school for practices and
"home games". No dugouts, no bleachers, etc. Very disappointing.

In the end, the scoreboard was installed at the new field and has been in
service for a couple of years now.

[Moe DeLoughan]

On 9/30/2013 12:35 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
Moe DeLoughan wrote:

...snip....

BTW, have you contacted the local electric utility to find out what it
would cost to run power to the field? Is that something you could do, if
the billing went to the band association and not to the school district?
Or would the district be willing to foot future electric bills if your
group paid for the installation?

That reminds me of the power situation with the scoreboard for our Varsity
Softball field.

I was in charge of using some state grant money to purchase a scoreboard
for our district's Varsity Softball field. Since my 9th grade daughter
would be on the varsity team the following year, I was thrilled to be able
to purchase a scoreboard for the team. The scoreboard arrived and I
started talking to the Buildings and Grounds department about running power
to the field and getting the scoreboard installed.

Well, it turns out that a major capital project was in the planning stages
and they weren't sure that they wanted to run the power in case the
softball field got moved. "Let's wait until next year when the plans will
be complete."

Next year comes and I find out that not only will they be moving the field,
but the new field won't be complete for another 2 years - the year after my
daughter graduates.

To add insult to injury, the new pool building was going to be built right
where the existing field was and that construction was starting right away.
So, not only didn't my daughter and I get to enjoy the scoreboard that I
bought, she didn't even get to use the Varsity field for her last 2 years
of high school. They had travel to the middle school for practices and
"home games". No dugouts, no bleachers, etc. Very disappointing.

In the end, the scoreboard was installed at the new field and has been in
service for a couple of years now.


Oof, that's a great story with a highly annoying outcome.

I was thinking of a situation in my hometown many years ago. Back in
the 70s when tennis became all the rage, the township reluctantly
built a few tennis courts to meet demand. It took no time at all for
them to become occupied from dawn to dusk, so then people asked for
lighting. But with the limited parks budget, the council was reluctant
to invest much more in the tennis courts. They finally installed
coin-operated light towers. It was hilarious. You'd be working on a
killer set when...blink, blink - the lights would flicker, a
five-minute warning that you needed to feed in a couple more quarters.

[chaniarts[_3_]]

On 9/30/2013 11:23 AM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:
On 9/30/2013 12:35 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
Moe DeLoughan wrote:

...snip....

BTW, have you contacted the local electric utility to find out what it
would cost to run power to the field? Is that something you could do, if
the billing went to the band association and not to the school district?
Or would the district be willing to foot future electric bills if your
group paid for the installation?

That reminds me of the power situation with the scoreboard for our
Varsity
Softball field.

I was in charge of using some state grant money to purchase a scoreboard
for our district's Varsity Softball field. Since my 9th grade daughter
would be on the varsity team the following year, I was thrilled to be
able
to purchase a scoreboard for the team. The scoreboard arrived and I
started talking to the Buildings and Grounds department about running
power
to the field and getting the scoreboard installed.

Well, it turns out that a major capital project was in the planning
stages
and they weren't sure that they wanted to run the power in case the
softball field got moved. "Let's wait until next year when the plans will
be complete."

Next year comes and I find out that not only will they be moving the
field,
but the new field won't be complete for another 2 years - the year
after my
daughter graduates.

To add insult to injury, the new pool building was going to be built
right
where the existing field was and that construction was starting right
away.
So, not only didn't my daughter and I get to enjoy the scoreboard that I
bought, she didn't even get to use the Varsity field for her last 2 years
of high school. They had travel to the middle school for practices and
"home games". No dugouts, no bleachers, etc. Very disappointing.

In the end, the scoreboard was installed at the new field and has been in
service for a couple of years now.


Oof, that's a great story with a highly annoying outcome.


'no good deed goes unpunished' comes to mind

I was thinking of a situation in my hometown many years ago. Back in the
70s when tennis became all the rage, the township reluctantly built a
few tennis courts to meet demand. It took no time at all for them to
become occupied from dawn to dusk, so then people asked for lighting.
But with the limited parks budget, the council was reluctant to invest
much more in the tennis courts. They finally installed coin-operated
light towers. It was hilarious. You'd be working on a killer set
when...blink, blink - the lights would flicker, a five-minute warning
that you needed to feed in a couple more quarters.

[DerbyDad03]

Moe DeLoughan wrote:
On 9/30/2013 12:35 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
Moe DeLoughan wrote:

...snip....

BTW, have you contacted the local electric utility to find out what it
would cost to run power to the field? Is that something you could do, if
the billing went to the band association and not to the school district?
Or would the district be willing to foot future electric bills if your
group paid for the installation?

That reminds me of the power situation with the scoreboard for our Varsity
Softball field.

I was in charge of using some state grant money to purchase a scoreboard
for our district's Varsity Softball field. Since my 9th grade daughter
would be on the varsity team the following year, I was thrilled to be able
to purchase a scoreboard for the team. The scoreboard arrived and I
started talking to the Buildings and Grounds department about running power
to the field and getting the scoreboard installed.

Well, it turns out that a major capital project was in the planning stages
and they weren't sure that they wanted to run the power in case the
softball field got moved. "Let's wait until next year when the plans will
be complete."

Next year comes and I find out that not only will they be moving the field,
but the new field won't be complete for another 2 years - the year after my
daughter graduates.

To add insult to injury, the new pool building was going to be built right
where the existing field was and that construction was starting right away.
So, not only didn't my daughter and I get to enjoy the scoreboard that I
bought, she didn't even get to use the Varsity field for her last 2 years
of high school. They had travel to the middle school for practices and
"home games". No dugouts, no bleachers, etc. Very disappointing.

In the end, the scoreboard was installed at the new field and has been in
service for a couple of years now.


Oof, that's a great story with a highly annoying outcome.

I was thinking of a situation in my hometown many years ago. Back in the
70s when tennis became all the rage, the township reluctantly built a few
tennis courts to meet demand. It took no time at all for them to become
occupied from dawn to dusk, so then people asked for lighting. But with
the limited parks budget, the council was reluctant to invest much more
in the tennis courts. They finally installed coin-operated light towers.
It was hilarious. You'd be working on a killer set when...blink, blink -
the lights would flicker, a five-minute warning that you needed to feed
in a couple more quarters.

That is hilarious!

I don't know where your hometown is, but where I grew up it would have cost
the parks department more to fix/replace the vandalized coin boxes than
they would ever had made on them.

[Stormin Mormon[_10_]]

On 9/30/2013 1:35 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:

That reminds me of the power situation with the scoreboard for our Varsity
Softball field.

I was in charge of using some state grant money to purchase a scoreboard
for our district's Varsity Softball field. Since my 9th grade daughter
would be on the varsity team the following year, I was thrilled to be able
to purchase a scoreboard for the team. The scoreboard arrived and I
started talking to the Buildings and Grounds department about running power
to the field and getting the scoreboard installed.

Well, it turns out that a major capital project was in the planning stages
and they weren't sure that they wanted to run the power in case the
softball field got moved. "Let's wait until next year when the plans will
be complete."

Next year comes and I find out that not only will they be moving the field,
but the new field won't be complete for another 2 years - the year after my
daughter graduates.

To add insult to injury, the new pool building was going to be built right
where the existing field was and that construction was starting right away.
So, not only didn't my daughter and I get to enjoy the scoreboard that I
bought, she didn't even get to use the Varsity field for her last 2 years
of high school. They had travel to the middle school for practices and
"home games". No dugouts, no bleachers, etc. Very disappointing.

In the end, the scoreboard was installed at the new field and has been in
service for a couple of years now.

It just got worser, and worser. You have my
compassion.


..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..