On Thu, 21 May 1998, Tjaart van der Walt wrote:

> If it is a really huge problem, you could build a constant currentsource for e
ach globe. Set the
> current so that the drop over the globe
> is just right for it to work properly. If the thief takes the globe, the
> voltage rises to it maximum (theoretically inf). It will arc over, destroying
> the globe, and teaching the thief a valuable lesson in moral values.
> If crawling home with soiled underpants doesn't teach him a lesson,
> nothing will.

Oops. I don't know how to put this, but one should never, never catch the
thief. Catching thieves in civilized coutries is the Law's business.
Humble people who meddle with this Important Business are punished with
more ferocity than the thieves. Except, thieves are only sometimes caught,
since they cunningly hide away <G>, whereas the Good Citizens, always. Can
you give us an estimate, in Rand, for the hospital bill of the guy who
would have touched your current generator driven bulb ? ;)

(I did not want to mention a small design flaw: You need to operate a
sequencer and a vacuum relay, with the HV in parallel with the bulb power.
When the thief breaks the circuit, the vacuum relay separates the supply,
and then HV is turned on... otherwise the HV will harmlessly arc across
the socket contacts - Just thought I'd be thorough on this safety hazard
related solution <G>, and mention that a PIC would make a good sequencer
for this ;)

Peter