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Posted By: ComputerWizKid Led Traffic Light ? - 02/24/04 09:51 AM
I got an LED traffic signal from Ebay laugh 12" Lenses three new LED lenses $145 free shipping was it worth it? I just have a wiring ? since I don't like the way it came wired (2 prong plug it's metal should be grounded right?). On the LED signals which is the hot and which is the neutral?
The red has a Red and a white wire
The Yellow Has Yellow and a White Wire
The Green has a brown and a white wire
I think the colored wire is the hot but just want to make sure. Thanks

Oh pics


[Linked Image from titansfan098.com]

[Linked Image from titansfan098.com]
Posted By: pauluk Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/24/04 11:07 AM
I assume that these LED signal heads have a transformer fitted to each lamp assembly to enable it to be used as a "drop-in" replacement for a conventional 120V filament lamp.

If that's the case it sounds logical that the white on each would be the common neutral, although not being involved with traffic signals (and certainly not U.S. types [Linked Image]) I wouldn't be sure.

Maybe the guy at www.signalfan.com could provide some information.
Posted By: electure Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/24/04 12:44 PM
The whites will be your neutral wires.
You could have some fun with switches on this one.

I think that these lamps are series-parallel wired. I've seen a couple with "sections" that are burnt out. A nice thing about these is that when only a section burns out, they can be replaced before the whole lamp goes, leaving you without a traffic signal.
Posted By: GETELECTRIC Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/24/04 07:27 PM
ah, a hacksaw a ladder and a little bit of nerve and you can be an entrpeneur on ebay
Posted By: ThinkGood Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/25/04 12:25 AM
While on the topic of LED traffic signals, check this one out:
http://lanecontrols.com/trilights.cfm

3 colors in one unit...
Posted By: Scott35 Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/25/04 01:37 AM
As mentioned, connect the White wires to the system's Grounded Conductor (AKA "Noodle" or "Neutral").
This will reduce the hazard of being bit from a live screwshell.

Curious to the actual output color of the center "amber" dot ("yellow light") with the LED array. Is it:
"Orange",
"Gray-Orange",
"Gray-Yellow",
or
"Yellow".

Reason being is the first generation of amber LEDs in my area were very much orange. Newer ones were flat orange (gray-orange), then flat yellow (gray-yellow kind of like an HPS lamp).
Saw a signal head today, with very yellow output from an LED array. These were also 12"

Scott35
Posted By: ComputerWizKid Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/25/04 01:51 AM
They are just yellow with a slight hint of orange and there is no screw shell at all no socket either just the LED Lenses. although I have seen some that just screwed in and they did not have to remove/rewire the light/socket
Posted By: Hutch Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/25/04 02:45 AM
I assume, seeing your handle, that you may want to computer control these through a logic circuit at some point. If that be the case, you may want to consider programming in some international as well as domestic aspects.

In the UK, Iceland and Argentina (there may be more) the sequence goes:
R, R+Y*,G,Y*,R. (* a few seconds at most). Legally you can only proceed on green – the R+Y is only a warning. I remember in grade 12 (long time ago!) , with modular logic units (AND, OR, NOT gates, etc) , making an assembly that generated those aspects – is was quite fun.

Then there is Vancouver BC with its flashing greens – any local care to explain that aspect. There may be more out there … [Linked Image]
Posted By: dougwells Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/25/04 08:05 AM
Hi Hutch

The flashing green is for a pedestrian controlled crosswalk.Last week we had two male teenagers killed at one of these crosswalks. the 84 year old gentleman did not see that the light was red and that the crosswalk was occupied. http://www.kamloopscity.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=561

[This message has been edited by dougwells (edited 02-25-2004).]
Posted By: pauluk Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/25/04 12:37 PM
Quote
the UK, Iceland and Argentina (there may be more) the sequence goes:
R, R+Y*,G,Y*,R. (* a few seconds at most). Legally you can only proceed on green – the R+Y is only a warning.

The yellow phase when going from green to red varies a little in its timing, but in my experience it's generally shorter in the U.K. than on most American signals. Our peculiar R+Y phase seems to be fairly constant -- I'd estimate about 2 secs.

We also have lights which are not at an intersection, but instead are located in the middle of a road to allow pedestrians to cross. The sequence on those is different: G, Y, R, Flashing-Y, G. The flashing-yellow phase is longer than the normal R+Y phase, and corresponds with the time when the pedestrian light is flashing before going back to red.

The pedestrian light signs and sequences are different as well, but I'd better not get into that!

Quote
I remember in grade 12 (long time ago!) , with modular logic units (AND, OR, NOT gates, etc) , making an assembly that generated those aspects – is was quite fun.
I remember just such a project from "Radio & Electronics Constructor" magazine in about the mid-1970s. There were similar projects for railroad signals. That was all at the time when TTL and CMOS logic chips were becoming much more mainstream.

There aren't too many traffic lights around this rural area, but I've noticed a few LED types appearing in the city, about 20 miles away. They really grab your attention for the smart way they "snap" from one aspect to another.

LED lights seem quite popular in France for the repeaters -- The small set of lights that they use mounted low down on the pole so that driver at the front of the line can see more easily.

[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 02-25-2004).]
Posted By: CaOperator Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/25/04 08:12 PM
Red and yellow prior to green?! Holy cow, here in California that would be taken as the signal to stage a little deeper, wind up your engine and prepare to pop the clutch. Heaven help anyone who hasn't cleared the intersection when it turns green. Around here people get so antsy to go they look at the signal for the cross traffic to see if their turn is coming. In many spots the cities have installed shields at the lights so that you can't see them unless they are for you. They also used to use polarized lenses to make them unreadble from the side, but those are pretty rare now.
Posted By: Bjarney Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/26/04 10:56 PM
I'll bet that electure, Scott35 and CaOperator agree that CWK’s signal head would not be found in California. ...It’s the wrong color. ;-)
Posted By: pauluk Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/27/04 02:14 PM
Quote
here in California that would be taken as the signal to stage a little deeper, wind up your engine and prepare to pop the clutch

The same in some places here! I've never seen the point of having the R+Y phase, as it just encourages some people to go forward before green. It seems our nearest neighbors don't see any need for it either, as neither Ireland nor France have it.

It's inconsistent as well, because at lights where there's a green arrow filter for turns (while still red for other directions), the green arrow just pops on without any amber first. By the way, we don't have the flashing-red aspect here either, nor do we have turns on red.
Posted By: C-H Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/27/04 04:36 PM
The yellow is the signal to wind up your engine and prepare to pop the clutch, or so I was taught in driving school. [Linked Image] Mind you, I failed the driving test once for driving too slow. And twice for some other reasons, like driving the wrong way in a one way street...
Posted By: ComputerWizKid Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/27/04 07:29 PM
To hutch I work on computers not electronics. I'm no good at that stuff. But I will find a way to control it maybe with this http://trafficlights.com/P3ad.htm Just have to ask the company if it will work with my LED ones And what color are the ones in california? since you said its the wrong color. I'm in Connecticut they vary in color most are yellow with a black front (The newer ones) but the older one are just yellow or green

Oh and in CT you can tell when the light is going to be green if you can see the other light turn yellow wait light 5 secs and you will have a green light

[This message has been edited by ComputerWizKid (edited 02-27-2004).]
Posted By: Bjarney Re: Led Traffic Light ? - 02/27/04 08:46 PM
http://www.econolite.com/pdf/signals/12alum.pdf page 2 “Standard Colors”
CWK: Sorry, I should have been more specific. Four housing colors are available. “Dark olive green” is used in CA... Assumedly, housing contrast against sky and light source is increased.
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