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Posted By: renosteinke Old Traffic Signal - 10/05/07 01:24 AM
From Ian, TheElectricKid:


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]
Posted By: BrianP Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/05/07 06:53 PM
Ian, how do you get these old signals? That one doesn't even look that old.
Posted By: Ann Brush Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/05/07 07:55 PM
BrianP, Ian is one of our younger members so I guess "old" is a relative term - I was thinking it looked quite new myself.
Posted By: Theelectrikid Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/05/07 08:09 PM
It's from about the 1970s-80s, poly, probably ripped down so a new LED-equipped model could go up. The funny part is how this and every other eBay-listed traffic light is wired. I didn't buy or even bid on the signal, as I have too many now. (19 going on 20!)

Ian A.
Posted By: BrianP Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/09/07 03:03 PM
Oh, so you can buy them on eBay. Of course.

Around here, they often replace individual lamps with LED modules. It's not uncommon to see a signal with red LEDs but incandescent for the green and amber.

What do you do with your collection?
Posted By: frenchelectrican Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/09/07 04:37 PM
the other thing about i did noticed about the traffic signal wiring color connections they are not the same as our normal wiring connections they will get ya if not carefully with this

i know red wire for red light yellow wire for yellow light and green wire for green light white useally used for common but i think either brown or black for arrow sign but not sure i think there is one forum that dealt with traffic light but if i find few more i will add the link in here

Merci, Marc
Posted By: EV607797 Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/09/07 05:27 PM
Same here. Usually, it's whatever light stays on the longest that gets the LED retrofits. I agree that the IMSA wiring colors can certainly get you in trouble if you make any assumptions.
Posted By: SvenNYC Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/09/07 07:35 PM
Originally Posted by BrianP
Oh, so you can buy them on eBay. Of course.

Around here, they often replace individual lamps with LED modules. It's not uncommon to see a signal with red LEDs but incandescent for the green and amber.

What do you do with your collection?


Correct. When New York City changed incandecent bulbs in traffic lights for the LEDs, they were using these modules that replaced the lamp assembly. But the housings stayed the same.

The modules would get fitted whenever the traffic light required relamping. It's probably easier than having to take down that entire heavy monster and then mount a new one and resplice the wires. cool
Posted By: Theelectrikid Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/09/07 07:41 PM
Quote
the other thing about i did noticed about the traffic signal wiring color connections they are not the same as our normal wiring connections they will get ya if not carefully with this


Yep, green is not a ground when it comes to traffic lights.

Quote

What do you do with your collection?


https://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/Macsignals/Signal%20Room%20and%20Signals/

Ian A.
Posted By: electure Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/09/07 10:29 PM
Quote
green is not a ground when it comes to traffic lights.


Green is supposed to be the equipment grounding conductor.

They just have had a heck of a time convincing the people that wire the signals that it's not for "GO"..

The IMSA (International Municipal Signal Association) does not recognize green as anything other than an equipment ground, and they write the standards adopted by almost everybody around.
Posted By: Theelectrikid Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/09/07 11:06 PM
Originally Posted by electure
Quote
green is not a ground when it comes to traffic lights.


Green is supposed to be the equipment grounding conductor.

They just have had a heck of a time convincing the people that wire the signals that it's not for "GO"..

The IMSA (International Municipal Signal Association) does not recognize green as anything other than an equipment ground, and they write the standards adopted by almost everybody around.


You learn something new everyday. I've always been told that it meant green's Hot, as signals are rarely grounded in the field (by a grounding wire at least.) That's why I make the harnesses/cables for my lights, while a lot of people use 14/3 w/ ground SO cord.

Thanks Scott.

Ian A.
Posted By: BrianP Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/10/07 02:50 PM
Originally Posted by EV607797
Usually, it's whatever light stays on the longest that gets the LED retrofits.

Which is generally the red. For a given intersection, there may be a green light that is on more than the red for that direction, but overall, the reds get the most use. There is always at least one direction that has a red light, which is not true of the green or amber.
Posted By: SvenNYC Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/10/07 02:59 PM
New York City started by changing the reds first. The greens followed soon after.

I believe the yellows are still incandescent bulbs.
Posted By: mikesh Re: Old Traffic Signal - 10/15/07 03:57 PM
In Victoria, Green is ground and LED Reds can be changed every 2 years LED Greens and LED Yellows after 5 years. Every traffic signal must be visited every 2 years for LED instead of every year for incandescent. Even though the reds typically have a Mean failure rate 10 times longer than incandescent lamps the reds are still required to be changed around every 2 years. It seems that reds must have the highest reliability and the few years we have been using them they are proving to be very reliable and of cours the decreased loads aer good for the city budget too. Longer service intervals is not good for the city electricians but otherwise the taxpayers are happier.
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