Thanks to everyone for the replies! [Linked Image]

I'd like to address each reply with a "snip" of quoted text.

  • pauluk


I've not seen any here in England yet either, but I was in France about two years ago, and noticed LED signals everywhere. As you said, the smart "snap" from one color to the next is what really gets the attention at first.

Exactly! They "snap" on or off so sharply, it's a real attention grabber. The colors are really solid also.

Many of the normal lights seem to have been converted, but it was hard to see the exact arrangement because they still appear to use a gel or lens of some kind.

The ones I have seen have only a clear acrylic cover [for waterproofing, diffusing?], but no colored gels. The Green arrays must be using clear LED cases because when the Green signal is off, it has an odd appearance. The Reds and Ambers [Yellows] must use colored cases as they are noticable when off.

Junctions with high suspended lights in France usually have a small repeater set mounted at eye-level for the driver at the front of the line. Just about all of these seem to be LEDs now, consisting of a dozen or so high-intensity LEDs arranged within a 2 to 3 in. dia. circle.

In California, there's a fixture type, similar to the repeater set, which is mounted on the pole at around 12 feet +/- above grade, which is supplimental to the fixture mounted on the Cantelevered extension. Some of them use smaller sized gels [about 1/2 the size of the overhead fixtures]. The LED replacements have around 30 LEDs, which look like 5.0 mm size.

  • Mickky


Up here in Canada, I have seen a lot of traf. lights using fiber-optics, which allows servicing or lamp changes from a safe place.I assume these are fairly common, but I haven't seen the LED's yet.

I like that idea! Less risk of getting hit by passing cars, etc.
The driven light source might be from LED arrays, or from gelled Incandescents. I'm going to have to check this out more!!

  • Don "resqcapt19


Haven't seen any traffic lights yet, but emergency vehicles are starting to use them for the warning lights. They can meet the NFPA warning light regulations with less strain on the battery and alternator. I've also seen some commerical truchs with led tail lights.
Don(resqcapt19)

I have seen more and more Trucks, Trailers - especially ones for flammable materials, such as Gasoline "1203"; and city busses (more than one bus - is that the correct spelling?? [Linked Image]] which are using LED arrays for tail lights plus marker lights. Haven't noticed if the Fire Trucks or Ambulances have changed over, so I'll look into this [I'll tailgate an Emergency Vehicle that's on call... just joking].

  • Rick "rmiell"


I have installed a few of these units, all in the name of energy conservation. I changed all colors. Walk/don't walk couldn't be changed due to size.I will get the specific information Tuesday when I get back into my office.

Cool!!! We have someone with hands-on experience. If you could post some information here, that would be great!
If you have any information about them in non-hardcopy format [a data file on your computer at work], would it be possible for you to E-Mail it directly to me? I'm an info junky!

One thing I have noticed. These units give off great light, but sometime the green makes it hard to see ahead of your vehicle.

Heck ya!!! That is really some intense light output!

  • Nick


Been looking for you in the neighboring forum too for a while.
In Hesperia, CA next to Victorvill, in the High Desert,(On the way to Las Vegas from LA) they have changed all of the signals to these LED's this summer. Really good light from these. Maybe it's also an attempt to get people to quite running so many red lights!
Nick

The Holt group was getting too hot from the flame wars, so I just decided to stay away. Besides, I feel more at home here at ECN!!!
Were all three colors, along with the Walk / Don't Walk signs changed to LEDs?
So, how hard is the heat wave hitting Hesperia?
My Wife went to Vegas this weekend, and on the way out there, got stuck in the traffic which builds up around Barstow. She called me and said that if you roll down the window, hot air blasted in like sticking your head in an HVAC duct! Man, that traffic sucks!

Well everyone, thank you very much for the input. If I come across some tech data, I'll post it to ECN - either in this area, or the reference section.

Scott SET

p.s. had to edit a smilee, which I made a typo on! Would have made your head spin decoding that one [Linked Image]

SET



[This message has been edited by Scott35 (edited 08-19-2001).]

Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!