Old traffic light wiring/Signal

[Matt Matt]

Had a customer come through the shop today asking if I can do a simple traffic light control for him. It is an old 22 inch times 44 inch traffic light. He wants it programmable to set up timing as he sees appropriate . He has 100 W bulbs in there currently. What is the easiest/cheapest solution to set up this control???

It is only one traffic light, no walk/signal.

He wants it to work like a regular traffic light, where he can set the times of each light. Each bulb is 110V.

 

[Tool_Master]

Had a customer come through the shop today asking if I can do a simple traffic light control for him. It is an old 22 inch times 44 inch traffic light. He wants it programmable to set up timing as he sees appropriate . He has 100 W bulbs in there currently. What is the easiest/cheapest solution to set up this control???



He wants it to work like a regular traffic light, where he can set the times of each light.

I personally think the easiest and cheapest way to set the control is using three timer relays and interlock then so that only one light can be on at the same time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[1/2 Cup]

I personally think the easiest and cheapest way to set the control is using three timer relays and interlock then so that only one light can be on at the same time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agree, here is one I did for HOTFR8 a couple years back, keep it simple..

View media item 33680
View media item 33511
It works a treat and easy to adjust.

Regards

 

[Matt Matt]

I personally think the easiest and cheapest way to set the control is using three timer relays and interlock then so that only one light can be on at the same time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve never tried this before but, I thought it could probably be done with two relays interlocked. This has been my brain teaser for today.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just a set of cascading timers,

Regards

 

[Fishingfoolemjak]

Agree, here is one I did for HOTFR8 a couple years back, keep it simple..

View media item 33680
View media item 33511
It works a treat and easy to adjust.

Regards

Nice! It’s good to see others who take pride in their workmanship!

 

[gungatim]

cheapest way to go is how they did it in the nuts and volts magazine a couple years ago. 120v motor with a cam and 3 roller switches. I paid around $10 for mine, you just make a wooden cam to press onto the motor and adjust the switches around the cam.

found the article for you.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Nice! It’s good to see others who take pride in their workmanship!

Thank you..

 

[Mongo68]

I think I've seen controllers on Ebay before...

 

[kbuhagiar]

I think I've seen controllers on Ebay before...

Yes, all the time.

There is currently one on there for $49.

I'd post a link but I'm not sure if that is against GJ rules...

 

[dowmace]

I could easily make a controller using an arduino and relays. Add in 3 pots for adjustable timing. Total cost way under $50.

 

[torqueman2002]

https://www.trafficlights.com/

 

[Matt Matt]

After a few messages back-and-forth with him, I decided to go with these little circuit boards that I’ve had in stock for about a year (I purchased a dozen for an LED project that was canceled). I first tried three of them but they interfered with each other. I interlocked two them and they seem to work perfect. I don’t recall 100% what I paid for them, but I believe it was under $6 apiece.

Edit; I tried to upload a picture about six times, The site doesn’t seem to be excepting it.

 

[Pate]

I bought a simple sequencer on Ebay for mine. It was easy to install and has multiple flash patterns

 

[firebirdparts]

I can't bring myself to pay what they cost. I know it's silly.

 

[nsula_country]

A-B MicroLogix 1100, relay outputs.

Setup timer presets to be configurable through front display. Then write the code to cascade timers. Could even have several sequences setup. Toggle between them with the front display with a defined bit or integer.

CT

 

[dowmace]

A-B MicroLogix 1100, relay outputs.

Setup timer presets to be configurable through front display. Then write the code to cascade timers. Could even have several sequences setup. Toggle between them with the front display with a defined bit or integer.

CT

Thats like taking a space shuttle to work in the morning.

Instead of AB if you want to use a PLC I'd use an automation direct Click! plc with the free software.
But it my opinion an arduino uno with a relay output shield would do this for under 20 bucks shipped from amazon and programmed in C with the free arduino IDE.


Although I program in studio 5000 and GE proficy everyday so I can understand the comfort of the idea.

 

[nsula_country]

Thats like taking a space shuttle to work in the morning.

Instead of AB if you want to use a PLC I'd use an automation direct Click! plc with the free software.
But it my opinion an arduino uno with a relay output shield would do this for under 20 bucks shipped from amazon and programmed in C with the free arduino IDE.


Although I program in studio 5000 and GE proficy everyday so I can understand the comfort of the idea.

What can I say, I'm an Industrial Controls Engineer. Laptop is my tool and PLC's are my career.

Automation Direct has some cool stuff. I mentioned A-B because I have the software. 5, 500, 5000, Factorytalk Studio, and about 30 other various manufactures software loaded... I have a few 1100's laying around. Just haven't found a traffic light yet! It's on my bucket list.

CT

 

[dowmace]

What can I say, I'm an Industrial Controls Engineer. Laptop is my tool and PLC's are my career.

Automation Direct has some cool stuff. I mentioned A-B because I have the software. 5, 500, 5000, Factorytalk Studio, and about 30 other various manufactures software loaded... I have a few 1100's laying around. Just haven't found a traffic light yet! It's on my bucket list.

CT

Cool to see another in the field on the board. I am usually in GE or RS5k for work but I dabble in all of them when I check out at 5

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[kbuhagiar]

Here is my traffic signal controller, circa 1985:
(Left to right: Red, Yellow, Green)

 

[hd54kh]

Here is a headache

One winter had some old timers and relays and just set them to sequence
Green 3 min.
Yellow 15 sec.
Red 3 min.

Terry

 

[driverinmyhead]

Gungatim: Thanks for that! I will likely need this very soon as I am in the process of buying some old traffic signals...

 

[rharman]

I could easily make a controller using an arduino and relays. Add in 3 pots for adjustable timing. Total cost way under $50.

Dang, beat me to it!

 

[camarosrus69]

I've had one of these for years. Currently it has these little button thingies (technical term) in the sockets that make them flash randomly. One thing I will tell you. You don't need 100 watt bulbs. Those things will blind you. I use 25 watt bulbs, with good results. I've always wanted to hook them up to some sensors so that when you open the garage door to pull in, the green light would come on, then as you got close to your parking position, it would go to yellow and then red, when you need to stop. I know they make a tiny version like this, but I've never checked to see if those controls could be converted to run a much bigger light.

 

[gungatim]

Gungatim: Thanks for that! I will likely need this very soon as I am in the process of buying some old traffic signals...

not everything has to be over-engineered! sometimes simple is good. If you buy from the sources listed like I did, buy in bulk, it's cheaper.

the electric motors, btw, are NOS. date stamped 1971!! not sure what they were originally designed for, but they look identical to the electric motor timer on my Sears water softener...