Stop Light Project

[mm75098]

I recently discovered that a lot of cool things - including the vintage green porcelain lamps - can be found at Recycling Centers. Found an awesome Stop Light that was a fun project to repurpose as a shop wall hanger.

I looked at many options with LED lights and controllers. In the end I stuck with the original hardware, used 15 Watt bulbs (anything higher can be too bright as a decoration piece), and wired it all up to a nifty controller. The cool part was this controller is purpose built for this - it could run a stand alone stop light in the real world. So wiring up and configuring is easy!

If your interested - the company is Liberty Controls. They sell through EBAY. The seller handle is "liberty3guo"

The control cost @ $35 and the original light was only $25. So all in less than Fifty bucks!

I will attach some pics in case anyone is looking for ideas.

Note I mounted it at the top of my steel building shop - using a bracket that I made so that I could bolt it to the main beam. I also added a safety wire hooking it to the cross beams in case the bolts ever stress out and break. I do not think it will, but do not want it to fall down and land on my car!

 

[HOTFR8]

You will find a few have done just that on this forum with plenty of topics on the subject.

 

[Norcal]

Using green for a hot wire is not cool, green should never be used as a current carrying conductor.

 

[Farmall450]

Looks nice! Can't beat it, plus you've got a cool conversation piece.

 

[Kmp259]

Hooked ours up to a Motion sensor switch.....then plugged it into a outlet....works great ...

 

[spudley]

Oh this reminds me of a story I shouldn't share...
Years ago we deer hunted with a wonderful guy who was a bit "slow" and very gullible. We told him the county inspector said our outhouse was on the watch list as being "overfull" so we must limit the use. So in the true spirit of pouring gas on every fire, we hung a stop light on the outhouse with a remote to activate the red light every time he headed there. He'd stop in his tracks when that light went on, turn around and sit back by the fire pit, and off would go the light.
Hours of fun, for which I'll be answering some day.

 

[Zeke]

Best use of a stop light in the garage was to indicated how far your wife pulled the car in.

 

[Ing3018]

- it could run a stand alone stop light in the real world. So wiring up and configuring is easy!

Link to a photo of the inside of a traffic signal controller cabinet:

https://www.econolite.com/products/traffic-cabinets/nema/

Fundamentally, yes, a controller simply turns some light displays on and off. But, there is usually more to it than that.

Those 4 light stacks are pretty tall! You can fashion a bracket to mount it with pipe and fittings. Good move on changing out those bulbs. As I recall the old incandescent bulbs in a 12" display are greater than 135 watts each. LEDs use something like 5 watts.

 

[HOTFR8]

Have a look here >
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=430895&showall=1
and then have a look here >
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=3083

 

[Toolfool]

The control cost @ $35 and the original light was only $25. So all in less than Fifty bucks!

Welcome to GJ, and .....Check your math …..

 

[inphx]

In high school i fashioned a soup can, geared hobby motor, some copper contactors and electrical tape to shield contactors and set up timing to have the rotating can drum engage contacts for the three lights.

 

[Falcon67]

In high school i fashioned a soup can, geared hobby motor, some copper contactors and electrical tape to shield contactors and set up timing to have the rotating can drum engage contacts for the three lights.

Different application but clock motor, cams made from scrap wood and micro switches.