Traffic light wiring

[shaun]

I picked up a really neat traffic light from the 1930's. I want to hang it up from the ceiling in my lift bay. The guy had wired it to use regular household bulbs with a plug hanging out the back to plug into a 110 houehold outlet.

I wanted to see if I could wire it to cycle through each bulb with a set interval, like a real stop lamp. I'll then wire it into one of my banks of T8's so when I throw that switch, the T8's come on and the stop light cycles through red, amber, green etc.

Anybody know what sort of components I need? Cascading timer perhaps?

 

[Stuart in MN]

You can buy a circuit to do this, or you can build one yourself - I've seen several plans online that you can probably find with a google search. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's been discussed here on this board before.

 

[shaun]

You can buy a circuit to do this, or you can build one yourself - I've seen several plans online that you can probably find with a google search. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's been discussed here on this board before.

I have no idea what this would even be called to start a search.

 

[ddawg16]

My suggestion would be something like this Nano Controller

You can do what you want using time delay relays......but they typically run about $25/ea....so, by the time you buy 3 of them....figure out the wiring and get it wired....you can use this little nano PLC and do the same thing plus a whole lot more.....

For example, you can get a little carried away and have it change the sequence based on someone opening the door...or if the phone rings.

It's easy to program through the front panel......you can buy the same thing from Allen Bradley and pay twice as much.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Previous discussion: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38145&highlight=traffic+signal Note that one of the guys in this thread hooked up some photo sensors to his signal light, and uses it to tell when he has his car pulled into the garage just right. Pretty clever.

Someone is selling controllers on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Traffic-Light-Signal-Controller-Sequencer-3-output_W0QQitemZ160364785720

 

[Mr_fixit]

That ebay thing might be nothing more than (3) 555 timers in a chip. The picture shows the IC missing. Or you can make your own , if you play around with 555 timers, caps, resistors, Pots, relays & a white board. Years ago Radio shack a a small little book that would teach you about some basic timers.. That's all it should be...

 

[ddawg16]

That ebay thing might be nothing more than (3) 555 timers in a chip. The picture shows the IC missing. Or you can make your own , if you play around with 555 timers, caps, resistors, Pots, relays & a white board. Years ago Radio shack a a small little book that would teach you about some basic timers.. That's all it should be...

That would be my choice....but then again, I know how to use the 555....but it will also need either FET switch's or relays for the outputs....

Considering the skill's available...the PLC is a better choice....

 

[Mr_fixit]

I'd use a transistor as a switch connected to the output driving a couple amp micro relay. Back in the 80's I could have written a book on how to burn out 555 timers.

 

[bward76]

Just off the top of my head, I think it can be done with an intermittent relay set at say 6 to 8 seconds on and 2 seconds off. Then you would also need 2 on delay relays. When the intermittent relay comes on in can fire 2 on delay relays set at different times: red (no relay) on immediately, yellow relay on @ 2 seconds and green relay on @ 4 seconds). Could be done pretty cheap.

 

[shaun]

That ebay thing might be nothing more than (3) 555 timers in a chip. The picture shows the IC missing. Or you can make your own , if you play around with 555 timers, caps, resistors, Pots, relays & a white board. Years ago Radio shack a a small little book that would teach you about some basic timers.. That's all it should be...

I won the auction. $47.50 shipped is a lot less time consuming than me trying to figure out how to build a board.

Thanks for the info and links guys! This will be a fun project over Christmas when my Dad is over from England.

 

[drm4633]

too late now, but i built my own using a basic stamp and some solid state relays

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Micro...tID/1/List/1/Default.aspx?SortField=ISBN,ISBN

 

[marty_p]

RE:

Here is the best place that I've found to order parts such as controllers ($44 + S/H), bulbs, lenses, mounting arms, and even keyfob remotes for the controllers: [B]http://trafficlights.com/[/B] They even sell turnkey jobs as well.

And when you want to see a man with the largest collection of traffic lights (100) and road signs (500+) that you've ever seen, visit: [B]http://www.signalfan.com/[/B] and play the youtube video on his homepage!

Enjoy!

 

[Kevin54]

Swap the standard incadescant bulbs out for fluorescents. I have traffic light hanging in my garage and took out the 100 watt bulbs and put in 25's but it would still blow bulbs one at a time over a period of about a month or so. I swapped them out for the energy effecient curly type CFL's and it has been lit for well over a year now without blowing a bulb. I think the incadescants get too hot if left on continuously and blow. Just a suggestion!!!

 

[FastEddieG]

Re:

Here is the best place that I've found to order parts such as controllers ($44 + S/H), bulbs, lenses, mounting arms, and even keyfob remotes for the controllers: [B]http://trafficlights.com/[/B] They even sell turnkey jobs as well.

I bought a controller from trafficlights.com for my 3 light traffic light about 4 years ago, still working great. I can make it cycle through red yellow green in a large range of seconds, make it flash just yellow, make it flash just red, or flash red and yellow alternating. I will read up more on the other thread with sensors - sounds neat

Thanks for all that posted in this thread with links and info. And good luck to the OP with his project.
-Ed

 

[Algoma56]

Any one have a schematic to make the lights come on, when the phone rings? It would have to tie into the phone hard wiring.

 

[Falcon67]

This sounds like a job for a Retro Encabulator.

 

[Kevin54]

This sounds like a job for a Retro Encabulator.

That would probably be the best route to go. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-RXJKdh1KZ0w/rockwell_retro_encabulator/

 

[Algoma56]

Thanks for the link. I put a Purchase Req in for one, but in the meantime they told me to turn the light switch on everytime I hear the phone ring. I told them that was the issue, I couldn't hear the phone with the grinder or compressor running. They replied with "Use a cordless phone in your pocket, and you should hear that. Boy, am I glad I called Rockwell Software direct, I just saved 1.8 giagamillion dollars!

 

[Falcon67]

I get a kickback for being a Rockwell shill, so I will post that as a standard answer to every question in every forum on the Internet. I'll be rich in no time and live like Billy Mays. Well, maybe longer I hope. Billy, we miss you.

 

[gatchel]

If you don't mind some simple PLC programming you could use on of these:

http://www.factorymation.com/s.nl/it.A/id.41/.f

They have relays built in and are pretty simple to wire and program.

You could even wire an input or two from a switch to trigger the flashing red or yellow for those " Off" days..

 

[OldCarGuy]

Under $50.00 shipped is the way to go. Twenty years ago before anyone sold anything close to that gizmo. I mounted three time delay relays I had lying around in an old paper towel cabinet.

 

[Brunsi]

For mine I went the simplest route possible, I put a flasher button in the base of the yellow lens and leave the green and red on all the time, it is not synchronized but it still looks o.k. Also I use 15 watt incandescence for the bulbs, they do not generate too much heat and they are just bright enough.