Traffic light control unit

Road_Warrior · 07-05-2010, 05:55 PM

I have recently come into possession of one complete traffic light. That is, one whole red/amber/green assembly. No, I didn't steal it. It was surplus (they're all being replaced in Wait Awhile with LED ones).

My goal is to hang this up in my patio area (outdoor 'pool room' if you will) and have it functioning. My brother in law has one and he has some kind of electronic brain box that can cycle all the lights at different speeds and make them flash etc. But I don't know a lot about it and neither does he.

Does anyone have a clue as to how I can get this thing to function? I would imagine it's 240 volt so it has to be safe, but is there a standard modulator or whatever that can make it work or is it a case of me being in uncharted territory and I have to make something myself? I've done a bit of a search of the innernet but have turned up with nothing.

I've seen one guy selling one on ebay but he says he just has a wall plug. Somehow, I doubt that's all there is to it.

SVD · 07-05-2010, 06:05 PM

drop in to your local jaycar, they'll either have a pre made unit you can use with the traffic lights or there will be a kit, i got a kit for a similar purpose about 4 years ago

Work Horse · 07-05-2010, 06:24 PM

Drag strip in Road Warrior's driveway!!

**Full Noise** · 07-05-2010, 06:40 PM

Another alternative is to just put a normal 240 volt globe and socket in it, leave it on red and mount it on your front porch.

You’d have all sorts of “interesting” people knocking on your door.

Jim Goose · 07-05-2010, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVD

drop in to your local jaycar, they'll either have a pre made unit you can use with the traffic lights or there will be a kit, i got a kit for a similar purpose about 4 years ago

Yes JayCar has prewired (german made) 240VOLT flashers units which will run several lights at once.

Just remember your playing with 240Volts though.

Tribal · 07-05-2010, 07:52 PM

Either that or convert it to 12v for safety - probably a few more options with 12v as well.

Gubas · 07-05-2010, 08:13 PM

I have quite a few at home myself

Great for partys. There 240V supply with 12V transformers inside. Just check the current the flashes are rated for. Some kits from jaycar cant drive high current load, depending what globe you put in the light. Try a 12V car flasher can ;)

**aussiblue** · 07-05-2010, 08:34 PM

This month's (May 2010) Silicon Chip magazine in its Circuit Notebook pages (page 39) has an item and a simple circuit used to make a 6V DC traffic light controller used to power a LED traffic light fancy dress street light outfit. It could be powered with a 6V plug pack for your application.

ProMint86 · 09-05-2010, 08:31 PM

Paramount Browns here in Adelaide had quite a few traffic lights for sale not too long ago. Surplus old stock. Unsure what they wanted for them.

Melz · 09-05-2010, 08:34 PM

hehehe
Dad recently set up a traffic light in the workshop. He's rewired it so it is on a light switch.

But I'm not electrically inclined so I couldn't tell you how he did it!

Road_Warrior · 10-05-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gubas

I have quite a few at home myself

Great for partys. There 240V supply with 12V transformers inside.

The traffic lights themselves, or the control unit??

Also I rang Jaycar, they apparently have some sort of gizmo that could do the job, but not knowing a lot about electronics it was kind of like a one way conversation.

Fev · 10-05-2010, 10:51 AM

Any chance of re-wiring one of the switches you can get for fairy lights? They've usually got a few different settings and a switch to change between them.

Road_Warrior · 11-05-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fev

Any chance of re-wiring one of the switches you can get for fairy lights? They've usually got a few different settings and a switch to change between them.

But aren't fairy lights 12V?