I just came across this and used to work for a distributor of traffic signals and wired control cabinets in Northern Virginia. We distributed Traffic Control Technologies (old Crouse Hinds). Noticed the CH logo on the controller and the TCT logo on the catalog sheet. Thanks for the memories and also going over electromechanical operation. Your video was 12 years ago and just 2 years ago I came across a still functioning e/m controller in a small southern VA town. I was amazed that any were still around. 👍🏻
I just came back from Montreal, and they still have these mechanical control boxes in Downtown. Almost every intersection I saw (or heard I guess) (except for one) had a mechanical box.
That video is from around 1990... I can't really remember. They were a nice new pair that I borrowed from the contractor who takes care of the signals here in Toronto.
I'm guessing that the contractor also loaned and set up the nifty electromechanical control cabinet for you as well? (I love watching older machines and tech work!)
Stop, says the red light, Go, says the green. Wait, says the yellow light, twinkling in between. KNEEL, SAYS THE DEMON LIGHT WITH IT'S EYE OF COAL. SAURON KNOWS YOUR LICENSE PLATE AND STARES INTO YOUR SOUL.
In some places they put a filter over the green lamp so you can't see it until you are right on top of it, and unfortunately this trains people to just go when they don't see any lights, and some day they'll be at an intersection that lost power and they'll kill someone
I don't see what you're seeing, but I never noticed that car going through the red light before! At the time, that was one of Toronto's most complex intersections, with the two cross streets being offset by a hundred feet or so.
acmeschool thanks for taking me back to my obsession that I had at only 2 years old & showing me how it actually works. Funny story to add, once when I was 2 years old I think I remember I would not go to sleep 1 night until my Mom called the State Highway Administration for them to go out & fix the light late in the morning on Singer Road in Abingdon, Maryland, so My Mom had to drive me out there just to see if they had fixed the light just so I would go to sleep. Crazy story isn't it?
Although it is obsolete nowadays, the electro-mechanical controller is rather interesting in many ways. One could find many that are still in service (for now) in the city of New York, however, down the road, the survivors will be replaced with modern, computerized signal controllers.
Winnipeg, Manitoba still has Eagle Signal electro-mechanical relays for intersections in residential areas. You can view a RU-vid video of this by entering: Winnipeg Traffic Signals in the Search window. Vancouver, B.C. had this type of control until 1985. I once saw a police constable walk up to an old control box of non-functioning signals, give it a kick with his boot and immediately everything started working again!
You mention that you need 12 dial keys, since 12 step cams are in use. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily true, since you could get away with a total of 6 keys (that includes the green sync key) on the dial timer. With that amount, it would take two complete rotations to complete one cycle. The only difference between the amount of keys is that you would have fewer signal intervals to use.
In Toronto, almost every signal has metal-detector loops under the street, and is in communication with a central computer. The intersections all have pedestrian pushbuttons as well, in case someone wants to cross when there is no traffic sitting on the detectors.
The integration of the computer is in deed done in a very nifty way. It requires only minor modification and introduces no major safety risks. No matter what gets sent over the computer line, the controller can never go into illegal states like "all green".
In IL, they use some lights with the two right arrows, the green arrown mostly turns on in less than a second after the light turns red. But some lights have the green right arrow turn when the light turns yellow.
Even though there are many advantages about computerized controllers, I prefer traditional controllers. The reason I say this is because I like controllers that are nice and simple. It is clearly obvious that computerized controllers are capable of performing numerous functions, which is amazing. Although, I still prefer traditional controllers. I guess you could say that I am slighly old fashioned. Anyhow, excellent video!
UK traffic lights burn out all the time. Here in Sheffield we've been running around after the council /UTC have just made a sweep of all the lights in the city!!! Good fun, LOL.
Well thats good! Glad you played it safe. I didn't realize there was an isolation transformer. I'm not as "in-tune" with the old mechanical controllers. Cool video nonetheless!
Hi Nick, I didn't get any shocks or burns or cuts for the entire 26 Acme half hours! I see that I was running this thing on 120 volts (it has the correct bulbs), but it would have been totally isolated power via an isolation transformer. I made a lot of use of the RV 12 bulb that looks like a regular one, so that I could run open-wiring circuits at safe voltages. I ripped a lot of clothing, however....
Looking for photo and data on "30"s"-"40'" traffic signal controller "RELAY" This was black, sealed in vacuum, old style bakelite, and 6 volts for the 6v auto bulbs used in traffic signal lights. Others have been looking also for years. These replacement ones were used pre solid state use. This was actually a 60 cycles AC vibrator, electromechanical , pivoting armature , dual coils with 6 sets contacts. Probably also used as old style RECTIFIER after the step down transformer in pole electrical . box. Please write back so I know you got this message.
Even now in 2010, you'll find old mechanical boxes in certain places in the united states. My first school still uses them for the school speed limit sign and in the winter, they would freeze and stop flashing.
I still see the old-style mechanical controls at some suburban/rural intersections that have lower traffic volumes. I suppose the traffic in these intersections is predictable enough that the newer computerized controls aren't needed.
How do they set up a new set of traffic signals at an existing intersection?? How are the lights connected?? I don't see the road ripped up to run cables underneath, so how do they do it??
After a traffic pattern study is done by traffic engineers and the need for signals is required, the type, and quantity is ordered (it is not uncommon to have 20 traffic lights and pedestrian signals at one intersection). Concrete footings for the poles are made, The signals are attached to the poles (and mast arms) on the ground, they are then hoisted on to the footings by crane, and bolted down. Wires are run through the concrete footings in electrical conduit. Those are then run to pull boxes (water proof) that will be buried underground later. The wires all end up at the cabinet on one side of the intersection. The cabinet does not have a bottom (just sides, a back, and top), it is just a frame exposed. The cabinet sits on a concrete footing that has 5 or 6 1", 1.5", or 2" PVC conduits coming out of the concrete for the wires. All of the wires terminate to a load panel at the back of the controller. The conduit separates the wires into groups. For red yellow and green signals, pedestrian signals, loop detectors, pedestrian push buttons, neutral wires, luminaire wires, Opticom wiring, etc. Vehicle loop detector wiring is added into 6x6' cuts made into the asphalt. They use a heavy duty saw with a diamond cutting blade. The wire is normally 14 AWG (looped a few times around the cut in the road) that receives inductance (a magnetic field) when energized (when the magnetic field is broken by a car, it tells the controller to service that car with a green light) If this is an existing road they will just dig trenches to route wires, and patch it up. If it is new, everything but the vehicle loop detectors are added (that happens after the asphalt is pored and cured). This is a VERY basic way to look at how it is done. Sometime go see if there is a new set of signals being installed near by. Go watch it. You'll be amazed by how it all comes together :-)
Sure thing. I've been a collector of traffic lights, and the gear that makes them all work since 1999, and I learned a lot from actual traffic engineers.
This guy hosted a number of science shows. They aired on PBS in the US. One of them featured a female cohost who was kinda cute. The shows all had a style similar to this one, very detail-oriented, long on information and short on nonsense (unlike most kid’s science shows). I really loved them! On memory I still have: He made a model of old style iron core computer ‘donut’ memory. He used actual powered donuts.. Found it! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rT1bAw9U6YA.html
Haha maybe. It would be cool to see one of these controllers in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) there aren't any left, and there basically are not many fully 8 inch signals, (only one left for vehicle signals). I'd love to see this guy in really life haha.
OK, I see it now. I had to go to full-screen and squint. That is unusual, but if you type "mount pleasant and lawrence ave toronto" into google maps, the google-arrow points to about where the signals are. Notice that the main through-street has a major s-curve in it, and that there's a side street also right at the intersection. Then get out some toy cars, and draw the intersection, and explain it to me! The "b-roll" crew chose that intersection because it was so interesting.
I was about to say that this is really old tech. Most of the stuff in my town has digital units in the box, at the busier intersections. The old intersections still go click like usual though.
Techmatt167 the advance green means that cars with that indication can go in all directions (left, right, and straight) and all other traffic has a red light.
@@j-bird1778 That must be something that is common in Canada. I cannot say that I've seen an advance green in the U.S., not to say that there aren't any. There could very well be. However, I am starting to see a lot of the yellow flashing light after a full green cycle for yielding to oncoming traffic.
Awesome video...mechanicals are neat but my knowledge is in the computerized systems. But... I want to see the blooper reel to this video! I'm sure there's quite a bit of "electrical pokes" pulling the cycle unit and cam drum out of the cabinet while it's live. -Nick
I would like to know the interface spec for the manual control of these old signal controllers. I suspect every brand is different. I am referring to the plugin behind the key on the front panel. any help would be appreciated.
A smaller traffic light lens is 8 inches by 8 inches and the big ones are 12 inches by 12 inches. That is just without the housing though, these are big!
What I meant is, the second from the left signal changes from green to yellow to red but then the two bottom lights turn on. They look like polarized lights. Why did the signal perform that function?
we have computerized lights on mainstreet here. Usually they are timed almost perfectly so they are all synchronized with each other and work at the same time and rate while cycling through red green and yellow. But a day last week they all somehow became out of sync completely and none worked with another causing back ups, not to mention the green was not as long as it normally is causing it to return to red too quickly, what caused the lights to do this?
what was this video taken in like the 70's cause when he was explaing all the way the box and the stuff works I was thinking I don't hear a clicking noise and I just see the picture quality and it looks old as hell and than we he said about new teachnology I thought ok that's how it is today
continuing from the last comment: the lights are fixed now however I noticed today one of the lights are not in sync with the rest and it is red while the rest are green and by the time that one is green the rest are red. Is it very common to have the lights become out of sync?
Actually in Spain there are a lot of traffic lights with bulbs burn out so it's not new for me xD don't know why people here doesn't care much about that
i got this big traffic light in my nana grage i go make flash useing realys and 3 555timer boards and one power suppy and one power card you thank it work
