Usually if you use a cap visor instead of a tunnel visor, the snow problem is less likely. Also, newer LEDs nowadays are a lot like the incandescents now with no more individual bulbs, but instead looks like a full lens. All our county and state sets have span wire installations, and I have yet to see any of those newer LEDs fail.
LEDs do save power but during a severe snow storm. The LEDs get covered in snow and ice and since LEDs do not create heat the ice and snow doesn't melt
Changing the bulbs on the traffic lights is such a great and innovative way to save energy. This should be done in all states to save electricity. Its all about making the carbon footprint smaller!
Thanks for the comment! While it is relatively rare for winter conditions to create an obstruction in the signal heads, they do sometimes occur like you said and our crews respond quickly to clear them. As with situations where signals go dark during power outages, motorists need to proceed with additional caution.
Okay what do they call the issue in a traffic light where one side never goes green for like almost an hour and a half but it goes through a cycle where you can make out the other side light it goes green to Yellow back to Greens that are red because I don't seem like I ever see RUclips video touching on this issue I want spent an hour and a half at a traffic light because of that
A lot of traffic lights in my neighbourhood still use incandescent bulbs even with the red and green Man do you think traffic lights and pedestrian crossings should all be led
where I live although most of the traffic signals have been replaced with led over the last 10-15 years now Im starting to notice led lighting on highways making it much brighter at night helping visability alot at night
That type of LED you saw in the railroad crossing signal actually has a shorter life than the incandescent. A traffic signal incandescent bulb can last for 16,000 hours which is actually around 10 years but that type of LED has died in just 4 to 5 years.
I'm not sure how you feel that the railroad crossing LEDs are so-called vandal-resistant compared to the standard incandescent both of them can be smashed or stolen, on a more important note, the only issue that I see as an Electronics technician and somebody who has followed signal technology for many many years is the downside of these LEDs in the Northeast and snowy parts of the region is that the fact that they don't emit any type of heat or warmth, and they allow snow to accumulate over their faces and therefore many times during blowing and drifting snow, makes them difficult to see if at all, I understand that there are some LED replacement units that may have some type of built-in heaters? But I think that would kind of defeat the purpose of the energy-saving LED product to begin with, any comments on this?
The bulbs with heaters can detect when to run the heater and therefore only need to run sometimes. They also only heat the front surface of the lens meaning they use much less power anyway even whilst heating, since the rest of the fixture can remain frosty cold. After all, snow on top of the thing doesn't really matter.
Near my house, at Harlem Avenue, and Oakton Street in Niles, Illinois. the lights are Incandescent. I was thinking of LED signals at that intersection?
"If the red bulb burns out that could be a hazard" NO, if you know that broken traffic light means always stop and to use the same rules as a crossroad without traffic lights.
A span wire, awesome! I do like these LEDs with the colored lenses, I don't really like the ones as much where only the red light has the colored lens.
When all the signals have colored lenses sometime you'll see 'ghost signals" from the sun reflecting off of them. Especially the south facing signals in the northern latitudes.
I like how he didn’t use the backplates. I live in Pennsylvania and our traffic lights are yellow instead of black. The backplates are a waste of money in my opinion.
what about the snow and ice that covers the light, the incandescent light puts out some heat to help melt the snow or ice that would cover the light, led lights dont melt snow and ice therefore i have came across several lights over the winter that were led and snow covered and could barley see the light, i think that is a safety hazzard
We could put new LEDs in these traffic signals before they wear out, and repurpose the LED fixtures for other markets. Because repurposing is eco-friendly too. Not to mention secondhand markets enable some businesses to pay lower price for a product, as well as help the original buyer offset costs.
There are a few reasons. Normal A19 LED bulbs are all diffused and therefore wouldn't utilize the reflector since the light all goes forward, resulting in a hot spot in the middle of the lens and too wide of a viewing angle where cross traffic could potentially see the light at its full brightness. Proper LED retrofits have a better design and the light is quite even and directional, especially in modern units. I've got some 8-inch fixtures with the old incandescent setup of a glass lens and an aluminum reflector and they certainly suffer from that problem with normal bulbs, and I assume that 12-inch fixtures would too. I do know that filament-style LEDs exist and they do solve the optics problem, but more on that in the next paragraph. The other problem is that on sunny summer days traffic fixtures get HOT inside, especially the superior black painted ones, since they're a sealed aluminum box with no shielding from the sun. Incandescent bulbs don't care about heat but normal A19 LED lights can barely keep themselves cool enough to survive 10,000 hours in a normal open fixture, and those are the expensive brands. In traffic use during the summer I'd bet they would die much sooner than an incandescent bulb since the electronics would be baked alive (incandescent traffic lights generally last about two years each). The proper LED retrofits are better designed to dissipate heat even in a hot environment, as they have a large open space inside the bulb. This is also why filament LEDs wouldn't be viable, since they have much less space for heat dissipation and would likely die within a couple of months. They already die more quickly than normal LED bulbs after all. Lastly, in snowy areas, household LED bulbs couldn't melt the snow that can accumulate on the lens. In 2012 there was also no good solution for the proper LED retrofits but as of some years ago manufacturers created LED retrofits which can detect conditions where snow buildup is likely and melt it with integrated heater wires on the lens, and since the heaters only need to heat the lens they still consume far less power than the incandescent bulb, and only in those conditions.
MitchginDot I want to know why RUclips doesn't report on the issues when a traffic light several times like I've been stuck at a traffic light for almost an hour and a half once because my side was red never went to me in fact it's skip the cycle altogether and the side that was supposed to go read I could see the light I could get where I could see the other side light it went green yellow green
Sorry to hear about situation, anime. Sounds like a sensor isn't recognizing your vehicle at the intersection. Which intersection does this occur on? If a state road is involved (I, M or US routes), we can help. If both roads are local roads, then you'll need to get in touch with the local road agency in that area, typically the city or county. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching our videos!
We haven't really had any issues, Siren. If we do run into an issue with snow packed in during winter storms, crews have been instructed to take care of it.
Usually if you use a cap visor instead of a tunnel visor, the snow problem is less likely. Also, newer LEDs nowadays are a lot like the incandescents now with no more individual bulbs, but instead looks like a full lens. All our county and state sets have span wire installations, and I have yet to see any of those newer LEDs fail.
LEDs do save power but during a severe snow storm. The LEDs get covered in snow and ice and since LEDs do not create heat the ice and snow doesn't melt
The led module is able to be used for both traffic and railroad signals
Changing the bulbs on the traffic lights is such a great and innovative way to save energy. This should be done in all states to save electricity. Its all about making the carbon footprint smaller!
Nice video and I wish I worked for you! Right up my street! Good information video.
Thanks for the comment! While it is relatively rare for winter conditions to create an obstruction in the signal heads, they do sometimes occur like you said and our crews respond quickly to clear them. As with situations where signals go dark during power outages, motorists need to proceed with additional caution.
Okay what do they call the issue in a traffic light where one side never goes green for like almost an hour and a half but it goes through a cycle where you can make out the other side light it goes green to Yellow back to Greens that are red because I don't seem like I ever see RUclips video touching on this issue I want spent an hour and a half at a traffic light because of that
A few traffic lights in my neighbourhood the red bulbs are still burnt out I think they should all be led as they last longer
@@simonbaker2501 leds have glitches
@@leakesonasucs how do LEDs have glitches
A lot of traffic lights in my neighbourhood still use incandescent bulbs even with the red and green Man do you think traffic lights and pedestrian crossings should all be led
Great Video
In wickliffe Ohio, Norfolk Southern installed new gates at east 305th Street and it has incandescent lights
really nice video :)
if they use black lense that would look more better and is better for seeing the signal if the sun is bright :)
Well explained technological differences between led traffic lights and normal lights. This is really helpful.
where I live although most of the traffic signals have been replaced with led over the last 10-15 years now Im starting to notice led lighting on highways making it much brighter at night helping visability alot at night
Not to mention the LED lights are more vibrant and colorful.
I would like to point out that a multi diodes on the railroad crossing and traffic signals is being recalled due to diodes burning outs.
All traffic lights should be led because LED diodes last longer than the incandescent bulb
That type of LED you saw in the railroad crossing signal actually has a shorter life than the incandescent. A traffic signal incandescent bulb can last for 16,000 hours which is actually around 10 years but that type of LED has died in just 4 to 5 years.
@@sandiegotrafficlightstrain354 Dialight LED’s are the best, we have some 15 year old Dialight led modules in traffic signals still working today.
I'm not sure how you feel that the railroad crossing LEDs are so-called vandal-resistant compared to the standard incandescent both of them can be smashed or stolen, on a more important note, the only issue that I see as an Electronics technician and somebody who has followed signal technology for many many years is the downside of these LEDs in the Northeast and snowy parts of the region is that the fact that they don't emit any type of heat or warmth, and they allow snow to accumulate over their faces and therefore many times during blowing and drifting snow, makes them difficult to see if at all, I understand that there are some LED replacement units that may have some type of built-in heaters? But I think that would kind of defeat the purpose of the energy-saving LED product to begin with, any comments on this?
The bulbs with heaters can detect when to run the heater and therefore only need to run sometimes. They also only heat the front surface of the lens meaning they use much less power anyway even whilst heating, since the rest of the fixture can remain frosty cold. After all, snow on top of the thing doesn't really matter.
Near my house, at Harlem Avenue, and Oakton Street in Niles, Illinois. the lights are Incandescent. I was thinking of LED signals at that intersection?
Why is there a New England Central train in Michigan?
I'm amazed that these signals didn't use halogen in the first place!
"If the red bulb burns out that could be a hazard"
NO, if you know that broken traffic light means always stop and to use the same rules as a crossroad without traffic lights.
what?
The FAA is also using LED for runways and taxiways at airports.
A span wire, awesome! I do like these LEDs with the colored lenses, I don't really like the ones as much where only the red light has the colored lens.
When all the signals have colored lenses sometime you'll see 'ghost signals" from the sun reflecting off of them. Especially the south facing signals in the northern latitudes.
I like how he didn’t use the backplates. I live in Pennsylvania and our traffic lights are yellow instead of black. The backplates are a waste of money in my opinion.
what about the snow and ice that covers the light, the incandescent light puts out some heat to help melt the snow or ice that would cover the light, led lights dont melt snow and ice therefore i have came across several lights over the winter that were led and snow covered and could barley see the light, i think that is a safety hazzard
If you can barely see the light, you're supposed to treat it as if it's on. Standard driving procedure...
We could put new LEDs in these traffic signals before they wear out, and repurpose the LED fixtures for other markets. Because repurposing is eco-friendly too. Not to mention secondhand markets enable some businesses to pay lower price for a product, as well as help the original buyer offset costs.
Yeah it looks really nice when some of the led chips are burned. Seriously though, why dont they just screw in an led bulb?
There are a few reasons.
Normal A19 LED bulbs are all diffused and therefore wouldn't utilize the reflector since the light all goes forward, resulting in a hot spot in the middle of the lens and too wide of a viewing angle where cross traffic could potentially see the light at its full brightness. Proper LED retrofits have a better design and the light is quite even and directional, especially in modern units. I've got some 8-inch fixtures with the old incandescent setup of a glass lens and an aluminum reflector and they certainly suffer from that problem with normal bulbs, and I assume that 12-inch fixtures would too. I do know that filament-style LEDs exist and they do solve the optics problem, but more on that in the next paragraph.
The other problem is that on sunny summer days traffic fixtures get HOT inside, especially the superior black painted ones, since they're a sealed aluminum box with no shielding from the sun. Incandescent bulbs don't care about heat but normal A19 LED lights can barely keep themselves cool enough to survive 10,000 hours in a normal open fixture, and those are the expensive brands. In traffic use during the summer I'd bet they would die much sooner than an incandescent bulb since the electronics would be baked alive (incandescent traffic lights generally last about two years each). The proper LED retrofits are better designed to dissipate heat even in a hot environment, as they have a large open space inside the bulb. This is also why filament LEDs wouldn't be viable, since they have much less space for heat dissipation and would likely die within a couple of months. They already die more quickly than normal LED bulbs after all.
Lastly, in snowy areas, household LED bulbs couldn't melt the snow that can accumulate on the lens. In 2012 there was also no good solution for the proper LED retrofits but as of some years ago manufacturers created LED retrofits which can detect conditions where snow buildup is likely and melt it with integrated heater wires on the lens, and since the heaters only need to heat the lens they still consume far less power than the incandescent bulb, and only in those conditions.
I prefer incandescent signals, they’re so much nicer.
So we meet again!
Yes
@@TexasRailfan2008 yes
MitchginDot I want to know why RUclips doesn't report on the issues when a traffic light several times like I've been stuck at a traffic light for almost an hour and a half once because my side was red never went to me in fact it's skip the cycle altogether and the side that was supposed to go read I could see the light I could get where I could see the other side light it went green yellow green
Sorry to hear about situation, anime. Sounds like a sensor isn't recognizing your vehicle at the intersection. Which intersection does this occur on? If a state road is involved (I, M or US routes), we can help. If both roads are local roads, then you'll need to get in touch with the local road agency in that area, typically the city or county. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching our videos!
That signal is a eagle signal durasig light
LED last longer than incandescent.
However they are ugly to look at
I want a traffic light
like
I perfer incandescent traffic signals.
I agree
Incandescent signals are better than LED ones
They are fine until it snows.
light bob
hey bob, how's your lights?
News flash! LED Traffic lights are M U C H more unsafe during winter
We haven't really had any issues, Siren. If we do run into an issue with snow packed in during winter storms, crews have been instructed to take care of it.
MichiganDOT, Oh, but incandescent lamps kinda save the pain of brushing it off
No pain at all, really.
So use incandescent because it saves you pain
As we stated previously, no pain at all.
Not to mention LED lights send out more EMF -_-
Cell phone brain damage all over again.... be reminded that most of the LED is covered in a grounded metal housing.