Hi everyone. Nate here!
What is that thing on the mast arm?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7108%2F7408863492_1bf5bc9062_c_d.jpg&hash=9af286377571507c804c2214d2a14e27fdb12521)
- from US 71's post and Flickr
Solar panel? Thanks.
-N8
My top three guesses:
- Solar panel
- Some kind of aerial identification
- A different/new kind of preemption receiver
Yes, it appears to be a solar panel.
After I finally located this intersection on GSV, I'm more intreged by the Horizontial/Veritical traffic light setup for left turns.
http://goo.gl/maps/O7NpZ
Here's a similar one on IL-47 in Morris:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=41.405477,-88.422658&spn=0.018573,0.042272&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=41.405477,-88.422658&panoid=a7qXw7YNP6F6CzEu9TtpWA&cbp=12,323.18,,0,-43.86
For the record, I hate the new version of Google Maps.
I've seen them in Vegas as well, but its placement always made me think it was just a sign that was tilted up so traffic can't see it. Unfortunately, as often as I've walked over the roads there (or been up higher on the floors overlooking the Strip), I've never looked down to get a picture.
https://www.google.com/maps?q=las+vegas&hl=en&ll=36.10899,-115.173368&spn=0.000002,0.000517&sll=41.405549,-88.422712&sspn=0.000579,0.001034&t=h&hnear=Las+Vegas,+Clark+County,+Nevada&z=21&layer=c&cbll=36.108949,-115.173323&panoid=cmNFweL8kNd9IDgHA3spWg&cbp=12,174.45,,0,-8.99
Quote from: Brandon on February 12, 2014, 09:50:19 AM
For the record, I hate the new version of Google Maps.
If you go to Google Mapmaker, the yellow roads are back.
google.com/mapmaker (http://google.com/mapmaker)
They are vibration dampers for the mast arms; see Page 84 (or 95/148) of this document (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/signinspection.pdf)
Quote from: Revive 755 on February 12, 2014, 11:34:28 AM
They are vibration dampers for the mast arms; see Page 84 (or 95/148) of this document (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/signinspection.pdf)
So much more mundane than I had thought they were. I thought they were some sort of signal identification to be seen from the air. Cool to know what they are though.
BTW, Nate here!, don't post #flamebait, please.
Quote from: Revive 755 on February 12, 2014, 11:34:28 AM
They are vibration dampers for the mast arms; see Page 84 (or 95/148) of this document (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/signinspection.pdf)
Thank you kind sir!
I also used to think they were solar panels similar to what you'd see on streetlight poles, but now I can see where I was wrong.
Here's what solar panels look like on traffic lights in NJ. The lights are still hooked up to regular electricity as well.
http://goo.gl/maps/kG3L6
Quote from: Nate here! on February 12, 2014, 01:00:56 AM
Hi everyone. Nate here!
What is that thing on the mast arm?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7108%2F7408863492_1bf5bc9062_c_d.jpg&hash=9af286377571507c804c2214d2a14e27fdb12521)
- from US 71's post and Flickr
Solar panel? Thanks.
-N8
This is actually a vibration damper. to reduce wind induced vibration of the mast arm
Quote from: Alps on February 13, 2014, 04:37:29 PM
Quote from: Brandon on February 13, 2014, 04:16:33 PM
Quote from: Alps on February 13, 2014, 03:50:43 PM
Quote from: Revive 755
They are vibration dampers for the mast arms; see Page 84 (or 95/148) of this document (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/signinspection.pdf)
Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to the subject line.
Even though it was initiated by a troll, we did have a good discussion going on vibration dampers. I never knew what they were before.
OK, restoring what I can salvage of the topic.
Stockbridge damper is the only one I've seen out west, and they're used on some of ODOT's Warren truss sign bridges, mast arms for traffic signals and WSDOT's prism sign bridges.
If they were solar panels, they're poorly placed. You want it angled South to get maximum sunlight exposure.
Damper arm is the cover story.....part of NSA surveillance system! :bigass:
And that is the cover story for the cover story.
The Illuminati is actually behind it.
The mind hive goat from Alanland is actually behind it guys in a secret plan to convert everyone to NIMBYans. :pan:
Quote from: Indyroads on February 13, 2014, 06:49:30 PM
This is actually a vibration damper. to reduce wind induced vibration of the mast arm
Sometimes also called "galloping". Can lead to metal fatigue.