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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: traffic light guy on October 04, 2015, 11:13:09 AM

Title: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: traffic light guy on October 04, 2015, 11:13:09 AM
I saw a set of 12-inch McCain signals, they were incandescent, installed about 15-20 years ago, I even saw another an early-90s TCT signal and the green lenses were burnt, cheap plastic of the 1980s/mid 90s!
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: freebrickproductions on October 04, 2015, 12:59:41 PM
Alabama still has tons of incandescent signals state-wide, though many of the larger cities and towns have upgraded most of their signals to LED.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: The High Plains Traveler on October 04, 2015, 01:41:24 PM
Seems to me that most of the new signals installed by Colorado DOT in the Pueblo area are incandescent, at least on the solid light lenses.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: Mohkfry on October 04, 2015, 03:57:33 PM
There are loads of Incandescent signals in Northwest Indiana. Most are owned and maintained by cities and towns. All of the remaining INDOT maintained incandescent signals are being retrofitted with LED's as bulbs fail.

Gary, Indiana is still at least 80% incandescent. The superintendent of the Traffic Dept. said they prefer incandescent over LED. Only thing installed today that is LED in Gary is replacement signals for knockdowns.

Highland, IN is still Incandescent with the exception of Kennedy Ave north of Ridge Rd.

Hammond, IN still has a few stragglers here and there that remain incandescent.

Merrilville, IN refuses to upgrade anything to LED with the exception of new installs since they can't be ordered incandescent anymore.

Griffith, IN is still half incandescent (this includes a set of Checker signals).

Monticello, IN has 3 out the 5 city maintained intersections incandescent. The other 2 are newer installs.
They even replaced a single LED flasher with an incandescent flasher within the past year.

Chesterton, IN has this interesting intersection that remains incandescent.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6166582,-87.0503656,3a,75y,287.26h,81.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-MzLoq1XtuXnOtYGvfHeXQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

If I had to estimate, there's probably at least 150 or more intersections around the NW Indiana district that still remain either fully incandescent, or just have incandescent pedestrian signals.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm pretty sure there are more though.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: cl94 on October 05, 2015, 05:24:40 PM
Buffalo has a bunch of incandescents scattered around. I'd go as far as to say most signals in the city are incandescent.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: PHLBOS on October 05, 2015, 05:26:36 PM
Both Greater Boston and Greater Philly still have plenty of incandescent signals around.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: traffic light guy on October 05, 2015, 06:08:48 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on October 05, 2015, 05:26:36 PM
Both Greater Boston and Greater Philly still have plenty of incandescent signals around.

I don't know about Boston, but Philly retrofitted there older signals with LEDs 5 years ago in 2010.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: Buffaboy on October 05, 2015, 06:18:26 PM
Quote from: cl94 on October 05, 2015, 05:24:40 PM
Buffalo has a bunch of incandescents scattered around. I'd go as far as to say most signals in the city are incandescent.

I saw someone posted that most signals in the US are now LED. However, I thought that couldn't be the case because I have looked at many Erie County and Buffalo signals over a long period of time and can infer that only about 1/3 or more are LED, while as you get closer to the city they are incandescent. In fact, I just look at the bulbs, and if they switch immediately, then they must be LEDs, but if they work like light switches/bulbs, then they must be incandescent,
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: PHLBOS on October 05, 2015, 06:18:47 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on October 05, 2015, 06:08:48 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on October 05, 2015, 05:26:36 PM
Both Greater Boston and Greater Philly still have plenty of incandescent signals around.

I don't know about Boston, but Philly retrofitted there older signals with LEDs 5 years ago in 2010.
When I say "Greater Boston or Philly" I'm not necessarily refering to just the cities themselves but the surrounding suburbs as well.  Yes, Philly itself retrofitted most of not all of their older signals with LEDs (some might still remain on the outer fringes); but for the surrounding 4 counties (Delaware, Chester, Montgomery & Bucks)... not necessarily.  Where I live (in Delaware County, PA), there's at least 3 sets of signals within a 1-mile radius that are still largely incandescents.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: Michael on October 15, 2015, 08:56:22 PM
Here in Auburn, some street lights were converted to LED a couple of years ago.  They're the all metal ones on NY 326, the Arterial, part of North and State streets, the part of Franklin St next to the Arterial, and the Lake Ave bridge.  For a few years, there were a few different types of street lights installed on John Walsh Blvd in what I assume was a test of different lights.  Those have been converted to LED as well.

As for traffic lights, some are LED and some are incandescent.  I never paid attention to how many of each there are.  Starting last summer. several signals have been completely replaced, including the supports.  I've only seen incandescent replacements used.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: jbnv on October 15, 2015, 09:48:24 PM
There are plenty of incandescent signals here in southeast Louisiana.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: cl94 on October 15, 2015, 10:04:21 PM
Quote from: Michael on October 15, 2015, 08:56:22 PM
Here in Auburn, some street lights were converted to LED a couple of years ago.  They're the all metal ones on NY 326, the Arterial, part of North and State streets, the part of Franklin St next to the Arterial, and the Lake Ave bridge.  For a few years, there were a few different types of street lights installed on John Walsh Blvd in what I assume was a test of different lights.  Those have been converted to LED as well.

As for traffic lights, some are LED and some are incandescent.  I never paid attention to how many of each there are.  Starting last summer. several signals have been completely replaced, including the supports.  I've only seen incandescent replacements used.

They're not incandescent. They're the new style of LED. New incandescent signals are pretty much unheard of.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: Michael on October 16, 2015, 05:13:09 PM
Quote from: cl94 on October 15, 2015, 10:04:21 PM
Quote from: Michael on October 15, 2015, 08:56:22 PM
Here in Auburn, some street lights were converted to LED a couple of years ago.  They're the all metal ones on NY 326, the Arterial, part of North and State streets, the part of Franklin St next to the Arterial, and the Lake Ave bridge.  For a few years, there were a few different types of street lights installed on John Walsh Blvd in what I assume was a test of different lights.  Those have been converted to LED as well.

As for traffic lights, some are LED and some are incandescent.  I never paid attention to how many of each there are.  Starting last summer. several signals have been completely replaced, including the supports.  I've only seen incandescent replacements used.

They're not incandescent. They're the new style of LED. New incandescent signals are pretty much unheard of.
Really?  To me, the left signal head at this intersection (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.93098,-76.576336,3a,15.2y,71.22h,96.96t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s9TIiLgmdpknVnhb-hDDKdQ!2e0) looks LED, and the right one looks incandescent.  This one was replaced last year.  This signal (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.933248,-76.559198,3a,11.8y,103.56h,96.22t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s-OufABPVjrTYF-095at4NQ!2e0) was replaced in 2008, and to me, it also looks incandescent.  I originally thought signals like these (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.933119,-76.561213,3a,36y,181.27h,115.85t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s9Xl7xaxOFMJXrTNPLz9aXw!2e0) were incandescent, but after zooming in, it looks like there are LEDs visible.  I thought the bright spots were the prisms on the inside of the lens.  I guess it makes more sense that these are LED since I've seen partially defective signals like these before, and obviously that only happens with LEDs.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: cl94 on October 16, 2015, 05:46:25 PM
Quote from: Michael on October 16, 2015, 05:13:09 PM
Quote from: cl94 on October 15, 2015, 10:04:21 PM
Quote from: Michael on October 15, 2015, 08:56:22 PM
Here in Auburn, some street lights were converted to LED a couple of years ago.  They're the all metal ones on NY 326, the Arterial, part of North and State streets, the part of Franklin St next to the Arterial, and the Lake Ave bridge.  For a few years, there were a few different types of street lights installed on John Walsh Blvd in what I assume was a test of different lights.  Those have been converted to LED as well.

As for traffic lights, some are LED and some are incandescent.  I never paid attention to how many of each there are.  Starting last summer. several signals have been completely replaced, including the supports.  I've only seen incandescent replacements used.

They're not incandescent. They're the new style of LED. New incandescent signals are pretty much unheard of.
Really?  To me, the left signal head at this intersection (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.93098,-76.576336,3a,15.2y,71.22h,96.96t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s9TIiLgmdpknVnhb-hDDKdQ!2e0) looks LED, and the right one looks incandescent.  This one was replaced last year.  This signal (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.933248,-76.559198,3a,11.8y,103.56h,96.22t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s-OufABPVjrTYF-095at4NQ!2e0) was replaced in 2008, and to me, it also looks incandescent.  I originally thought signals like these (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.933119,-76.561213,3a,36y,181.27h,115.85t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s9Xl7xaxOFMJXrTNPLz9aXw!2e0) were incandescent, but after zooming in, it looks like there are LEDs visible.  I thought the bright spots were the prisms on the inside of the lens.  I guess it makes more sense that these are LED since I've seen partially defective signals like these before, and obviously that only happens with LEDs.

The first one is likely a GE RX11 (http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/na/solutions/transportation-lighting/led-traffic-signals/rx11-signals-ultra-thin.jsp). They're used quite a bit for in-place retrofits, but occasionally are installed new. The ones that look classic incandescent signals are likely GE GTX (http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/na/solutions/transportation-lighting/led-traffic-signals/gtx-led-signals-120v.jsp) or similar. The GT series is designed to look like an incandescent lamp.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: M3019C LPS20 on October 16, 2015, 06:03:06 PM
Some traffic signals that control crosswalks in Central Pk. in Manhattan, N.Y. still use incandescent lamps, but they are technically not controlled by the NYCDOT.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: UsTraveleR21 on November 02, 2017, 09:57:37 PM
Why dont they use LEd lights?
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: UsTraveleR21 on November 02, 2017, 10:00:25 PM
According to this article https://www.sompor.com/blog/ (https://www.sompor.com/blog/)LED lights are great. They last around 20 times longer and consume up to 90% less energy when compared to halogen or incandescent lighting, which helps you save money on your energy bills so why are they not changing their light. So old-fashioned? Don't you think?
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 02, 2017, 11:53:26 PM
Quote from: UsTraveleR21 on November 02, 2017, 09:57:37 PM
Why dont they use LEd lights?

There's a heavy upfront cost to switch lights over. Most agencies are doing so, but some are doing it on a case by case basis.

You're also responding to be 2 year old thread, so some areas that hadn't switched over in 2015 may have since switched.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: kphoger on November 03, 2017, 11:45:55 AM
I sometimes notice flickering at LED installations, but I don't think I've ever seen flickering with incandescents.  Why is that?
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: signalman on November 03, 2017, 11:54:48 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 03, 2017, 11:45:55 AM
I sometimes notice flickering at LED installations, but I don't think I've ever seen flickering with incandescents.  Why is that?
Do you know if they were LED retrofits or new installations?  Could be poor electrical connections on retrofits.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: kphoger on November 03, 2017, 11:57:21 AM
Quote from: signalman on November 03, 2017, 11:54:48 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 03, 2017, 11:45:55 AM
I sometimes notice flickering at LED installations, but I don't think I've ever seen flickering with incandescents.  Why is that?
Do you know if they were LED retrofits or new installations?  Could be poor electrical connections on retrofits.

That's likely, as I believe they were retrofits.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: freebrickproductions on November 04, 2017, 02:18:03 AM
Older LEDs may also have issues with the soldering on boards starting to fail.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: traffic light guy on November 04, 2017, 10:09:24 AM
Here's a set of plastic McCain heads, these were installed in the Late-90s/early-2000s:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1742041,-75.0987238,3a,75y,326.05h,93.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slvqRFecaip3QizyWjQNRyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0

No LEDs, a PA funding program is getting rid of these soon
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: cjk374 on November 05, 2017, 06:30:11 AM
Many LED retrofits in north Louisiana have been deretrofitted back to incandescent due to flickering.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: KEVIN_224 on November 05, 2017, 08:54:59 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on November 04, 2017, 10:09:24 AM
Here's a set of plastic McCain heads, these were installed in the Late-90s/early-2000s:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1742041,-75.0987238,3a,75y,326.05h,93.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slvqRFecaip3QizyWjQNRyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0

No LEDs, a PA funding program is getting rid of these soon

Your linked image is facing the wrong direction! Here...give this a try! :)

https://goo.gl/maps/9dDtr4BoXS12
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: signalman on November 09, 2017, 12:09:24 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on November 05, 2017, 06:30:11 AM
Many LED retrofits in north Louisiana have been deretrofitted back to incandescent due to flickering.
I had never experienced this flickering of LEDs that you and kphoger had mentioned until last night at work while I was outside.  I've never noticed this light flicker before, and it was only the red light on one signal (out of 3) doing it.  I'll have to pay closer attention to it on future work nights when I'm outside.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: thenetwork on November 09, 2017, 01:06:36 PM
Id say about 98% of the traffic lights in Western Colorado are LEDs.  There are only 2-3 intersections where a couple of signals out of the whole set are still incandescent.  I'm wondering if they are doing it for comparison purposes because the other lights were upgraded years ago?

Speaking of LED lighting, Most of the street (not traffic) lights on the main roads in my neck of the woods have also converted to white LED lighting, including all CDOT-maintained roads (including the Interstate exits), Grand Junction main arterial roads and most Mesa County intersections served by Xcel Energy.  Exceptions are some of the more "decorative" bridges and lampposts in certain areas.  This was done in earnest last fall and really came out looking nice.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: freebrickproductions on November 10, 2017, 01:29:39 AM
Quote from: cjk374 on November 05, 2017, 06:30:11 AM
Many LED retrofits in north Louisiana have been deretrofitted back to incandescent due to flickering.
I personally doubt it. I wouldn't be surprised if the older LEDs got replaced with "incandescent look" LEDs instead...
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: CJResotko on March 28, 2019, 10:03:33 PM
Ingham County, MI, still has a bunch of incandescent traffic signals. Almost all of them are in the northwestern part of the county, in Lansing, and most are on I-96BL, I-69BL/M-43, and Old US 27.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: paulthemapguy on March 29, 2019, 12:46:13 PM
This one counts, I think!

The funny thing with this southbound signal is--the 5-section head has been replaced with one that's all-LED (in the time since the GSV image was taken).  Thus, there's a 3-section tower of incandescent bulbs next to one that's LED, so you can compare the green, yellow, and red hues side-by-side.

https://goo.gl/maps/BnJoPyBD6yK2
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: Michael on March 29, 2019, 08:51:58 PM
I drove past this (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.054085,-76.0754517,3a,15y,312.61h,94.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sR3njkSopHk8WCED8VghY8g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) left turn arrow on Wednesday, which looked like an incendescent signal to me, but the red arrow looked like an LED.  Both the green and yellow lights were dull, had a hot spot in the middle, and had a slight fade when changing.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: signalman on April 02, 2019, 12:18:50 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9207154,-74.4926797,3a,80.4y,9.41h,93.07t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sqhY1ctGsHgm_ASSibLIPuA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DqhY1ctGsHgm_ASSibLIPuA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D150.29393%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100


Passing through this intersection earlier made me think of this thread.  IMO, this should either be in flash mode permanently or at least most of the time.  The only times that I can imagine a need for a signal here is during the morning and evening rush as there's several employers up on the side road (Commons Way).  Even in the morning, I can only imagine the need for SB CR 513 aka Green Pond Road to get a red light to allow queued vehicles to turn left onto Commons.  In the afternoon, I'd imagine the majority of the traffic would turn right to head towards I-80, so there would be little need to stop NB CR 513 traffic unnecessarily.

At the very least, if it's going to be fully operational at all times, the green should be changed to LED since that is what's illuminated the vast majority of the time.  As well as red for Commons Way.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: traffic light guy on April 02, 2019, 06:11:40 PM
Quote from: signalman on April 02, 2019, 12:18:50 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9207154,-74.4926797,3a,80.4y,9.41h,93.07t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sqhY1ctGsHgm_ASSibLIPuA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DqhY1ctGsHgm_ASSibLIPuA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D150.29393%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100


Passing through this intersection earlier made me think of this thread.  IMO, this should either be in flash mode permanently or at least most of the time.  The only times that I can imagine a need for a signal here is during the morning and evening rush as there's several employers up on the side road (Commons Way).  Even in the morning, I can only imagine the need for SB CR 513 aka Green Pond Road to get a red light to allow queued vehicles to turn left onto Commons.  In the afternoon, I'd imagine the majority of the traffic would turn right to head towards I-80, so there would be little need to stop NB CR 513 traffic unnecessarily.

At the very least, if it's going to be fully operational at all times, the green should be changed to LED since that is what's illuminated the vast majority of the time.  As well as red for Commons Way.

Notice how the signals are installed at very remote location, which is why NJDOT didn't bother to do the upgrades.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: signalman on April 02, 2019, 07:15:38 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 02, 2019, 06:11:40 PM
Quote from: signalman on April 02, 2019, 12:18:50 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9207154,-74.4926797,3a,80.4y,9.41h,93.07t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sqhY1ctGsHgm_ASSibLIPuA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DqhY1ctGsHgm_ASSibLIPuA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D150.29393%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100


Passing through this intersection earlier made me think of this thread.  IMO, this should either be in flash mode permanently or at least most of the time.  The only times that I can imagine a need for a signal here is during the morning and evening rush as there's several employers up on the side road (Commons Way).  Even in the morning, I can only imagine the need for SB CR 513 aka Green Pond Road to get a red light to allow queued vehicles to turn left onto Commons.  In the afternoon, I'd imagine the majority of the traffic would turn right to head towards I-80, so there would be little need to stop NB CR 513 traffic unnecessarily.

At the very least, if it's going to be fully operational at all times, the green should be changed to LED since that is what's illuminated the vast majority of the time.  As well as red for Commons Way.

Notice how the signals are installed at very remote location, which is why NJDOT didn't bother to do the upgrades.
Don't let the trees fool you, it's not exactly remote.  There's plenty of residential and commercial activity very close by.  Also, it was likely installed by Morris County.  I can't think of one incandescent NJDOT installation.
Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: steviep24 on April 04, 2019, 04:40:17 PM
Rochester, NY region (NYSDOT Region 4 and Monroe Co. DOT) converted to LED's years ago but there are a few incandescent signals still around such as this one. (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1451926,-77.7092161,3a,15y,6.11h,100.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swDeLjxH79_ay9VDWaf9Pew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0)



Title: Re: Remaining incendescent signals
Post by: NE2 on April 04, 2019, 05:08:29 PM
The lights on Osceola Parkway on the ramps from SR 417 were recently changed from permanent blink mode to normal operation. The green (and presumably the red) are still the original incandescent bulbs.