Solar traffic light
Encyclopedia
Solar traffic lights are signalling devices powered by solar panels positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossing
s and other locations to control the flows of traffic. They assign the right of way to road users by the use of lights in standard colors (red - amber/yellow - green), using a universal color code
(and a precise sequence to enable comprehension by those who are color blind
). Most of the solar traffic lights have battery
back-up for functioning during night.
s use LED lamp
s as they are more reliableand have more advantages over other lighting devices like CFL lamps as they are more energy efficient, have a longer life span and turn on and turn off quickly.
Solar traffic lights contain enclosures which house the batteries and the control panel circuitry. Existing solar panels can also be upgraded with an auxiliary power source using solar panels for use during power failures. The other parts in a solar traffic light include a charge controller to control the charging and discharging of the battery and a countdown timer which displays the amount of time left before the battery discharges fully.
Pedestrian crossing
A pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. They are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists, and where they can cross most safely across the flow of vehicular traffic...
s and other locations to control the flows of traffic. They assign the right of way to road users by the use of lights in standard colors (red - amber/yellow - green), using a universal color code
Color code
A color code is a system for displaying information by using different colors. Color codes are often difficult for color blind and blind people to interpret....
(and a precise sequence to enable comprehension by those who are color blind
Color blindness
Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the inability or decreased ability to see color, or perceive color differences, under lighting conditions when color vision is not normally impaired...
). Most of the solar traffic lights have battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
back-up for functioning during night.
Features
Most solar traffic lightTraffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
s use LED lamp
LED lamp
An LED lamp is a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes as the source of light. The LEDs involved may be conventional semiconductor light-emitting diodes, organic LEDs , or polymer light-emitting diodes devices, although PLED technologies are not currently commercially available.Since...
s as they are more reliableand have more advantages over other lighting devices like CFL lamps as they are more energy efficient, have a longer life span and turn on and turn off quickly.
Solar traffic lights contain enclosures which house the batteries and the control panel circuitry. Existing solar panels can also be upgraded with an auxiliary power source using solar panels for use during power failures. The other parts in a solar traffic light include a charge controller to control the charging and discharging of the battery and a countdown timer which displays the amount of time left before the battery discharges fully.
Solar traffic light as an auxiliary system
Auxiliary solar traffic lights, in addition to the existing street lights, can be attached near the primary street lights. They are useful in regulating traffic when the primary system fails. The control system in the auxiliary traffic light monitors the primary system and when the primary system fails, it switches to the auxiliary system. Switching from primary system to the auxiliary system and vice versa can also be achieved using a hand-held transmitter unit.Solar traffic light during natural disasters
Solar traffic lights can also be used during periods following natural disasters, when the existing street lights may not function due to power outages and the traffic is uncontrollable. Street lights used in such scenarios are designed to be portable enough to be carried and operated by police and relief workers wherever traffic needs to be regulated.Advantages
- Solar traffic lights are self sufficient as they do not require external power sources.
- They are easy to set up and operate.
- They require very little to no maintenance as they have no moving parts.
See also
- Solar cell phone chargerSolar cell phone chargerSolar cell phone chargers use solar panels to charge cell phone batteries. They are an alternative to conventional electrical cell phone chargers and in some cases can be plugged into an electrical outlet....
- Solar notebookSolar notebookThe solar notebook is a laptop with powerful batteries that are recharged by solar panel attached to the notebook.- Features :Unlike regular laptops, some models of solar notebooks come with a flap-like structure which functions as a solar panel and can be removed if required. This generates...
- Solar powered fountainSolar powered fountainA Solar powered fountain is an electrical fountain powered by solar panel. The solar panel either forms a part of the fountain or is kept separate and is connected externally to the fountain.- Features :...
- Solar powered radioSolar powered radioA solar powered radio is a portable radio receiver powered by photovoltaic panels. It is primarily used in remote areas where access to power sources is limited.- History :...
- Solar powered flashlightSolar powered flashlightSolar powered flashlights are flashlights that can be powered through solar energy using solar cells as well as through batteries. Most of these flashlights run on LED lights due to the low energy consumption cost.- Features :...
- Solar fanSolar fanA solar fan is a mechanical fan powered by solar panels. The solar panels are either mounted on the device or are installed independently. Solar fans mostly do not require secondary power sources other than solar power, as most of them are used for cooling purposes during day time. Some types are...
- Solar street lightSolar street lightSolar street lights are raised light sources which are powered by photovoltaic panels generally mounted on the lighting structure. The photovoltaic panels charge a rechargeable battery, which powers a fluorescent or LED lamp during the night.- Features :...