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4 way intersection traffic controller

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, August 27, 2021 9:59 AM

I’m a bit confused, the Galak Electronics Controller will handle 800ma.  That’s enough current to drive many many LEDs and at 100ma per bulb that’s 8 bulbs.
Figuring four bulbs on per phase per intersection would be two intersections using 100ma bulbs.  Using LEDs at max LED current would be 10 intersections.

I never run LEDs at max current seldom over half, at 10ma per LED the Controller would power 20 intersections.
 


From the Galak Electronics site.

 

EDIT:

The only thing missing are turn arrows.



Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951



My Model Railroad    
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Aging is not for wimps.

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Posted by Overmod on Friday, August 27, 2021 5:20 AM

NVSRR
So was it first used,  er tested, in a real traffic light before they stole, er borrowed, it to sell on ebay for under $10?

Look at the company's store on eBay, or their Web site.

(An interesting comment from the latter:)

http://www.galakelectronics.com/buyer_beware.htm

Both their model and 'full size' controllers appear to be new production, with the larger version having uprated components and other board changes to handle the higher voltage and wattages.

My understanding is that the larger board isn't intended to be a "real" traffic-light controller, ruggedized for long-term service in 'the field'; it's for collectors with historic lights or heads who want to make them light prototypically.  Much the same as guys who own signals or wigwags might want to make them operate 'for show'.

I have not seen a price for the model-railroad board 'new' lower than $16 and change.  Used, if you can find them, would be less.

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Posted by Shaniko on Friday, August 27, 2021 12:45 AM

Thanks for all the ideas but so far all I can find is a product from Mafen and it's not Available with no expected date. 

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Posted by Shaniko on Friday, August 27, 2021 12:43 AM

My tech skills are a bit limited. I prefer something as off the shelf as possible.

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Posted by Shaniko on Friday, August 27, 2021 12:42 AM

thanks for the help but according to the instructions on the website it will only power 4 traffic lights and does not include powering crosswalk lights as well.

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Posted by Shaniko on Friday, August 27, 2021 12:39 AM

Thanks for the idea but unfortunately it won't run enough lights to work. I asked them and it simply does not have enough connections.

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Posted by NVSRR on Thursday, August 26, 2021 8:46 PM

Overmod

 

 
Mark R.
Hands down, the best bang for the buck.

 

And for under $10 more they will sell you a 650W version to use with full-scale traffic lights!

 

 

 

 

So was it first used,  er tested, in a real traffic light before they stole, er borrowed, it to sell on ebay for under $10?

 

SHane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, August 26, 2021 7:05 PM

Mark R.
Hands down, the best bang for the buck.

And for under $10 more they will sell you a 650W version to use with full-scale traffic lights!

  • Member since
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  • From: Morristown, NJ
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Posted by nealknows on Thursday, August 26, 2021 3:09 PM

These guys make a traffic light circuit that will control 4 way traffic lights.

https://eastcoastcircuits.com/Circuits

There's a video on their site as well, if that helps.

Neal

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, August 26, 2021 1:08 PM

Thanks for the link Mark!!!!


Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951



My Model Railroad    
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, August 26, 2021 12:41 PM

Hands down, the best bang for the buck. Will also control crosswalk lighting and integrated railway crossing lights ....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/262384217145

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, August 26, 2021 11:29 AM

Some years ago, I bought a Walthers traffic light controller to control Walthers traffic signals.  I ended up controlling one 4-way intersection and 2 3-way intersections, for a total of 10 faces of lights.  This has all worked perfectly for years.  I believe the Walthers controller is rated to control "two intersections."

 I don't know the specs on the lights for the Walthers traffic signals.  They are quite small, but I don't even know if they're LEDs or tiny incandescent bulbs.  As I recall, these signals became unavailable for a period and then returned.

I did try a circuit from some Brand X mail order company.  The circuit worked, but I discovered it was the opposite polarity from the Walthers controller.  Since the signals have one common wire and three wires for the RYG signals, they were incompatible.  That's one thing to watch for.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, August 26, 2021 11:24 AM

Welcome

How deep is your electronic background?  You could use a driver chip to drive up to a half amp.  I use a TD62304AP driver chip to drive 100ma incandescent bulbs on my layout.


Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951



My Model Railroad    
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Thursday, August 26, 2021 9:35 AM

Shaniko
I was wondering if anyone knows of a traffic light controller that can power 4 traffic lights and crosswalk lights. I have tried using the walthers traffic light controller and just using the ports to power two lights and the crosswalk light but it does not have enough output to do it.

 

Welcome to the forum!  Your first posts are moderated and may not appear immediately, but after you post several times that will clear up.

If you want to work with building some of the light system, here is a ciruit board with instructions on how to make it work:

http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/ins/800-5820ins.pdf

 

I also know there are several companies that make ready-to-install lights with the controls.

I don't know how involved you want to be, but if you want to learn some things, Arduino is an easy-to-learn system to put electronics to work.

Good luck!  Let us know how it goes.

York1 John       

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, August 26, 2021 9:14 AM

Shaniko
I was wondering if anyone knows of a traffic light controller that can power 4 traffic lights and crosswalk lights.

This is why the Lord invented relays.

I believe even typical automotive relays "free for the taking" in wrecking yards would be suitable: use the output from the Walthers controller to drive the coil, and provide any desired size of DC powerpack 'hot' fanout to the contacts -- these relays are rated at far more contact amps than a whole scale Christmas-lights display would likely draw, so there need be little restraint on nominal amp rating of whatever power supply you use.  All the return sides from the driven 'functions' can be wired in common back to the other wire of the power supply; they won't need switched contacts except in very special circumstances.

  • Member since
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4 way intersection traffic controller
Posted by Shaniko on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 11:25 PM

I was wondering if anyone knows of a traffic light controller that can power 4 traffic lights and crosswalk lights. I have tried using the walthers traffic light controller and just using the ports to power two lights and the crosswalk light but it does not have enough output to do it.

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