On a recent club ride I heard about using the "Green Light Trigger" device to trip inductive coil traffic light sensors. This product is manufactured for motorcycles. Any in the group have experience using the GLT or have any other ideas for triggering traffic signals when no autobeast is present? I've called around the cycle shops in Sacramento and the GLT is not available locally. Sources?
"L.A." <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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On a recent club ride I heard about using the "Green Light Trigger" device to trip inductive coil traffic light sensors. This product is manufactured for motorcycles. Any in the group have experience using the GLT or have any other ideas for triggering traffic signals when no autobeast is present? I've called around the cycle shops in Sacramento and the GLT is not available locally. Sources?
"L.A." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
On a recent club ride I heard about using the "Green Light Trigger" device to trip inductive coil traffic light sensors. This product is manufactured for motorcycles. Any in the group have experience using the GLT or have any other ideas for triggering traffic signals when no autobeast is present? I've called around the cycle shops in Sacramento and the GLT is not available locally. Sources?
I have one mounted on my GRR and as far as I can tell my old method of muttering, "Change, dammit!" works just as well.
"when there are no autobeasts around" I run the light. I have even stopped using the pedestrian button most times. When I push the button it really ties up traffic since the signal then holds for a "virtual" pedestrian and I am usually two blocks away before it changes again.
In other words, In my experience, the lights that I couldn't trigger without the GLT won't trigger with the GLT.
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
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Any in the group have experience using the GLT
Lon,
I have one mounted on my GRR and as far as I can tell my old method of muttering, "Change, dammit!" works just as well.
"when there are no autobeasts around" I run the light.
It is your obligation to do so when you can safely. The light that does not trip for your vehicle is defective. Treat it as you would any other defective light. You also have an obligation to report the defective light.
Texas Code: Sec. 551.101. Rights and Duties
(a) A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle...
You have a right to a working green light.
--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗ - Bellaire, TX USA -
In Pennsylvania, all DOT-approved coil-controlled traffic lights must sense bicycles. The rule here is: if it doesn't change for you, treat it as a stop sign and proceed only after stopping and determining that the intersection is safe.
One note about pedestrian crosswalk buttons: many neighborhoods are now installing these to turn ALL lights red and then signal pedestrians with a "walk" sign. Take note to that if you plan to push that button - you won't get a green light and will have to act like a ped.
L.A. wrote: Any in the group have experience using the GLT or have any other ideas for triggering traffic signals when no autobeast is present?
I have had a Green Light Trigger mounted to the bottom frame of my VTX (that's a motorcycle for you bicycle-only guys) for about six months now. It has absolutely "cured" two stubborn lights on my regular route. There are a few catches, however:
The GLT must be close to the ground to be effective - I don't recall the recommended maximum distance to ground, but 6" (or closer) is ideal. Also, the "signal" is generated by the motion of the GLT passing over the sensor coil (which is below the road surface). The instructions recommend rolling over the sensor at 6 to 8 mph. While it's no problem to do this on most motorcycles (and still brake safely before the intersection), it may be more difficult on a bicycle.
I have a big powerful magnet I took off of an old woofer. I use it to find small parts I drop in the grass. It is kinda heavy, and I'll hafta think up a way to mount it on my R40. The field may be oriented the wrong way too. But maybe....
And puleeeze don't tell me to work on concrete of put a cloth down. If I wuz capable of learning that simple bit of wizdom I wudda larned it a long time ago.
"L.A." <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On a recent club ride I heard about using the "Green Light Trigger" device to trip inductive coil traffic light sensors. This product is manufactured for motorcycles. Any in the group have experience using the GLT or have any other ideas for triggering traffic signals when no autobeast is present? I've called around the cycle shops in Sacramento and the GLT is not available locally. Sources?
Lon HepCat
The coil type switches can usually be triggered by a magnet. Go to wondermagnet.com and get some nice strong neos. Hook one to the bottom of your frame and it might do the trick for you. If it doesn't work, you still have a very nice, very strong magnet to use somewhere else.
A more unscrupulous method I've seen used is to take advantage of the emergency vehicle sensors. The older style operates by detecting flashing lights and usually have the sensor mounted above the lights on the light pole. People have made the lights change by flashing their headlights or flashing a bright flashlight at the sensor. As these were prone to abuse, the newer emergency vehicle light controllers are operated by radio from small transmitters mounted in the emergency vehicles but there might still be light sensors around where you live.
The coil type switches can usually be triggered by a magnet. Go to wondermagnet.com and get some nice strong neos. Hook one to the bottom of your frame and it might do the trick for you. If it doesn't work, you still have a very nice, very strong magnet to use somewhere else.
But don't ride with your creditcards anywhere near it. ;-)
"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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"Sticker Jim" skrev
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The coil type switches can usually be triggered by a magnet. Go to wondermagnet.com and get some nice strong neos. Hook one to the bottom
of
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
your frame and it might do the trick for you. If it doesn't work, you
still
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
have a very nice, very strong magnet to use somewhere else.
But don't ride with your creditcards anywhere near it. ;-)
M.
Nope. 🙂 I used some neos when I built my windmill and they are crazy strong, even dangerous strong. I pinched off a fair piece of my finger when I wasn't paying attention and brought them too close together and they were only 1.25" x 3/8" disks.
A neo might tend to pick up lots of fine pieces off the road too. Might even be a small public service to do a magnetic sweep of the areas we ride? 🙂
"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
"Sticker Jim" skrev
Quoted message said:
The coil type switches can usually be triggered by a magnet. Go to wondermagnet.com and get some nice strong neos. Hook one to the bottom
of
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
your frame and it might do the trick for you. If it doesn't work, you
still
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
have a very nice, very strong magnet to use somewhere else.
But don't ride with your creditcards anywhere near it. ;-)
M.
Nope. 🙂 I used some neos when I built my windmill and they are crazy strong, even dangerous strong. I pinched off a fair piece of my finger when I wasn't paying attention and brought them too close together and they were only 1.25" x 3/8" disks.
A neo might tend to pick up lots of fine pieces off the road too. Might even be a small public service to do a magnetic sweep of the areas we ride? 🙂
I just had idle thought. Would it be possible to make an electromagnet running off a lightweight battery that could be triggered only when crossing into the sensor zone. I would think it could be pretty powerful and light weight. Thoughts?
Traffic detectors use 'induction' and 'changes in resonant frequency' and NOT magnetism. Poor 'magnetism', the only invisible force y'all can feel so it is used by health quacks and now traffic engineer quacks.
"Walter N Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Sticker Jim said:
"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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I just had idle thought. Would it be possible to make an electromagnet running off a lightweight battery that could be triggered only when crossing into the sensor zone. I would think it could be pretty powerful and light weight. Thoughts?
An inductor is about as simple as an electronic component can get -- it is simply a coil of wire. It turns out, however, that a coil of wire can do some very interesting things because of the magnetic properties of a coil.
Putting iron in the core of an inductor gives it much more inductance than air or any non-magnetic core would.
The inductance will be much larger because of the large steel object positioned in the loop's magnetic field. The car parked over the coil is acting like the core of the inductor, and its presence changes the inductance of the coil. Most traffic light sensors use the loop in this way. The sensor constantly tests the inductance of the loop in the road, and when the inductance rises it knows there is a car waiting!
Bob Wand
Dallas, TX
"Doug Huffman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Traffic detectors use 'induction' and 'changes in resonant frequency' and NOT magnetism. Poor 'magnetism', the only invisible force y'all can feel
so
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it is used by health quacks and now traffic engineer quacks.
"Walter N Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Sticker Jim said:
"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... >
I just had idle thought. Would it be possible to make an electromagnet running off a lightweight battery that could be triggered only when crossing into the sensor zone. I would think it could be pretty powerful and light weight. Thoughts?
I wonder how many here would choke (pun) on saturable current potential transformers? Or that before transistors they were common control interfaces and still are in high current applications.
Thanks for being a voice of reason.
"Bob Wand" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:d5nib.552115$cF.227268@rwcrnsc53...
Quoted message said:
An inductor is about as simple as an electronic component can get -- it is simply a coil of wire. It turns out, however, that a coil of wire can do some very interesting things because of the magnetic properties of a coil.
Putting iron in the core of an inductor gives it much more inductance than air or any non-magnetic core would.
The inductance will be much larger because of the large steel object positioned in the loop's magnetic field. The car parked over the coil is acting like the core of the inductor, and its presence changes the inductance of the coil. Most traffic light sensors use the loop in this
way.
Quoted message said:
The sensor constantly tests the inductance of the loop in the road, and
when
Quoted message said:
the inductance rises it knows there is a car waiting!
Bob Wand
Dallas, TX
"Doug Huffman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Traffic detectors use 'induction' and 'changes in resonant frequency'
and
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
NOT magnetism. Poor 'magnetism', the only invisible force y'all can
feel
Quoted message said:
so
Quoted message said:
it is used by health quacks and now traffic engineer quacks.
"Walter N Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 14:01:04 GMT, "Sticker Jim" <[email hidden]> wrote:
> >"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >"]news:[email hidden]... >> I just had idle thought. Would it be possible to make an electromagnet running off a lightweight battery that could be triggered only when crossing into the sensor zone. I would think it could be pretty powerful and light weight. Thoughts?