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large custom made illuminated display panel, to simulate traffic signals at a 'typical intersection'

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    Posted 6 years ago

    AnythingOb…
    (1778 items)

    It occurred to me that I haven't really ever shared very much of my traffic signal/control collection on CW (probably since most of it remains piled forlornly in the basement, but whatever...) so why not show this, the newest (as well as physically biggest?!!) item to join that one of my "collections"... <lol> Pictured here in the back of my truck, on its way home.

    EDIT: I have just substituted one of the original pics for another, now finally showing the panel 'lit up' and operating! :-)

    This is a BIG (3-1/2'h x 4'w ?!!) custom made display panel, fitted with 56 industrial-quality indicator lights which are all wired to two 'pigtails' which exit the bottom of the unit, ready to be connected to some (no longer present) variety of traffic signal controller timer, in order to simulate the actual operation of the signal lights which would be installed at any odd real-world intersection. No doubt an in-house product of the State DOT sign shops, I would presume it was built within the last 5-6 yrs for 'demonstration purposes' within the ARDOT offices somewhere. Its particular array of lights strongly suggest this theory, in that the panel is set up to display what is termed a "flashing yellow arrow left turn movement" (in traffic-geek-speak) which has actually only been publicly introduced and brought into common usage here within that same rather recent time frame.

    Its front panel is essentially a custom printed/punched 'highway sign' unto itself, made of authentic heavy (1/8" or so) aluminum sign stock faced with real "sign sheeting". [a weatherproof, reflectorized outer layer of a tough plastic material which bears the actual lettering/legend] It is mounted to a (nicely crafted!) shallow plywood frame/box with piano-hinged rear panel, such that the entire display would ultimately be able to swing open for access to its interior once bolted to a wall somewhere.

    It was spotted during a visit to a local "surplus State property" warehouse sale last week sitting on a pallet across the room, while I was otherwise looking at smaller items on tables. The unmistakable green interstate-sign color caught my eye nearly immediately, and I said to myself: "wow, that's cool, but its so HUGE -- there's NO WAY I could take that thing home?!!". Then, after eventually finding my way across the warehouse I made the mistake (?) of actually looking at its *price tag* -- immediately saying to myself: "oh sh*t, now I've **GOTTA** take this thing home...??!!" <LOL> [on that point, suffice it to say that one couldn't buy half the wire in it alone, for what I paid for the whole thing...?!]

    The guys that helped me load it seemed slightly perplexed when I answered their "whadda you gonna do with that" question, by telling them I was gonna hang it up on my wall and light it up again, just as intended...? They obviously didn't quite grasp the proper concept of being a true "collector", but who cares about that...? <wink><giggle>

    ANOTHER EDIT: Indeed, I finally managed to get the display actually *working* in my collection, ultimately by having a small printed circuit board 'controller' custom made which is now installed inside it to 'run the show', more or less as it would have been intended. Though I still have some furniture moving/arranging to do to find it a permanent 'spot' in the house, I made a couple of quick YouTube video clips to show it in operation. I am THRILLED with how the project turned out, and have been thoroughly enjoying watching my new 'light show' ever since -- hope y'all enjoy it too!! :-) ;-) :-) :-) ;-)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkkN1gir6kU

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZKJRXhpe6I

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    Comments

    1. AnythingObscure AnythingObscure, 6 years ago
      Why THANK YOU SO MUCH Thomas, for such a kind compliment?!! ;-) ;-) :-)

      This panel is most certainly "unique" and "one of a kind" at the very least...but I'd bet the whole idea of collecting traffic lights and controllers is technically more "obscure", in general...? <lol>

      Frankly, at the moment by biggest dilemma is to choose a suitable controller unit from my collection (a couple dozen various machines, at least...I'm sort of a 'controller junkie') of those, then build some sort of 'interface' for it to actually drive the panel -- not to mention trying to decide which wall in my house I want to ultimately bolt the enormous thing too...?? <LOL>

      MORE KIND THANKS to: fortapache, Toyrebel, Roycroftbooksfromme1, Caperkid, jscott0363, blunderbuss2, & elanski for also stopping by and tapping the <love it> button -- I'm happy all y'all can see (at least some of) the great fun I see myself, every time I currently glance at it?! [even if that is strapped to a dolly in the carport, for the moment?]

    2. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 6 years ago
      why not wire all your controllers to the lights and set each one on a timer ,that way you can just keep buying them and adding them as you please....smiling
    3. AnythingObscure AnythingObscure, 6 years ago
      Well, it took a little longer (and cost a bit more) than I might have first thought -- but I finally got this display panel LIT UP AND WORKING, and just added a couple links to quick YouTube links for any of y'all that might be curious to see what it does...? ;-) Enjoy, y'all!! :-) :-) :-)
    4. AnythingObscure AnythingObscure, 5 years ago
      MORE THANKS to aura (for bringing this thing up again) and to Brunswick, hot2cultcha, & charmsomeone for stopping by and leaving your <love it>s for my blinkie-light panel which is happily doing its thing behind me as I type this!!
      :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

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