LED traffic lights / solar

[Dolby]

I remember when this started a few years ago when there was load shedding - but don't think it's really continued :/ I see lights out daily on my 11km commute to work (Northriding > Paulshof)

Anyway - from what I've seen they need massive solar panels to power the lights ... but surely the new LED don't require such power? Always thought they used like 70& less energy?

If that's the case - can't they simply fit smaller panels to the lights instead of these huge 4sqm panels?
How about retro fitting to existing lights?

 

[albert123]

I remember when this started a few years ago when there was load shedding - but don't think it's really continued :/ I see lights out daily on my 11km commute to work (Northriding > Paulshof)

Anyway - from what I've seen they need massive solar panels to power the lights ... but surely the new LED don't require such power? Always thought they used like 70& less energy?

If that's the case - can't they simply fit smaller panels to the lights instead of these huge 4sqm panels?
How about retro fitting to existing lights?

a lot easier for some oke to steal a small panel and its battery to power his TV than a 4sqm panel

 

[xumwun]

Do they really need solar panels for this?
I'm sure they could just charge a battery while there is power and run from the battery when there isn't.

 

[Sinbad]

Do they really need solar panels for this?
I'm sure they could just charge a battery while there is power and run from the battery when there isn't.

The idea is to get them off grid completely.

 

[guest2013-1]

Do they really need solar panels for this?
I'm sure they could just charge a battery while there is power and run from the battery when there isn't.

This is a much better idea than solar panels.

The idea is to get them off grid completely.

Getting them off the grid completely will cost a lot more, and as it's been proven, solar panels get stolen quite a bit which makes it an expensive exercise. I think the "UPS" idea from xumwun would be much better, especially if there's only a short period of blackouts

 

[Sinbad]

This is a much better idea than solar panels.



Getting them off the grid completely will cost a lot more, and as it's been proven, solar panels get stolen quite a bit which makes it an expensive exercise. I think the "UPS" idea from xumwun would be much better, especially if there's only a short period of blackouts

It has been done already at major intersections in Sandton. These panels won't get stolen. They are huge.
Sponsored by corporates...

Ups would get stolen too

 

[BrokenLink]

I think the solar idea should be left to areas with no available grid, thats the only reason it would be cheaper.

 

[Sinbad]

I think the solar idea should be left to areas with no available grid, thats the only reason it would be cheaper.

They are sponsored by companies in the area.

 

[guest2013-1]

It has been done already at major intersections in Sandton. These panels won't get stolen. They are huge.
Sponsored by corporates...

Ups would get stolen too

You live in South Africa right? Cause where I'm from, this **** gets stolen. And then I have to sit in traffic for 3 hours just because some robot is not working? TGI-moved back to Cape Town

 

[genetic]

It's not just the lights that use power. The control box that reads sensors in the roads and controls the lights themselves draws quite a bit of power. Hence the larger solar panels