Solar-Powered Traffic Signs
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12.10.05
A Japanese company, Lintec Corp, is marketing solar-powered traffic signs. They are wireless, too, and supposedly save $2,800 on electricity over 10 years. The lights use LEDs, which means the bulbs don’t need to be changed for a decade. One other advantage is that the traffic signs will continue working if there's a power outage. Prices start at $960. :: Gizmodo via Groovy Green
Solar powered traffic lights? at night when theres no sun? can someone explain please,thanks.
Jack,
It's fairly safe to assume that the solar energy is stocked in a battery, and some of the traffic lights that use solar may even have backup power from the grid, though that would remove one of the benefits (wireless, less costly).
Litebrite anyone?
Not to be picky, but have things like this not been around for literally years? I know there's one within a five minute walk of my house (in Dublin), and it's been there for quite some time, and I wasn't surprised by the technology when I saw it. In fact, I think the first time I saw one was about 15 years ago in France.
If it's traffic/pedestrian lights, rather than traffic warning/information sighs, as the post suggests, then that would be a bit new. And it would also be one of those things that makes you ask, why didn't they do that years ago!
Speaking of interesting solar powered devices, which must obviously store up energy gathered during the day to be released at night; has anyone else seen a solar powered light house, personally I thought it was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen!
yeah these are already on the iberian peninsula too
You will come across Solar traffic warning signs in a large proportion of Britsih Towns/Villages. Most either kindly remind you of the speed limit, or ask you to slow down because there is a hazard.