Solar Traffic Lights

 
Traffic lights have been around for decades and are imperative for providing signals to turnings, regulating pedestrian crossings and controlling traffic. Solar traffic lights follow the same function except they do not need a power grid or external thermal source to power them as they use the natural energy of the sun. Since these traffic lights have to function at both day and night they usually store power in battery boxes to use when the sun is longer up.
 

Advantages

• They can inspire people to use solar power in their own homes and also larger businesses to make the transition to using solar photovoltaic systems as an integral part of their energy consumption process.

• Since this solar traffic light can run absolutely on its own it does not need a human operator to regulate its functions and it requires minimal maintenance. The only demand is that the embedded solar panels be kept clean so the maximum amount of sunlight can hit the surface.

• Furthermore the cost varies according to the type of solar cells which are used. Usually for widespread usage like this the cheaper polycrystalline cells are used and since the entire unit boasts of such few components it can be transported to all kinds of places very easily and set up in an hour or so if the installer knows what he’s doing.

• The major benefit is that these lights keep going if the day is overcast or if there is a power breakdown since they have their own system of storage which need not be connected to any grid. In the off-chance of a natural disaster, the same principle applies as these traffic lights will keep running as they tend to be quite sturdy and weather-proof.
 

Auxiliary Attachments

Since traffic lights are a very small device on its own they are often attached to the larger more efficient system of solar powered street lights. Both the devices are then run by the same micro controller and charge regulator that is found in the control box upon installation. The two units may also share a battery if this is the case.
 

Initial Concerns

The current format of solar energy that is use for these traffic lights is an improvement upon the old one in every way from the solar cells to the type of bulbs used. It is now widely accepted that LED lights are the best ones to use because they can be spotted easily from a distance and they also require less power to run than conventional high voltage bulbs. Since sunlight is not a given in some parts of the world, a bulb that lasts longer on a stored power system is always useful.

The cost is another issue which many areas are trying to come around because of the vast benefits that such a system can have. If cheaper solar cells are used and traffic lights are paired up with solar traffic signals or street lights, the cost can be balanced out.