How to Trigger Traffic Lights!!!

[Large Filipino]

Sometimes when you threaten the light to turn green it will.
Those days make me happy.

 

[Mountainman]

push that thing four or five times

I push the signal button. I push it many many times.
Why do I push it many many times?
Because I believe that each time I push it,the next time will count.
Help me.

we all know that it only takes once

but - I always push it at least four or five times

ride that thing

 

[fetor56]

Magnets.....doesn't sound right.

 

[heathyoung]

They are an inductive loop, I never have that much trouble with them - even with a chromo frame, it still seems to work.

They sell the magnets for scooters/motorbikes etc - maybe they are less sensitive in the US?

 

[fetor56]

less sensative,more sensative.....maybe that or work on a different principal.
I'll try it anyway cos it annoys the heck out of me waiting for non-existant traffic.

PS...i always thought they worked on the principal of minute changes in the earths magnetic field as a non alloy metal(iron/steel) moves over them.......the principal of the German Magnetic Mine did to ships in WW2.

 

[HoughMade]

When something large and ferrous moves over a loop, it induces a current in it. The less iron, the less induction. the earth's magnetic fields have nothing to do with it. A magnet enhances the effect and mimics the effect of a larger piece of iron.

 

[KilroyCD]

Sometimes when you threaten the light to turn green it will.
Those days make me happy.

I always seem to get stuck behind people - usually tourists (or tourons as we sometimes call 'em) who are waiting for the stop sign to turn green!

 

[Tinker1980]

I always seem to get stuck behind people - usually tourists (or tourons as we sometimes call 'em) who are waiting for the stop sign to turn green!

You reminded me of one of my favorite jokes:

Q: What's the difference between a drunk driver and a stoned driver?







A: The drunk driver will run the stop sign. The stoned driver will stop, and wait for it to turn green.


okay, okay, stop throwing rocks at me.


The magnet is a good idea. The same effect could be had with a 8" long piece of 1" keystock on a lanyard. A 1" by 1" by 8" piece of mild steel has other uses that are too... complicated to go into here.

seriously, any chunk of ferrous metal can set the light off, magnet or not. The big loop set into the pavement has an AC current going through it, which makes it resonate at a certain frequency. (like a radio antenna) When a big piece of metal gets near it, the frequency changes, the controller picks it up, and the light changes. Needs to be something solid though. The thin steel in some rims and in the spokes isn't enough.

Maybe the best way to think of it - it's a big metal detector.

Induction is one of the coolest electrical effects, IMO.

-Mark

 

[Mountainman]

low tec metal detectors in this town

Maybe the best way to think of it - it's a big metal detector.
-Mark

they are not very high tec metal detectors in this town

because they sure don't know my MB is there !!!

oh well -- back to pushing the crosswalk button...

ride that thing

 

[mabman]

There is a light on my way in to town that I am going to try this on! Thanks for the tip.