Recently in Traffic Light LEDs Category
Solid-state lighting is the first genuinely new lighting technology in more than a century. The light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems, which reduce electricity consumption by up to 85%, have proven to be very effective in applications where brightness, visibility and long life are important, such as in exit signs and traffic signals. New uses for LEDs include small area lighting, such as task and under-shelf fixtures, decorative lighting, and pathway and step marking. Industry and government are researching solid-state technology for general illumination in residential and commercial settings.
Technology Options
LEDs
are highly efficient semiconductor devices. They can emit considerable
amounts of light from small inputs of power. For instance,
LED traffic
signals use between 6 to 25 watts
while
Actone
Ethan Lin
12735 Schabarum Ave.
Irwindale, CA 91706
Telephone: (626) 856-8715 EXT. 230
Fax: (626) 856-3325
Email: ethan@actone1.com
Dialight
Steve Corbett
5 Rebecca Ct
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Telephone: (925) 945-6900
Fax: (732) 751-3233
Email: scorbett@dialight.com
Duralight
Peter Tian
860 N. Dorothy Dr. Ste 600
Richardson, TX 75081
Telephone: 972-480-0888
Fax: 972-480-8884
Email: ptian@trastarusa.com
Doron Tech.
Robin Yang
9660 Flair Drive, Suite 230
El Monte, CA 91731
Telephone: 626-454-5100
Fax: 626-454-2600
Email: robinyang@unidocean.com
EOI(Excellence Opto Inc.)
Cheryl Huang
1400 W. Lambert Road, Suite B
Brea, CA 92821
Telephone: 562-694-1246 #101
Fax: 562-691-3087
Email: cherylhuang@eoius.com
Electro Technology
Ray Deese
1875 Sampson Ave.
Corona, CA. 91719
Telephone: 951-734-1812
Fax: 951- 734-5424
Email: ray@electro-techs.net
GE Lumination
Chris Mclaughlin
3100 Zinfandel Drive, Suite #255
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Telephone: 916-636-2021
Fax: 916-914-2440
Email: chris.mclaughlin@ge.com
Leotek Electronics
Carol Durbin
1330 Memorex Dr.
Santa Clara, CA. 95050
Telephone: 888-806-1188
Fax: 408-980-0538
Email:cdurbin@leotek.com
Ledtronics
23105 Kashiwa Court
Torrance, CA 90505
Telephone: 800-579-4875
Fax: 310-534-1424
Swarco Traffic Management, Inc.
Jackie Monroe
270 Ruthford Lane P.O.Box 89
Columbia, TN 38402
Telephone: (931) 560-4158
Fax: (931) 388-2682
www.swarco.com
Western Pacific Signal
Donald R. Shupp
1793 E. 14th Street
San Leandro, CA 94577
Telephone: 510-483-6400
Fax: 510-483-1402
Email: shupp@wpsignal.com
CALTRANS CONTACTS regarding this list:
KC Sharma, Associate Electronics Engineer: (916) 227-7029 or
Nasir J Choudry, Transportation Engineer (Electrical): (916) 227-5255
Caltrans is one of the largest users of LED traffic signal modules in the world. Since January 1998, Caltrans has purchased more than 230,000 units for deployment at signalized intersections, ramp meters and flashing beacons. This number does not include the 8,000 units deployed prior to 1998 in the Fresno and San Francisco Bay areas of California.
With the current deployments at signalized intersections and ramp
meters, Caltrans has dropped its power demand by 10 megawatts and has
reduced electrical consumption by 71 million kilowatthours per year.
This translates to taxpayer savings of $10 million per year for the
California state highway system alone.
Caltrans operates about 10
percent of the traffic signals in California; therefore, the statewide
energy savings are far greater if all traffic signals are converted.
The availability of LED traffic signal modules led the California Energy Commission to introduce rules prohibiting the use of incandescent lamps for traffic signal indications on future traffic signal installations.
The energy crisis did play a key role in speeding up the statewide conversion from incandescent lights to LEDs for Caltrans as part of a statewide effort to relieve pressure on the electrical grid. Prior to the crisis, the energy and maintenance savings for Caltrans were more than enough to justify the increased expense of LED modules. The energy crisis accelerated the rate of deployment by about three to four years. The rising cost for energy as a result of the crisis simply increased the economic viability of LED modules.
Caltrans' involvement in LED traffic signal modules began in 1992, when the department's Fresno-area electrical crew supervisor, Gerald Tripp, came across a company with the idea to use LEDs to replace incandescent lamps in red indications. A large eight-phase intersection in the city of Clovis, CA, (near Fresno) was the main reason Tripp looked into LED modules. The newly installed signal in operation at the intersection was too large and often overloaded the electrical system, causing constant signal malfunctions.Energy requirements and prices for LED modules have decreased. Not using LED modules now is an unwise business practice.
One option was to redesign the intersection to allow for the traffic signal, which would have been expensive and would have taken years to finish. Instead, Tripp initially installed eight LED pedestrian signals. This helped, but it was not enough. Tripp knew he needed to find a low-power lamp replacement for the red signals.
After talking with a local supplier, he replaced the red indications at the intersection with LED modules. The overloading problems disappeared. The current draw decreased from more than 50 amps to 14 amps. Tripp also found that energy usage for the intersection dropped significantly-more than anyone expected from simply replacing red indications. In addition, as one would expect, dollar amounts were greatly reduced because less energy was used.
Tripp and his supervisor, Jerry McElroy, began a mission to change
traffic signal operations in California. Tripp suggested the idea to
Caltrans management and was rewarded for his ingenuity and innovative
style through the State of California Merit Award Program.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are transforming the streets of Colorado Springs into a research laboratory for emerging ITS technologies.
Funding from an Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act program is paving the way for projects that improve traffic management and provide ITS capabilities within the roadway network. The following projects have been initiated:
- Incident detection and management on a freeway and major arterial, incorporating video surveillance, loop detectors, and variable message signs
- Upgrading the signal master intersection control system, improving intersection communications, and incorporating spread spectrum radio technology
- Developing the 470I prom module for type 170 and 179 controllers
- Establishing weather stations
- Installing carbon monoxide monitors
“I am pleased to announce the appropriation of $2.2 million to enable the city to purchase LED fixtures to change out roughly one-quarter of Anchorage’s streetlights,” notes Mayor Begich. “We have studied new lighting technology extensively over the past several months to validate energy and maintenance cost savings. We also conducted a lighting conference and public survey in March of this year that showed our residents overwhelmingly approve of the new white LED lighting. With this feedback and quantified costs savings research in hand, we are confident in moving ahead with the broad deployment of LED lighting for our roadways.”
The continental US has more than eight hours of daylight per day. Here in Anchorage, approximately 85 days a year we see less than eight hours of daylight.
“Lighting is absolutely critical to daily life in Anchorage. The continental US has more than eight hours of daylight per day. Here in Anchorage, approximately 85 days a year see less than eight hours of daylight. It is significant that this community is at the forefront of adopting energy-efficient lighting,” notes Deb Lovig, Cree LED City program manager. “Cree and the other LED Cities welcome Anchorage into the program and look forward to learning from this large-scale installation as the city pushes forward for energy and maintenance savings with LED lighting.”
The LED fixtures from BetaLED are expected to use 50-percent less energy than current streetlights, which could save the city $360,000 annually at today’s energy prices. The LED fixtures, based on performance-leading Cree XLamp LEDs, typically last up to seven times longer than high-pressure sodium fixtures, allowing Anchorage to better utilize maintenance resources.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2000 there were 106,000 crashes from running RED LIGHTS, with 89,000 injuries and 1,036 deaths.
Blue lights above traffic signals are called "tattletale lights" or "red light confirmation lights." Whenever the traffic signal is red, the blue light is on.
Police previously had to testify that a vehicle was in an intersection when it ran a red light.
Now, officers only have to see the blue light to know the vehicle ran the red signal.
Florida Department of Transportation officials are paying for the lights at intersections on state roads in nine Central Florida counties, reported a representative from the Florida Department of Transportation.
Originally, the DOT put up small white lights at a cost of about $100 each. The DOT is switching to less-expensive blue lights, which are LED (light emitting diodes) that run cooler and need less maintenance.Running a red light in Florida can bring a fine of $188.50.
Violators also face adding three or four points to their driving record, unless they complete a state-approved driver-safety course.
Hartford Connecticut is changing their traffic lights because of efficiency, cost savings and higher safety.
LED Cost Savings
The project will initially cost about $25,000, but officials said it will pay for itself within a year. With increased efficiency and decreased maintenance – about once every five years – the lights will save taxpayers $13,000 per year, according to city engineers.
In 2007 Cree and Raleigh, North Carolina, Launch Nation’s First “LED City” with Cost-Saving Municipal Lighting
Raleigh Recognizes Greater than 40 Percent Energy Savings as Municipal Garage Switches to LED Lighting.Cree, Inc., a U.S.-based leader in LED solid-state lighting components, and the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, the anchor city in a rapidly growing metro area, developed a joint, city-wide initiative to test, deploy and promote LED technology focused on a variety of general lighting applications.
The “LED City” initiative will create a “living laboratory” to deliver the economic, environmental and usage benefits of LED lighting to the urban residents.
The first project is focused on validating both the cost savings and technology capabilities of LEDs through an installation of LED lighting in the City’s Municipal Building parking deck.
Both Cree and Raleigh public officials expect the initiative to serve as a model for other cities that are considering implementing energy-efficient infrastructures.
As part of the commitment to creating an “LED City,” Raleigh plans to deploy LED lighting, through its living-laboratory initiative, to serve a number of lighting applications over the next 18 months including:
- garage and parking lot lights
- street lights
- architectural and accent lighting
- portable lighting
- pedestrian and walkway lighting
Cree, the City of Raleigh and Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCBB: LSGP) of Dallas, TX, also announced initial results of the first installation of the LED City initiative. LED-based lighting fixtures, provided by Lighting Science Group, were installed by Amtech Lighting Services in the Raleigh Municipal Building parking deck in December 2006. Progress Energy, Raleigh’s primary electric utility provider, says the floor equipped with LED lights uses over 40 percent less energy than the standard lighting system. Plus, according to Progress Energy’s research, the quality of light in the garage is greatly improved.
“The economic benefits for municipalities to invest in LEDs are clear – they
As leaders in one of America’s fastest growing cities, it’s our civic responsibility to invest in the future and ensure the highest possible quality of life and safety for our citizens in generations to come,” stated Charles Meeker, Raleigh mayor. “We believe that the cost savings and benefits of LED lighting are real and achievable today.”
- save energy
- reduce environmental impact
- improve the quality of light
“Today’s announcement represents a milestone toward large-scale adoption of clean, energy-efficient technologies,” commented Kateri Callahan, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance to Save Energy (ASE).“Raleigh’s progressive commitment to becoming the first ‘LED City’ will no doubt serve as a model for other cities seeking to improve energy consumption and reduce negative impacts on the environment. We commend Cree and the City of Raleigh for helping support our mission of achieving a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security.”
“The City of Raleigh is willing to set the pace, and we invite other municipalities to join us in developing energy-efficient civic centers,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree CEO and chairman. “This leading-edge effort establishes an important driver for LED adoption within the United States.”
About the City of Raleigh, N.C.
The City of Raleigh is the municipal government for North Carolina’s capital city. Raleigh’s reputation for the high quality of living has grown the population to more than 350,000. The City is proud to provide the leadership, direction and daily services that have contributed to Raleigh being among America’s most livable cities.
About Lighting Science Group Corporation
Lighting Science Group Corporation (www.lsgc.com) designs and sells highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solutions based on its proprietary Optimized Digital Lighting® (ODL®) technology. The Company's patented and patent-pending designs and manufacturing processes enable affordable, efficient and long-lasting LED-based lighting systems to be quickly deployed in existing lighting applications and produce immediate cost savings and environmental benefits. Products include low bay fixtures for parking garages and industrial facilities, MR-16, R30, R25, G11, G25, candelabra and flame tip bulbs, which can be purchased at store.lsgc.com.
About Cree, Inc.
Cree is a market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors and devices in solid-state lighting, power and communications products for energy performance and efficiency. Key to Cree’s market advantage is its materials expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products.
Cree licenses its technology into multiple applications, including alternatives in brighter and more-tunable light for general illumination, backlighting for more-vivid displays, optimized power management for high-current, switch-mode power supplies and variable-speed motors, and more-effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications. Cree customers range from lighting-fixture makers to defense-related federal agencies.
Cree’s product families include blue and green LED chips, lighting LEDs, LED backlighting solutions, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. For additional product specifications please refer to www.cree.com.
When Raleigh, N.C., the first LED City, and Cree, Inc. turned on new LEDs in the municipal parking garage, people’s opinion of the quality of the lighting improved threefold.
Survey Shows Public Feels Safer in City Spaces Lit by LEDs
Raleigh exchanged the previous garage fixtures and their dull orange light for LED fixtures with bright white light, and people felt safer. The number of respondents who perceived the garage as “very safe” increased by 76 percent after the LED fixtures were installed, according to a survey by Mindwave Research of Austin, Texas.
Cree produces LEDs that provide a new source of energy-efficient light that can serve as the foundation for cost-effective lighting solutions. Lighting Science Group Corporation of Dallas, Texas, supplied the LED fixtures installed in the Raleigh garage.
“LED technology provides a clear benefit to municipal infrastructure, as well as to the citizens it serves,” said Charles Meeker, mayor of Raleigh. “This survey shows that LEDs can do more than improve light quality. In addition to the proven environmental and energy efficiency benefits the city has already documented, the survey shows that LEDs’ bright white light can help improve public feelings of safety in city spaces.”
The survey results showed that the parking garage generated a more positive reaction from most of the respondents after the addition of LED fixtures:
- Both men and women felt significantly safer post-installation: 74 percent rated the garage as feeling “very safe,” while only 2 percent did not feel safe. These figures contrast with the pre-installation numbers: Only 42 percent felt “very safe” with the original lighting, and 13 percent did not feel safe.
- The percentage of respondents who gave the garage an overall rating of “excellent” increased by 100 percent. The number of people who rated it as “poor” decreased from 8 to 1 percent.
- The lighting quality of the garage was “excellent” according to 86 percent of the respondents, a 258-percent increase from pre-installation respondents. The number of people who rated it as “poor” decreased from 18 to 2 percent.
- The cleanliness of the parking garage was perceived as “excellent” by 76 percent of the respondents, while only 58 percent rated it this way before the LEDs were installed, showing a 31-percent increase.
Raleigh agrees to become the nation’s first LED City.
The LED City initiative focuses on installing LED lighting, based on Cree’s energy-efficient LEDs, throughout the city to save energy and money and boost the quality of life for its residents by using the best lighting technology commercially available. As a result, the city has improved the energy savings and lighting of its municipal city parking facility, the first of a series of projects aimed at delivering the environmental and economic benefits of LED lighting throughout Raleigh’s “living laboratory.”
Research Note:
The two surveys of 200 people each were conducted on behalf of Cree, Inc. by Mindwave Research, Inc. The pre-installation survey was conducted November 11-13, 2006, and the post-installation survey was conducted February 5-8, 2007.
About Cree, Inc.
Cree is a market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors and devices that enhance the value of solid-state lighting, power and communications products by significantly increasing their energy performance and efficiency. Key to Cree’s market advantage is its world-class materials expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products.
Cree drives its increased performance technology into multiple applications, including exciting alternatives in brighter and more-tunable light for general illumination, backlighting for more-vivid displays, optimized power management for high-current, switch-mode power supplies and variable-speed motors, and more-effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications. Cree customers range from innovative lighting-fixture makers to defense-related federal agencies.
Cree’s product families include blue and green LED chips, lighting LEDs, LED backlighting solutions, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. For additional product specifications please refer to www.cree.com.
Programs to replace conventional traffic signals with LED fixtures are in full swing in many municipalities, and they are benefiting from reduced energy and maintenance.
In the largest contract for traffic signals by any US city for over twelve months (before Feb 2008), more than 70,000 Dialight LED signals will be used to replace traditional incandescent traffic signals throughout Miami-Dade County in Florida.
Brain Todd, vice president at Dialight says; "LED traffic signals use 90% less energy and last ten times longer than traditional incandescent traffic signals so this contract will bring major environmental benefits to Miami-Dade County. The additional benefit of our modules is that they can be retrofitted easily into the existing enclosures of the current energy inefficient incandescent lamps."
Dialight has supplied over two million LED traffic signals across the US over the last ten years. It is also the first company in the US to offer a comprehensive range of LED traffic signal modules that are fully compliant to the new ITE specifications. Dialight products include red, yellow and green modules using state-of-the-art high-flux LED technology.
In business since 1938, Dialight has been pioneering some of the most innovative applications in LED technology since it was developed in the early 1970s.
Dialight LED products for the electronics industry have given engineers better ways to indicate status on all kinds of equipment. Dialight LED traffic signals have saved municipalities millions of dollars in energy costs and maintenance, and LED signal and marker lights for heavy-duty vehicles often outlast the vehicles.
As a vertically integrated supplier, Dialight has the resources to design and produce everything in-house, supported by a global sales and distribution network.
