Bringing the traffic
lights back to life
Pole-mounted solar and two simple buttons
Four directions. Twelve lights. Two interchangeable sets.
Concept proposal · 14 November 2026
Site measurements and final component selection remain open.
One box, a real battery footprint
Renogy CORE · 100 Ah
12.8 V LiFePO₄ in a rigid case
260 W × 169 D × 211 H mm
10.5 kg · M8 terminals
Inside the shared box
Upright at the bottom, on a retained tray. Charging and control electronics sit above it.
Illustrative enclosure: 420 W × 550 H × 240 D mm. Verify fit, cabling, heat and pole load.
Battery: RBT12100LFP-G1-AU · Renogy G1 datasheet · CORE manual
Battery footprint is sourced. Other geometry is illustrative; internal clearance and structural suitability are unverified.
02How power reaches the lights
Solid arrows carry power. The dashed arrow carries control commands.
Each aspect has switched positive + common return through its head harness and pole. The Nano controls the drivers.
03Two simple buttons
| Action | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| MODE: short press | Move to the next of nine states |
| MODE: hold 2 seconds | Switch all lamps off |
| RESET: press | Five flashes → Ultra fast, 2 s green |
| Reload / schedule opening | Resume the remembered mode |
Off → Ultra fast → Fast → Normal → Slow → Ultra slow
Holiday → Christmas → Crazy → Off
Reset: 5 × (300 ms on + 300 ms off). Schedule example: weekdays 08:00–18:00 Melbourne, disabled initially.
04Traffic and display patterns
| Mode | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Traffic | Opposing pairs alternate green, amber, all-red |
| Holiday | All heads: red → amber → green, 500 ms each |
| Christmas | All heads: red / green alternate every 500 ms |
| Crazy | Random six-channel mask every 120 ms |
Green: 2 s / 8 s / 15 s / 30 s / 45 s
Ultra fast / Fast / Normal / Slow / Ultra slow
Amber: 3 s. All-red clearance: 2 s. Patterns repeat until changed or paused by schedule; the selected mode is saved.
05Energy use depends on the mode
| Eight hours of use | Average lamps | Daily allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra fast traffic | 13.58 W | 175 Wh |
| Normal traffic | 15.36 W | 190 Wh |
| Holiday | 15.04 W | 185 Wh |
| Christmas | 16.32 W | 200 Wh |
| Crazy (expected) | 22.56 W | 255 Wh |
All twelve lamps together draw 45.12 W at 12 V.
Candidate-based estimates. BNR 200 mm DC module specifications
Includes controls and losses. This eight-hour energy comparison is separate from the editable daily schedule.
06Battery endurance without solar
Comparison: 60 Ah, starting fully charged
60 Ah
Traffic: 2.6 days
Crazy (expected): 1.9 days*
100 Ah model battery
Traffic: 4.3 days
Crazy (expected): 3.2 days
*Crazy uses expected random-mode power. 60 Ah reaches reserve before day 2 ends. Assumes 8 h/day and 20% each ageing / reserve.
07Solar recovery and backup charging
Earlier 400 W reference
2 equivalent full-sun hours
× 65% harvest efficiency
= 520 Wh harvested per day
Recovery depends on mode
Normal traffic: 330 Wh/day surplus
Crazy (expected): 265 Wh/day surplus
Backup charging
Compatible 12 V, 10 A LiFePO₄ charger. A 100 Ah pack from 20% needs at least 8 h, plus taper and losses.
Two identical sets
Swap a complete set for service. Label matching connectors and keep a tested spare ready.
Default 100 Ah / 100 W: 130 Wh/day at 2 sun-hours against 190 Wh/day normal use. Solar deficit: 60 Wh/day.
08Two matching sets, tested before installation
Bench demonstration
Five Reset flashes → Ultra fast
Five speeds + three patterns
Saved mode + daily schedule
Site measurements
Lens diameter and depth
Housing and wiring
Shade, battery space and pole loads
Interchangeable builds
Two identical controllers
Matching connectors
Twelve lamps per set
Procurement checkpoint
Confirm bright, compatible LED inserts and the total budget before buying. Two complete lamp sets require 24 inserts.
Open the offline 3D demonstration · Online version
Demo behavior is proposed; actual firmware is unchanged and needs separate alignment and bench validation.
09