Check out my 60s mercury vapor lamp, vintage traffic signals, and HPS lamp

I’m so excited about this project. It would be really fun to build a full traffic light setup.

Wesley said:
I’m so excited about this project. It would be really fun to build a full traffic light setup.

I actually got the traffic signal all in one set. I want to collect more pieces to make a six-light signal someday.

@Wesley
Are you planning to do a teardown or maybe a show-and-tell for it?

Wesley said:
@Wesley
Are you planning to do a teardown or maybe a show-and-tell for it?

I can definitely do that! I’ll post a video later today. I’m considering swapping out the LEDs for incandescents because the LEDs are just way too bright for my liking. Stay tuned for the video!

@Wesley
That sounds awesome! Incandescents would look more authentic, but dimming the LEDs could also work if you find an adjustable power supply. If you leave the LEDs bright, they could be great for outdoor decor since they were designed to be visible even in daylight.

@Wesley
The LEDs can’t really be dimmed since they’re not designed for it, and it could shorten their lifespan. I’ll stick with incandescents for now. I’ll post another video soon!

Wesley said:
@Wesley
The LEDs can’t really be dimmed since they’re not designed for it, and it could shorten their lifespan. I’ll stick with incandescents for now. I’ll post another video soon!

Just saw the video. The LED housing might be tricky to modify to include dimming, but it’s not impossible if you dig into the wiring. Still, if you prefer the look without power, that works too. You mentioned the LEDs were in series—are you sure they’re not in parallel?

@Wesley
You’re right, they’re actually in parallel, not series. That was my mistake. If I use 20-watt incandescents, I can achieve a softer look and keep the power consumption at around 140 watts.

This is super cool!

Kai said:
This is super cool!

Thanks! Keep an eye out for the updated video I just posted. Should be live in a couple of minutes.