SignalTraffic Forums

by **3Mfanatic** on Sat Jun 22, 2013 4:01 am

What was the generally accepted bulb wattage for a signal based on lens size and type (i.e. ball/arrow)?

My DT came with three clearly used 69 watt signal bulbs and that is what I fitted when I bought new ones after the restoration was complete. I don't know but 69 almost seems a little low as I know most plastic 8" lenses have '116 WATT MAX' marked on the edges. That being said I've seen those same plastic lenses melted and/or burned from the heat so there's that. Here are my guesses for a decently visible wattage (for on-street use) based on lens size:

8" - 69W
12" Ball - 135W (or higher?)
12" Arrow - 150/165W (to compensate for less actual indication being shown?)

Obviously each department had different requirements for wattage based on environmental conditions (i.e. lots of sun in Arizona, snow in Wisconsin, etc.) I thought about asking the City of Portland's traffic office but as they switched to LED in 2001, I doubt anybody there remembers.

by **TacomaJoe** on Sat Jun 22, 2013 9:27 am

We use 69W in 8" vehicle heads, 1950 lumen (151W) in 12" vehicle heads. In the peds we use 69W in the 9" and 116W in the 12". We didn't use different wattage lamps in the arrow sections so those 3 covered us.

We didn't have many 12" peds and all of them have been changed to LED so we don't have a need to stock the 116W lamps anymore. We still have 7 EF-20 signals with incandescent lamps, and a bunch of odds and ends out there using the other wattage lamps.

by **coyttl** on Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:13 am

If it helps - all the Poly lenses (that I've seen) say Max 150 watts, 100 if masked (arrow, etc).

--Me.

by **Kilted_Econolite_Nut** on Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:03 am

My original Econolite SC47 12-8-8-12 came with 169W Sylvanias in the 12" sections and 67W Sylvanias in the 8" sections. As per usual for 1970's Econo heads, the yellow lens was a poly MGN lens (very quickly replaced with a TL-4655-E yellow - did the same on my current head), and the 12" arrow lens was a Lexalite, rated for 150W max.

Head was originally from Bellevue, WA.

-J

by **somuchtoseeanddo** on Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:07 am

Los Angeles was using 60 watt bulbs at the end of the incandescent era. They had a program for regular relamping, and the cleaning lenses and reflectors. When you think about it, going from 69 watt to 60 watt was a substantial, 15% savings in energy consumption.

by **pyth** on Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:14 am

somuchtoseeanddo wrote:Los Angeles was using 60 watt bulbs at the end of the incandescent era. They had a program for regular relamping, and the cleaning lenses and reflectors. When you think about it, going from 69 watt to 60 watt was a substantial, 15% savings in energy consumption.

Wouldn't the bulbs need to be replaced more often? I was under the impression these odd wattage amounts were calculated to ensure the bulb lasts as long as possible under its conditions in the signal

by **3Mfanatic** on Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:17 am

pyth wrote:
somuchtoseeanddo wrote:Los Angeles was using 60 watt bulbs at the end of the incandescent era. They had a program for regular relamping, and the cleaning lenses and reflectors. When you think about it, going from 69 watt to 60 watt was a substantial, 15% savings in energy consumption.

Wouldn't the bulbs need to be replaced more often? I was under the impression these odd wattage amounts were calculated to ensure the bulb lasts as long as possible under its conditions in the signal

If you look at a traffic bulb next to a standard clear household bulb you can tell the difference. The filament that gives the traffic bulb longer life is heavy-duty and horseshoe shaped with little braces at two points to hold it in place against shock. The glass globe itself is also shorter and fatter. My Crouse-Hinds DT came with three 69 watt bulbs made in Mexico that had an M-shaped filament as opposed to the semi-circular shape of most that I've seen. I got some USA-made Durotest 69ers for it after the restore was complete and they have the semi-circular shape, too.

Here's a new 69-watt Sylvania traffic bulb made in China sitting in the green section of my Singer/CH 12/8/8.

by **RunsWithCrouse-Hinds** on Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:25 am

pyth wrote:
somuchtoseeanddo wrote:Los Angeles was using 60 watt bulbs at the end of the incandescent era. They had a program for regular relamping, and the cleaning lenses and reflectors. When you think about it, going from 69 watt to 60 watt was a substantial, 15% savings in energy consumption.

Wouldn't the bulbs need to be replaced more often? I was under the impression these odd wattage amounts were calculated to ensure the bulb lasts as long as possible under its conditions in the signal

The longevity came from the fact that they typical traffic bulb was rated for 130V AC, rather than 120V AC. So, a 69W bulb at 130V would equate to about 60W of output at 120V AC. Running the bulb "cool" helped it last longer.

by **2070** on Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:03 am

coyttl wrote:If it helps - all the Poly lenses (that I've seen) say Max 150 watts, 100 if masked (arrow, etc).

--Me.

Then take the lens out of a signal that has been up for 15 years, If the original lens was not replaced from the big burn mark on it.........

90% of the bulb signals I got in the past were.....

8" = 69 watt

12" = 135 watt

by **TAFeltman** on Sun Jun 23, 2013 1:23 pm

2070 wrote:
coyttl wrote:If it helps - all the Poly lenses (that I've seen) say Max 150 watts, 100 if masked (arrow, etc).

--Me.

Then take the lens out of a signal that has been up for 15 years, If the original lens was not replaced from the big burn mark on it.........

90% of the bulb signals I got in the past were.....

8" = 69 watt

12" = 135 watt

Same here, but have seen a few 105 watt bulbs also

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