Econolite E/M Controller

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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby TacomaJoe on Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:02 am

I will have 2 circuits remaining to do???????? Can these two circuits be used for a protected left turn on "main street"??

You won't be able to make a turn phase because in order to do it, you need 6 circuits. Three for the turn phase and three to split the original phase in two. You would also need to split the ped circuits to optimize peds but they could work as one if starting the walk late isn't an issue.

Cam chart looks good. Did you set that up on Excel? Ours were drawn up by graphic services and made into tablets long ago, only a few left. Good news is that we don't re-work cams much.
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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby mcha9797 on Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:41 am

TacomaJoe wrote:
You would also need to split the ped circuits to optimize peds but they could work as one if starting the walk late isn't an issue.

Cam chart looks good. Did you set that up on Excel? Ours were drawn up by graphic services and made into tablets long ago, only a few left. Good news is that we don't re-work cams much.


I'm not sure that I know what you mean by "splitting the ped circuits", and "starting the walk late", they won't work well as it is on my chart??? Each ped use's 3 circuits, (6 total) isn't that the correct way to set them up?? Do you suggest that I make changes on my cam chart for the ped's??

Regarding the cam chart, I made it using the free "Open Office" program.

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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby TacomaJoe on Sat Sep 22, 2012 12:25 pm

I'm not sure that I know what you mean by "splitting the ped circuits", and "starting the walk late",

Let's say your phase 1 runs north/south and phase 2 runs east/west. If you add a north left turn (call it phase 3), you need to take the south off of phase 1 and put it on phase 4. Now after east/west, phase 1 and 3 would come on, 3 would end and 2 comes on (1 is still on). The north green/walk would start before the south green/walk. If you keep the north and south peds on one phase it has to be 2 and the north ped will see the green come on and then after the left, the walk will come on.
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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby steven1981 on Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:01 pm

Mark, I have an idea that you could take into consideration if you want. It could include pedestrian signals for both Main and Cross streets, and a protected left turn movement (red, amber, and green). It's based from an actual signalized intersection I remember in my hometown.

Phase one would be Main Street (both north and south). The next phase could be your protected left turn movement. This would occur when both directions of Main Street are red, of course. In regards to pedestrian signals, you'd have one set for the Main Street, while you'd have another set for the Cross Street. The Cross Street pedestrian signals would be in synchronization with the protected left turn traffic signal. Furthermore, you'd have one contact for the flashing "DONT WALK" clearence for each phase as well. You'd use 12 circuits altogether.

Keep in mind that your last two circuits on the right hand side of the shaft would be unused, since you lack contact points for the circuits (if you look at your picture). The cam fingers need contacts to complete the circuits when necessary. Although I don't think that should be an issue for this set-up (if you were to consider this).
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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby mcha9797 on Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:21 pm

TacomaJoe wrote:
Let's say your phase 1 runs north/south and phase 2 runs east/west. If you add a north left turn (call it phase 3), you need to take the south off of phase 1 and put it on phase 4. Now after east/west, phase 1 and 3 would come on, 3 would end and 2 comes on (1 is still on). The north green/walk would start before the south green/walk. If you keep the north and south peds on one phase it has to be 2 and the north ped will see the green come on and then after the left, the walk will come on.



Ok, I think I understand, you are referring to a "real life" intersection (this is your business afterall...) and the ped split protects pedestrians in the crosswalk, or am I missing it completely :rob:

If I just wanted to add a left turn phase to main street, (not caring what the peds are doing) wouldn't that only require 2 more circuits, which I have available?? Green arrow, yellow arrow, 2 lights, 2 curcuits?? Couldn't that fit in with the rest of the movements on the cam?? :scratch:

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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby mcha9797 on Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:16 pm

steven1981 wrote:
Keep in mind that your last two circuits on the right hand side of the shaft would be unused, since you lack contact points for the circuits (if you look at your picture). The cam fingers need contacts to complete the circuits when necessary. Although I don't think that should be an issue for this set-up (if you were to consider this).


Steven,

I ordered all of the parts from GTE to fill the empty circuits on the controller, when installed there will be 16 circuits. The first two circuits are used for syncronization and ??? and are not available, so that will leave me with 14 circuits available. The picture that you referred to, is the way that I received the controller.

How is your E/M controller set up??

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Mark
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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby steven1981 on Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:49 pm

mcha9797 wrote:The first two circuits are used for syncronization and ??? and are not available, so that will leave me with 14 circuits available. The picture that you referred to, is the way that I received the controller.


Normally, the first cam and circuit next to the solenoid keeps the entire signal controller in synchronization. The next cam after the first one is unused, however, I am fairly positive that its purpose, if used, is to transfer the main power from one dial timer to another.

mcha9797 wrote:How is your E/M controller set up??


I own two Marbelite E/M signal controllers, and I own one G.T.E. E/M signal controller. Each one is, in general, very similiar to each other, since they share similiar features and what not. That said, their parts are interchangeable. This is true for some in particular from both companies.

Each one has 21 circuits. Out of those 21, 19 are used for signals. The first two cams are what I mentioned above. Most electro-mechanical signal controllers, if not all, generally use this set-up. Aside from them, Main and Cross Streets circuits are present. The third phase comes afterward. Then, the pedestrian signals for both phases 1 and 2. The "S" phase comes next (S1, S2, and S3). In the Marbelite and G.T.E. E/M signal controllers, the "S" phase has three circuits, and this particular section in the cam assembly could be used for an additional phase, or an additional signal head. What Joe mentioned in his comment that was in regards to how phase 1 could be split into individual directions if a protected left turn movement is used in one direction is one way to use those circuits. Finally, FL1, FL2, and FL3 are used for the flashing "DONT WALK" clearences. Each one corresponds to a phase. The third slot was not commonly used in the New York City signal controllers. It was typically used if such a set-up that Joe mentioned was present at a signalized intersection.

The set-up I have is very similiar to what you have. Most are generally the same.
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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby mcha9797 on Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:02 am

steven1981 wrote:
Phase one would be Main Street (both north and south). The next phase could be your protected left turn movement. This would occur when both directions of Main Street are red, of course. In regards to pedestrian signals, you'd have one set for the Main Street, while you'd have another set for the Cross Street. The Cross Street pedestrian signals would be in synchronization with the protected left turn traffic signal. Furthermore, you'd have one contact for the flashing "DONT WALK" clearence for each phase as well. You'd use 12 circuits altogether.

Steven,

Do you happen to have a cam chart for the above mentioned setup?

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Mark
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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby steven1981 on Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:18 am

mcha9797 wrote:Do you happen to have a cam chart for the above mentioned setup?


Below, is a cam chart from a retired signal controller that originally saw service in Manhattan, New York.

Image


This cam chart uses 12 step cams, in which the city's signal controllers had mainly used, and it depicts a basic two-phase signalized intersection with pedestrian signals for both phases 1 and 2. The flashing "DONT WALK" clearences are represented as dial keys 3 and 9. The entire set-up was commonly used throughout the city.

What is different is that the sync. cam has tab number 2 present. Your signal controller's sync. cam has tab number 1 I think (this was the same when I had my Econolite type F).
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Re: Econolite E/M Controller

Postby mcha9797 on Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:25 am

Thanks Steven,

I thought that you might have one that shows a left turn clearance.
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