Traffic Lights

[wever411]

Does it have to be a specific type of magnet...shape, size? Where do I mount it and how?

[ostwayne]

To my understanding, any magnet will work.

I use ceramic magnets, each is a rectangle roughly 1" wide and 1.5" long.
I just attached em to the bottom of my exhuast (I think, I'll check when I go home), under the center of the bike.
No glue, I'm lazy and just let em attach themselves (they're magnets)
When I come to stop at a traffic light, I just make sure the magnets are directly above the center of the sensor.

[Budrick320]

How many do you put on the bike?

[ostwayne]

I've got two on their, well they came in a pack of two, I'll snag a pic later tonight if I remember.
I'm in the process of installing a clear altenatives integrated tail light so in my excitement I'm likely for forget.

[Egaeus]

Put as many as you think you need.  The more magnets, the more you affect the magnetic field of the inductive loop.  However, you'll start to look silly after a while.

[annguyen1981]

§ 21-206 (h)  Possession or use of device to alter or interfere with operation of signal prohibited.- A person without lawful authority may not possess, with an intent to use, any device capable of transmitting an infrared, electronic, or other signal to a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal for the purpose of altering or otherwise interfering with the operation of the traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal.

Mr Dan - You are mistaken about the intent of this...  There is a device (I can't remember what they're called, but they're about $300+.  They let you change the light to GREEN from a distance.  I've heard many fire trucks use them to clear the way with green lights

Those you can't have...  The magnets are perfectly legal.  Basically, most bikes (especially ours) don't have enough metal (maybe steel???) to trigger the sensor.  That's what the sensor is for.  The magnet is supposed to help in this matter.

[Egaeus]

§ 21-206 (h)  Possession or use of device to alter or interfere with operation of signal prohibited.- A person without lawful authority may not possess, with an intent to use, any device capable of transmitting an infrared, electronic, or other signal to a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal for the purpose of altering or otherwise interfering with the operation of the traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal.

Mr Dan - You are mistaken about the intent of this...  There is a device (I can't remember what they're called, but they're about $300+.  They let you change the light to GREEN from a distance.  I've heard many fire trucks use them to clear the way with green lights

Those you can't have...  The magnets are perfectly legal.  Basically, most bikes (especially ours) don't have enough metal (maybe steel???) to trigger the sensor.  That's what the sensor is for.  The magnet is supposed to help in this matter.

Yes, you need steel.  Since it's magnetic, it changes the inductance of the loop, and consequently changing the phase of the AC signal passing through it.  This change of phase is what tells the controller that there is a vehicle present.  The sensitivity is often not enough to detect a motorcycle.

[MrDan]

§ 21-206 (h)  Possession or use of device to alter or interfere with operation of signal prohibited.- A person without lawful authority may not possess, with an intent to use, any device capable of transmitting an infrared, electronic, or other signal to a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal for the purpose of altering or otherwise interfering with the operation of the traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal.

Mr Dan - You are mistaken about the intent of this...  There is a device (I can't remember what they're called, but they're about $300+.  They let you change the light to GREEN from a distance.  I've heard many fire trucks use them to clear the way with green lights

Those you can't have...  The magnets are perfectly legal.  Basically, most bikes (especially ours) don't have enough metal (maybe steel???) to trigger the sensor.  That's what the sensor is for.  The magnet is supposed to help in this matter.

I was just making the point that the law is generally open to an interpretation.  Under a strict interpretation, you cannot put anything on your vehicle that would alter how the light normally works.  Maybe my understanding of how magnets works is flawed, but the magnetic field would essentially be a transmission that would affect the traffic signal trigger in a way that the bike on it's own would not.

Really just to make a point - if I was worried about the legality of magnets on a bike, I wouldn't be installing non-DOT approved LED turn signals I just bought - now those are a Buddha Loves You.

Anyway - too much philosophy and law school reviews ... sorry to muddy the waters

[rangerbrown]

f%$k runing a light, i will just go around right then a left ect....

[annguyen1981]

f%$k runing a light, i will just go around right then a left ect....

I do something very similar... I turn right, then soon after a quick u-turn, then another right.  Viola!  Just like I went straight.

[blue05twin]

Ga. law if you get signal doest turn green on the second round you may go.  I have gotten pulled over and told the cop what happend.  NO ticket. 

[MrDan]

Ga. law if you get signal doest turn green on the second round you may go.  I have gotten pulled over and told the cop what happend.  NO ticket. 

I took the MSF in Atlanta ... that's what they taught there too

[Chilly Willy]

Hi all,

We talked about this very same issue in my MSF class this summer.  According to the instructor, there are even electromagnets that you can buy specially designed for this problem.  Essentially, you pull up to a light, flick a switch, and the electromagnet blasts out a field strong enough to be read by the buried sensors.  The instructor didn't seem to think that a standard magnet would do the trick.  What do the rest of you think?  Will any magnet do?  If not, what would be a good brand / source?

[Egaeus]

If you get a strong permanent magnet, then it will work.

[ostwayne]

The stronger the magnet, the more it will disturb the magnetic field and the more the sensor will "see" your bike.
a powerful electromagnet will definitely do the trick, but that sounds expensive and harder to install than just some simple magnets placed on the bottom of the bike.

I can see how a weaker magnet (souvenir fridge magnet) wouldn't cause enough of a disturbance to affect the sensor though.

I've had good results so far with a light by my house which has issues with my bike using magnets from a hardware store, just go in there and look for something similar to:
http://www.magnetsource.com/Solutions_Pages/BLOCKSceramic.html

fyi, I've got two, each is 1" by 1.5"

[Egaeus]

Just rob some out of an old, dead hard drive if you can find one.