Do Red Light Changers Really Work?

[Barry5k]

I'm just wondering if anyone has bought one of these red light changers? I notice there are several on the market. Which one is best, or is it just a gimmick? Would a strong magnet at a fraction of the cost do the same job?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets stuck at a red light every now and then!

[tbarstow]

No, they are snake oil. The red light sensors are inductive loops embedded in the pavement. You need to put enough mass that is magnetic inside the loop to trip the sensor. I usually make them work by putting the sidestand or center stand down to the pavement. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[wa1200lt]

I have found that my LT has a MUCH better success ratio than any other MC I've owned in getting a green light.

Where I live there are often sensors on top of the arm that holds the signal light that apparently detect a heat signature in order to trigger a signal change. The LT does pretty well on these too.

A member of another forum that I frequent mentioned that the state he lives in allows MC's to go through the signal after coming to a complete stop and checking for the absence of traffic. This would seem to be the ideal solution.

Loren

[pkpr1998]

I have found that my LT has a MUCH better success ratio than any other MC I've owned in getting a green light.

Where I live there are often sensors on top of the arm that holds the signal light that apparently detect a heat signature in order to trigger a signal change. The LT does pretty well on these too.

A member of another forum that I frequent mentioned that the state he lives in allows MC's to go through the signal after coming to a complete stop and checking for the absence of traffic. This would seem to be the ideal solution.

Loren


In Tennessee, you can "run" a red light only when you have given the light a "chance" (and that's up for interpretation) to change to green and there is NO traffic approaching the intersection, even from a distance.

Besides that, it is clear as mud :rolleyes:

[hschisler]

In Tennessee, you can "run" a red light only when you have given the light a "chance" (and that's up for interpretation) to change to green and there is NO traffic approaching the intersection, even from a distance.

Besides that, it is clear as mud :rolleyes:The problem with that is, if you are first in line at the red light (waiting to turn left), all the traffic builds up behind you. They aren't too happy when you wait for it to run green... and it never does.

There is a light near me that I cannot get a green on, if I'm #1 in the lane. I run it while it's red, but only after letting it cycle completely through and then "missing" my turn. I should contact the local city street department about this; I have heard that these can be adjusted.

[Lonewuff]

I ordered a set of the light changers and applied them to my scoot per the instructions. I saw no difference, so I called the company and complained. The guy asked me what the loops in the pavement looked like in my town and I told him it was rectangles. He said their product only worked on the oval, circle or square loops and told me to return them for a full refund (course I was out the shipping both directions), but I am wondering what his answer would have been if I had said oval, circle, or square instead of rectangle. He didn't have an answer when I asked why that wasn't stated prior to purchase, or at least on the packaging.

[cfell]

Call your city "traffic control" office.

Offer to meet them at a certain time to help "tune" the system to your machine.

I did this and it works great now.....

[mgbmw2002]

My experience is that a magnet will work to trigger some lights. I had a light on my way home from work in Ft. Myers, FL that wouldn't change if no other vehicles were around. I bought a "Green Light Trigger" and it did work on that light and some others. I have since added a magnet from a blown sub-woofer speaker. So, in reply to the question, a simple magnet stuck on top of the skid plate seems to do some good. MG.