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Post by the light works on Sept 23, 2021 1:27:51 GMT
this is hardly substantial enough for a standalone myth, but I found it interesting enough to check in with the community:
I noticed an electric assisted bicycle triggering a traffic light, the other day, and it occurred to me to wonder if electric vehicles are more noticeable to the detector loop style traffic sensors than an equivalent size vehicle without an electric motor due to the magnetic field created by the motor.
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Post by GTCGreg on Sept 23, 2021 4:39:30 GMT
Traffic detection loops are simply an inductive coil or loop of wire slightly below the surface of the pavement. A high frequency AC signal is applied to the loop. When any conductive metal enters the boundaries of the loop, eddy currents are introduced into the metal and a small amount of power is transferred from the loop to the metal. Circuits detect this dip in power in the loop and trigger the appropriate traffic light sequence. It doesn't really matter what the metal is made or if it's magnetic or not. What matters is if it's conductive. The other thing that matters as to how much power is transfers from the loop is the amount of metal within the boundaries of the loop. A pedal bicycle may not have enough metal mass to trigger the light while an electric bicycle may because of the increased mass of the metal. There is nothing special about an electric vehicle that would enhance it's detection. It's strictly the amount of conductive metal in the vehicle be it gas, electric or pedal powered.
If you are riding a bike or motorcycle and the traffic light is not detecting you, it's best to position your bike right along the edge of the loop. That way, the most energy is transferred to the metal in your bike and the traffic light may detect you better.
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Post by the light works on Sept 23, 2021 13:25:17 GMT
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