They were on all of them in the intersection, four sets

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[–] 285 points 5 months ago* (10 children)

Stockbridge Damper.

Basically, it keeps the pole from vibrating like a guitar string. The chains are there in case the supporting rod breaks; they keep the heavy weight from going through your windshield.

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  • [–] [S] 45 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    Well I'll be! That seems right!

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  • [–] 42 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    I've only ever seen them on electric wires, but I've seen light poles develop some pretty severe Aeroelastic flutter. This seems like a good way to (possibly) prevent it.

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  • [–] 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    If vibrating like a guitar string is so bad then tell me why we don't install those things on guitar strings!?

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  • [–] 56 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Traffic light pole truck nuts

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  • [–] 40 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    I wonder if it's a weight to change the resonance frequency cause it was wobbling too much. Or it's the charging ports for the govt birds

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  • [–] 20 points 5 months ago

    They're the answer to truck nuts. Traffic light ovaries.

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  • [–] 19 points 5 months ago

    That's where the pee is stored

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  • [–] 18 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    My guess is that those are weights installed as a vibration damper. That explains the chains with which they are secured, and the box with the antenna, which would then record the results of this installation.

    Does that traffic light happen to be in a rather windy area, and were those traffic lights swinging madly during storms?

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  • [–] 16 points 5 months ago

    That's how they make new traffic lights.

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  • [–] 13 points 5 months ago

    Those are males

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    What's the big square antenna thing? Looks like a pretty beefy RF thingy. I've seen them on traffic lights and just by themselves. Are they detecting just the presence of big metal objects? Are they doing long range RFID?

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    It's a lamp post. Did you expect a scrotum sack, Michael?

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  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago

    Very old shot spotters?

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    The one on the left is named Dingle McDangle, and the one on the right is named Jingle Bojangle

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  • [–] -1 points 5 months ago

    Light Nuts. They got jealous when they saw truck nuts and, well ...

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