Hello and welcome to my first Instructable! This is the traffic light color organ, A traffic light retrofitted to be a color organ. This is a simple green project that makes a great conversation piece and is great for parties or even showing off to friends! To make this project you will need a few items, and believe it or not, it costs less than 40 USD to make*.
I also am entering this in the Epolog challenge so if you like it please vote for me, and also fell free to subscribe to me on YouTube! My channel is the same as my Instructables account VolpeInCalze!!Thank you and happy building

WARNING: IF YOU DON'T WORK SAFELY YOU CAN SUFFER FROM CUTS, BURNS OR EVEN ELECTRIC SHOCK. PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND DO NOT HACKSAW A TRAFFIC LIGHT OF THE CORNER.. AND REMEMBER "THERE IS NO OTHER IMPORTANT RULE THAN TO WEAR THESE, SAFETY GLASSES"

*Depends on if you have a majority of the materials.

Step 1: Materials

WARNING: IF YOU DON'T WORK SAFELY YOU CAN SUFFER FROM CUTS, BURNS OR EVEN ELECTRIC SHOCK. PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND DO NOT HACKSAW A TRAFFIC LIGHT OF THE CORNER.. AND REMEMBER "THERE IS NO OTHER IMPORTANT RULE THAN TO WEAR THESE, SAFETY GLASSES"

As for materials you will need the following:

a traffic light
a color organ kit or working schematic
roll of wire (for audio and potentiometer)
1/4 TRS mono jack or some sort of way to connect it to an amplifier
3 replacement plugs
Bulbs
audio amplifier
shrink tube
electrical tape

As for tools you will need the following:

A soldering iron
A drill and index
Wire strippers
Diagonal cutters
and possibly a small wire brush

Step 2: The Traffic Light

Step 3: The Color Organ

There was no schematic but a kit that was used. I purchased it online from a hobby supply store for about 15.00 USD. Follow the instructions with the kit. MAKE NOTE depending on the wattage of your amp, you will have to change a resistor or two. Do not solder in the sensitivity knob or input yet. Instead solder about 3 feet of wire onto the pot and input, then twist them with a drill (put the wire into the chuck like a drill bit and spin it just a little bit).

Step 4: Lets Start

Start by drilling two holes on the top of the traffic light. One will be for the TRS input and the other for the sensitivity knob. Place the two components in place and mark them. make note that the pot has a post that prevents the pot from spinning 360. Dont forget to make this hole too.

Step 5: Mount the Board

Use thick double stick tape to make the board stay off the traffic light. Never let the board itself touch the housing! To be safe put electrical tape on the back of the PCB. stick it in place. see pictures for more information.

Step 6: Apearence

If required rotate the visors for horizontal use.
Feel free to color this light however you want!
For example you can leave ti rustic, Paint it or even strip it and the polish it with aluminum polish and finish it with clear.

YOU DECIDE!! BE CREATIVE!!!

Step 7: Before Use

Before using this TLCO you must check for stray voltage! To do this plug in the light and plug an AC volt meter into the ground terminal of an outlet and poke the chassis and the input. If you get voltage there is a problem, go back and inspect the light to see where that stray voltage is possibly getting through.

If there is no stray voltage, plug the light in, connect the audio and party away!