2026 Portable Message Sign 4 x 8 Specs.docx

PORTABLE MESSAGE SIGN 4 X 8 SPECIFICATIONS

1. SCOPE

This specification defines the characteristics and features of an all LED, full matrix general purpose changeable message sign that is capable of both static and dynamic graphics, full display sized messages, and conventional one, two, or three line message display with a choice of eleven font sizes.

• The sign shall be trailer mounted.

• The sign shall have a solar charging system in conjunction with a standard 110 VAC charging capability.

• Meets or exceeds standards set forth in:

o FHWA o MUTCD o NTCIP Version 2

IMPORTANT FEATURES:

• Heavy duty all steel welded trailer frame to ensure long life and excellent durability

• Two-coat automotive paint process to protect it from weather and road hazards

• Single piece polycarbonate plastic lens with front surface screened matte black to reduce glare

2. MESSAGE SIGN DISPLAY

2.1. Description:

• The sign shall be a twenty-eight (28) pixel row by fifty (50) column, Full Matrix, LED Display

• Each display shall be configured of all light emitting diode (LED) with each having operational characteristics of Amber 590nm LEDs with a 30 degree cone of angularity.

• The display shall consist of 20 panels - four lines, each of which shall contain five display panels.

• Panel size - 10.00” High by 16.90” wide

• The display panels shall be uniformly spaced horizontally across the display face.

• Each line of display has a pixel configuration of 7 pixel rows high by 50 pixel columns wide.

• Each line is equally separated.

2.2. Display Panels:

• Each display panel shall be 100% solid state with no moving parts or switches, shall be identical to, and mutually interchangeably with, all other panels;

• no field hardware or programming modifications shall be required to exchange or replace individual display panels.

• Each display panel shall contain the LED driver circuitry necessary to operate its associated LED’s;

• there shall be no separate driver boards between the display panels and the central processing unit (CPU).

• Each individual panel shall have the following layout characteristics specific to the sign type.

o 2 LEDs per Pixel o Pixel Layout per Panel – 7 Rows X 10 Columns o Pixel Spacing – 1.5” High X 1.7” Wide o LED Angularity – 30 degrees

• Each panel shall be able to monitor and determine pixel failure.

• Pixel failure will be represented on host software and local control system identifying location of failed pixel.

• Controller display will be in WYSIWYG format, (What You See Is What You Get.).

2.3. LED Pixels:

• The individual pixels shall be comprised of ITE amber (approx. 592 nm) LED providing both daytime and nighttime legibility.

• LED’s shall be rated for a 100,000 hour service life and shall have an operating temperature range of – 22 degrees F. to + 165 degrees F.

• General Characteristics

• Number of Pixels: 70 standard, 7 pixels rows, 10 pixel columns

• Number of LED’s per pixel: 2 standard

• Operating Voltage: 12VDC nominal

• Brightness Control: Pulse width modulation

• Current Limiting: One external resistor per driver

• LED Driver: Power shift register technology

• Temperature Range: -40º F to +165º F

4 lines = 3x5 font = 7” high x 12 per line 4x5 font = 7” high x 10 per line 3 lines = 3x7 font = 10” high x 12 per line 4x7 font = 10” high x 10 per line 5x7 font = 10” high x 8 per line 5x7W font = 10” high x 7 per line 7x7 font = 10” high x 6 per line 7x7W font = 10” high x 5 per line 2 lines = 6x11 font = 16.5” high x 2 per line 1 line = 7x20 font = 30” high x 6 per line 9x20 font = 30” high x 5 per line

2.4. Display Power Supply:

• The power supply for the display shall be sufficient to operate the LED pixels for both daylight and nighttime conditions, and

• It shall be suitably regulated and temperature stable.

• It shall be fully operational in the temperature range of - 30 degrees F. to + 165 degrees F.

2.5. Panel Wiring:

• The display panel wiring shall be comprised of one wiring harness for each column of display panels with positive locking connectors at the CPU and at the individual display panels.

• The harnesses shall be comprised of twenty gauge, or larger, individual conductors (no ribbon cables), and shall be configured so as to preclude data from a malfunctioning display panel column being transmitted to and corrupting any other display panel column in the sign display.

3. 12 VDC POWER SOURCE

3.1. Description: The 12 VDC power source for the sign system shall be provided by a 12 V DC lead/acid battery bank as follows:

3.1.1. Trailer Mounted System:

• The trailer-mounted system shall be provided with a dedicated battery pack consisting of the following banks o Battery Type - 6 VDC marine/RV type 4-D deep cycle o 20° Amp Hour Rating – 210A o Number of Batteries – 4-8

3.2. Charging: The charging system for the primary power supply shall be as follows:

• The charging system for a trailer mounted sign shall be a solar system consisting of a photovoltaic array supplying electrical energy to the batteries through a solar regulator.

• The system shall provide “on demand” charging consistent with battery condition and with the solar luminance at the photovoltaic array.

• The trailer shall also be equipped with a standard 110 VAC receptacle as well as a temperature stable 110 VAC battery trickle charger and ammeter.

• The 110 VAC charging system shall initiate charging automatically when 110 VAC service is connected and shall be capable of completely charging the battery pack within a 48 to 72 hour (nominal) time period. The actual charging time will vary depending upon conditions and state of charge/discharge of the batteries. Initiation of 110 VAC charging shall completely disconnect the solar charging capability from the charging circuit.

4. CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

4.1. Description:

• The CPU shall consist of a single printed circuit board which shall contain all of the sign message memory as well as the sign operating software.

• The CPU shall be a conformal coated 100% solid state unit with no moving parts or switches, shall be operable in 0-95% non-condensing humidity conditions at temperatures from -30 degrees F to +165 degrees F, and shall include provision(s) for protection against damage should the 12 VDC power source be incorrectly connected with the leads reversed.

• The CPU shall have sufficient capacity to store 199 manufacturer-selected, pre-stored messages (180 provided) and up to 199 operator-defined, keyboard generated messages.

• Message memory shall be retained during power interruptions or failures, and the CPU shall be capable of operating the sign system in the event that the keyboard controller is disconnected.

4.2. CPU Location: The CPU shall be located within the sign case behind the display panels and shall be mounted on the display panel support structure.

4.3. CPU Wiring: For ease of maintenance, the CPU shall contain all of the terminal connectors for the display panel wiring harnesses and the keyboard terminal harness.

CPU:

• Processor:

• Ethernet Port: 10/100bT

• Temperature Range: -40ºC to +85º C (-40ºF - +185º F)

• Serial Port(s): 2, RS232 (Comm1 and Comm2)

• Watchdog Timer

• Display: LCD

• Keyboard TERMINAL 105

• Power Requirements: +5VDC (low current +12VDC)

• GPIO for External Temp Sensing Data Distributor:

• The data distributor board formats and renders messages based on the incoming packets from the CPU.

• The data distributor also reads the pixel information from the display boards and sends that information to the CPU.

• The pixel feedback enables any host application that communicates with the CPU to generate a WYSIWYG interface.

• If a pixel has failed, the user will know it, since the host display will show the failed pixel.

Telemetry Card:

• The telemetry card provides system housekeeping functions.

• It connects the system via the 10/100bT Ethernet network.

• The telemetry card performs the following functions:

✓ Monitors battery current up to 90 amps

✓ Monitors battery voltage up to 20 volts

✓ Provides digital input for photo sensor (ambient light measurement)

✓ Spare A/D input

✓ Four auxiliary digital inputs / outputs

✓ Solar Charge Control Relays (2)

✓ Connection for other 12 volt electronics

5. SIGN KEYBOARD TERMINAL

5.1. Description:

• The Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) shall utilize industry standard VT 100 cursor control commands, shall be nominally 4.8” x 9.9” x 2.0”, shall be removable, and shall be mounted within the control cabinet utilizing easily removable retainers.

• Removing the keyboard and disconnecting the electrical connections shall not interrupt the fully operational status of the sign display.

• The keyboard terminal shall consist of a standard keyboard and a backlit 4 line x 20 character /line liquid crystal display.

• The LCD characters shall be nominally 0.2” in height.

• The terminal shall be weather-tight, shall be manufactured with conformal-coated circuit boards capable of operation in 0-95% non-condensing humidity conditions, and shall be rated for operation from -30 degrees F to +165 degrees F.

5.2. Location:

5.2.1. The keyboard terminal shall be located in the control cabinet, mounted with easily removed retainers, and detachable from the electrical umbilical connector while maintaining sign operation.

6. SIGN OPERATING SOFTWARE

6.1. Description: The sign operates through a menu driven system which allows the user to input commands using standard keystrokes to generate messages, message pages, review diagnostics, and generate operation schedules.

The sign operating system shall perform the minimum items:

• Password Protected: Multi-levels, User, Maintenance / Factory Diagnostic

• NTCIP Compliant V1203 standard objects

• Sign Diagnostics

• Battery Voltage

• Charging Voltage (Landline & Solar)

• Component Failure Status

• Adjust Brightness levels

• Message Scheduling

• Additional component use (e.g. Radar, Cellular)

6.2. Changeable Messages: The editing feature shall provide the operator the ability to change messages and/or message sequences utilizing either the pre-stored messages or the operator/keyboard entered messages. If operator generated messages are entered, the message shall be displayed on the keyboard LCD. Unless lower case letters are specifically entered utilizing the “shift” key, all letters shall be upper case. It shall also be possible to “blink” one or more lines of any operator generated message. The editing feature shall also enable the operator to choose among eleven pre-selected character fonts for the sign display.

6.3. Graphics: Graphics capability shall be available from the keyboard and shall include full sized chevrons, dynamic moving arrows (left and right), small directional arrows, and 26 symbol messages from Part VI of the MUTCD.

7. SIGN CASE

7.1. Description:

• The sign case shall be of all aluminum construction fabricated utilizing ASTM B 209 6063-T5 extrusions and 3003-H14 sheet material.

• Case Dimensions – 48” High X 96” Wide

• The case shall be nominally 7” in thickness and conform to the list matrix below.

• The sign case shall be painted flat black on all interior and exterior surfaces.

7.2. Lens:

• The lens shall consist of a single piece of polycarbonate plastic that shall serve as the front of the sign case and shall be hinged at the top to facilitate access to the interior of the case for servicing of the sign.

• The lens shall be 1/4” in thickness per accepted plastic industry convention and shall be suitably stabilized to resist degradation due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• Each pixel shall be provided with an unscreened window while the remainder of the lens (nominally 63%) shall have the front surface screened with a flat black ink to reduce glare from ambient solar illumination or from vehicle headlights.

7.3. Sign Case Housing: The sign case shall contain the display panels, the CPU, the display power supply, wiring harnesses, and the photocell.

8. SIGN SUPPORT

8.1. Description: The configuration of the actual support structure will be dependently variable as the type of vehicle upon which the sign is transported and/or displayed varies.

8.2. Vehicle Type:

• The sign may be transported and displayed on a dedicated trailer that accommodates the 12 VDC power source batteries and the combination of solar and 110 VAC charging systems.

8.2.1. Trailer Mounted:

• The raising and lowering mechanism shall approximate that of an electro hydraulic cylinder center pole vertical mast.

• The solar array shall be mounted on a level mechanism such that the array is maintained in a horizontal plane regardless of the position of the sign case.

• The pivot mechanism shall be constructed such that a single operator can deploy the display and the solar array simultaneously while maintaining proper positioning of the array.

• The raising/lowering of the display shall be facilitated by an electric hydraulic cylinder mast rated for 2,000 lbs.

• The height of the trailer mounted sign in the transport mode shall be 97” to the top of the solar array, and in the display mode, 132” to the top of the solar array.

9. TRANSPORT VEHICLE

9.1. The trailer shall meet the following requirements:

9.1.1. Description:

• The trailer shall be nominally 134” in length with the removable tongue in place and 72” in width. Trailer length with tongue retracted (storage position) is 102”

• It shall be constructed of 3” x 3” steel tube (ASTM A 500 Grade B) with 1/8” wall thickness and shall be welded in accordance with applicable American Welding Society (AWS) standards.

• The trailer shall have a lockable, weatherproof control cabinet housing the keyboard terminal, control panel, and a lockable battery box for the 12 VDC power source batteries.

• The trailer shall be finished with a two-coat automotive paint process to protect it from weather and road hazards.

9.1.2. Rating:

• The axle shall be rated for 2000 pounds, the springs for 1300 pounds each set, and the wheels shall be 13’ steel with 5 lugs bolts per wheel and fitted with 175-60-13 C rated tires.

• The removable tongue shall be fitted with a 2” ball coupler rated for 5000 pounds.

• Standard axle is leaf spring, customer may upgrade to a torsion suspension system if required.

9.1.3. Removable Tongue:

• The removable tongue shall be fabricated from 3” x 3” steel tube (ASTM A 500 Grade B) with 3/8” wall thickness, shall be affixed to the body of the trailer with a retaining pin positioned in the floor of the battery box, and shall have safety chains attached.

• The lighting lead shall be affixed permanently to the tongue and shall separate from the trailer wiring harness at a plug connector when the tongue is removed.

9.1.4. Stabilizing Outriggers:

• Each corner of the trailer shall be fitted with screw jacks to stabilize the trailer when in the display position.

• The screw jacks shall pivot to a horizontal position for transport.