10
2014-2015 Copyright Traffic Logix® Corp. SafePace® 700 Variable Message Radar Speed Sign
Installation Manual V. 1.1
Solar power
Solar-powered signs can be powered using a combination of solar and battery
power. The solar panel powers the sign when exposed to sunlight while at the
same time charging batteries to provide a power backup for night-time and
cloudy day use.
A 135 Watt solar panel comes standard with the SafePace® 700 radar sign and
is quick to install and should suffice for most installations in areas with extended winters and below
average hours of sunshine.
Mounting the Solar Panel
The solar panel should be mounted at the highest point on the pole. Mount the panel using the supplied
solar panel bracket (see Figure 11 below) and please follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer which are supplied in the bracket’s packaging.
The two part bracket allows for full adjustment in order to best position the panel towards the sun.
Figure 10, Solar Panel Figure 11, Solar Panel Mounting Bracket
It is optimal to position the solar panel towards due Solar South (not magnetic South). Solar South is the
position of the sun in the sky exactly at the midpoint between sunrise and sunset.
*See
for techniques on how to determine Solar South for your installation site.
The solar panel should be angled 15 degrees above the latitude of the installation site which can be
readily ascertained from mapping software or free from mapping and travel direction websites on the
internet.
Wiring the Solar Panel to the Sign
Begin by unscrewing the top fastener of the cable gland at the top right-hand side of the sign enclosure
(
Figure 12
). Loosen it enough so that the solar panel wiring can be fed through.