Rev. 7-10-95

SOLAR POWER ASSISTED FLASHING ARROW SIGN

801-R-288

The Standard Specifications are revised as follows:

SECTION 801, AFTER LINE 42, INSERT AS FOLLOWS:

Solar Power Assisted Flashing Arrow Sign. . . . . . . . . . . 913.13.1

SECTION 801, BEGIN LINE 396, DELETE AND INSERT AS FOLLOWS:

801.13 Flashing Arrow Sign. Where specified, a flashing arrow sign shall be furnished, installed, and maintained in accordance with 913.13 the details shown on the plans and the requirements included herein. It shall be operated continuously, when necessary, to divert traffic.

The flashing arrow sign shall be mounted on a trailer designed for transporting and setting up the sign in the field. The flashing arrow sign shall be mounted at a minimum height of 2.1 m (7 ft) above the roadway when used as a traffic control in stationary operation. Such height shall be measured from the road surface to the bottom of the sign board.

The flashing arrow sign shall be capable of displaying the mode configurations shown below.

(a) Right-Pointing Arrow or Left-Pointing Arrow. These modes shall consist of five lamps in the arrowhead, and five horizonal lamps in the shaft, all flashing in unison.

(b) Two Headed Arrow. This mode shall consist of five lamps in each arrowhead and three horizontal lamps in a common shaft, all flashing in unison.

(c) Warning Bar. This mode shall consist of seven horizontal lamps, all flashing in unison.

The trailer shall have four adjustable jackstands. One shall be mounted on each corner of the unit. The trailer shall be designed to be set up at the site with its own chassis and jackstands. It shall remain in place in a wind of 100 km/h (60 mi/hr) . The trailer shall be equipped and shall be built to permit movement over the highway system in accordance with State laws pertaining to the operation of the trailer. The trailer shall be painted Federal orange.

The flashing arrow sign may be of the solar power assisted type. Such solar power assisted flashing arrow sign may only be used in stationary operations. Curvature in the road shall not be such to cause motorists to drive into and out of the beam width of the lighted arrow while within sight of the sign.

The solar power assisted unit shall incorporate a target sight device and leveling mechanism to aid the user for positioning of the unit prior to use. The device shall be attached to the elevated portion of the flashing arrow sign, and not to the fixed support frame.

SECTION 913, AFTER LINE 1931, INSERT AS FOLLOWS:

The lamps shall be electronically operated by means of a solid state controller. An automatic lamp intensity regulator shall hold the lamp output constant with varying battery voltage. The control system shall incorporate a full time tracking system designed to track ambient light for 24 hours a day. The control system shall adjust lamp intensity to provide maximum system efficiency. The controller shall be in a weatherproof, ventilated, lockable enclosure.

The lamps shall be designed to provide a legibility at 1.6 km (1 mi) in order to be in accordance with the MUTCD. The lamps shall have an effective luminance of at least 600 cd (600 candlepower) at normal operational voltage, and not less than 250 cd (250 candlepower), at the lowest operational voltage and full dimming condition, at 0E horizontal and 0E vertical angles. The lamps shall provide amber beams with a minimum of a 20E horizontal and 6E vertical field of view. The minimum effective luminance within the required beam shall not be less than one half the effective luminance at the beam center. The lamps shall have a flash rate of 25 to 40 flashes per minute. The on time shall be 50 percent of the cycle.

An indicator light shall be provided on the back of the sign to provide confirmation that the flashing arrow sign is operating. The indicator light shall be visible for 150 m (500 ft).

SECTION 913, AFTER LINE 1983, INSERT AS FOLLOWS:

913.13.1 Solar Power Assisted Flashing Arrow Sign. The solar power assisted flashing arrow sign shall be an all weather, self-contained flashing sign designed to display the required flashing messages continuously for a minimum of 15 days without assistance from the sun for recharging the batteries.

The solar power assisted flashing arrow sign shall have a minimum board size of 1.2 m high (4 ft) x 2.4 m (8 ft) wide.

The battery bank shall consist of deep cycle, 12 VDC, batteries. The battery bank shall be of sufficient capacity to power the unit for 15 days with no assistance from the sun. The batteries shall be regulated and protected by means of solid state electronics, to prevent overcharging by the solar panel or by external recharging. A battery condition indicator and a test switch shall be provided to monitor the system's battery charge. The batteries shall be secured in a well-ventilated, weatherproof lockable housing which shall permit ease of installing, removing, or replacing the batteries. A low battery charge indicator which shall be visible to maintenance personnel driving past the sign shall be provided to indicate the need to recharge the batteries. The system shall have a short circuit protection for all lamps and wiring harnesses. The battery bank shall be at full charge when the flashing arrow sign is delivered to the project site.

The unit shall be equipped with a sign/solar panel lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism shall be designed to safely carry the capacity of the sign's load. The lifting mechanism shall incorporate a positive locking device to secure the panel in a raised or lowered position.

Each solar assisted flashing arrow sign model shall be subject to evaluation and approval prior to use. To apply for approval, the manufacturer of a solar power assisted flashing arrow sign shall first furnish the Department's Operations Support Division, Evaluation Section, a completed preliminary product evaluation form. The Preliminary Information for Product Evaluation form and the testing evaluation criteria will be furnished to the manufacturer or vendor upon request. The completed form shall be accompanied by the information as follows:

(a) Product specifications

(b) Operational and maintenance manual

(c) Laboratory test certification of the luminous intensity at different vertical and horizontal angles for the lamps at normal and lowest operating voltages and full dimming condition

 

After examination of the furnished data, if complete, the Evaluation Section will advise the manufacturer or vendor in writing of the date and place to deliver the unit for testing and field evaluation subsequent to approval for use. Testing, evaluation, and approval will require a minimum of one month to perform.

An approved list of solar power assisted flashing arrow signs will be developed based on tested, evaluated, and approved models. The list will be updated as such flashing arrow signs are found to fulfill the testing, evaluation, and approval requirements included herein.