One of the USA’s leading manufacturers of dynamic message signs and other roadway messaging technologies has recently completed the deployment of an ‘off-grid’ signage system in New Hampshire.
SES America (SESA) and its partners, New England Traffic Solutions and New England Signal Systems, recently completed the testing and commissioning of Solar Powered Signs for several truck weigh stations for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT). The signs have been installed on I-93 in the Merrimack River valley near Windham, and will be used to display the status of weigh stations, by indicating whether they are ‘Open’ or ‘Closed’, on both the northbound and southbound directions of the highway.
SESA provided the latest model of its energy-efficient LED Blank Out Signs (BOS) as part of the project, along with a complete solar power system that included solar PV (Photovoltaic) panels, batteries, a solar charge controller, and other accessories.
The solar power system is designed to withstand both harsh winter conditions and the extreme heat of summer, and reinforces the concept that solar technology is a viable solution for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) equipment in remote locations, where extreme weather conditions may be found. The system required very little site work to install, eliminating the time and money necessary for installing traditional power cabling, as well as the recurring costs associated with power provided from the grid.
The solar powered Blank Out Signs are designed and produced by SESA in Warwick, Rhode Island, and are part of the company’s Mobility product line, which is a range of products made to ease traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve road safety. Signs are made to resist harsh environments and extreme temperatures, and are tested as per NEMA TS2 in third party laboratories. Each sign can easily be connected with different monitoring systems and fault detection capabilities, as well as optional full NTCIP functionality.
“We are very pleased with the successful completion of this project, and with our collaboration with all involved,” said SESA president Phil Perut. “Deployment of solar energy systems for ITS equipment is on the rise, and this project illustrates the benefits of this technology.”
