Radarsign TC-800 User manual

1 of 16 TC-800 | TC-1100 Radar Speed Sign Installation Manual MN0035 v23.03
TC-800 | TC-1100 Radar Speed Sign
Installation Manual
© 2005-2023 Radarsign, LLC All Rights Reserved

2 of 16 TC-800 | TC-1100 Radar Speed Sign Installation Manual MN0035 v23.03
Table of Contents
Safety Warnings pg. 3
Best Practices prior to Radar Speed Sign Installation pg. 4
Best Practices for Radar Speed Sign Installation pg. 4-5
Installing and Positioning the Base and Pole pg. 6
Installing and Positioning the Radar Speed Sign pg. 7
SOLAR Sign
Mounting the Batteries to a Solar Radar Speed Sign pg. 8
Best Practices for Installation of Solar Panels pg. 9
Installing a Solar Panel on a Small Bracket pg. 9-10
Installing a Solar Panel on a Large Fixed Bracket pg. 10
Installing a Solar Panel on a Large Adjustable Bracket pg. 11
Making the Solar Power Connections pg. 12
AC Sign
Making the Power Connections pg.13
Mounting the Battery/AC Accessory Housing to the Radar Speed Sign Housing pg.14
Installing the YOUR SPEED Faceplate pg. 15
Radarsign Warranty pg. 16
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Customer Resource Center
Radarsign software downloads, manuals, and product information sheets and more can be
found on our website.
https://www.radarsign.com/customer-resource-center
Password: safety
Radarsign, LLC reserves the right to change the specifications without notice.
Contact our sales department for special applications and configurations.
© 2005-2023 Radarsign, LLC
Customer Support:Call 678-965-4814 or email [e-mail]
Shipping Address: 1220 Kennestone Circle, Suite 130 Marietta, GA 30066
Sales Information: Call 678-965-4814 or email [email protected]
RMA Instructions: Please make sure to fill out and submit an RMA Request form with all returns.

3 of 16 TC-800 | TC-1100 Radar Speed Sign Installation Manual MN0035 v23.03
SAFETY WARNINGS
This list of warnings indicate potentially hazardous situations which if not avoided
will result in death or serious injury, and/or property damage.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
To reduce the risk of electric shock related injury resulting from hazardous AC voltage:
• This equipment derives power from sources that have high voltage levels. These must be serviced by
qualified personnel who have previous training or certification to safely work on high voltage equipment.
Consult a qualified electrician.
To reduce the risk associated with electric shock resulting from contacting high voltage AC:
Turn power OFF before connecting wiring from our AC powered radar signs to the AC source.
BATTERY SAFETY
Battery acid may cause skin irritation and eye injury. To reduce the risk of burns or other acid related injury resulting
from handling lead-acid batteries:
• Wear gloves, goggles, and an apron when handling batteries.
• Beware of cracked battery cases.
• Handle batteries with care.
Batteries may produce explosive gas under some conditions. This gas may be ignited by a spark or flame as you
work near the battery. To reduce this risk of explosion:
• Disconnect the battery.
• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• Avoid the use of devices that create sparks or use open flames.
• Use appropriate personal safety clothing and equipment.
To reduce the risk of burns or other acid-related injury resulting from exploding batteries:
• Always use the recommended charging systems with this product.
To reduce the risk associated with contamination of water supplies resulting from improper disposal of batteries
containing lead and acid:
• Please dispose of batteries in accordance with all local government laws and regulations.
An accidental short circuit may instantly heat conductive jewelry, tools, and surrounding objects to skin-searing
temperatures. To reduce this risk when working around batteries:
• Keep tools, jewelry and other conductive objects away from the battery terminals.
RADAR SAFETY
This product uses devices that radiate radar RF energy in the course of normal operation. Radar RF energy can be
harmful to the eyes. To reduce exposure to the risk of radar RF energy:
• Do not stare into the radar antenna.
• Keep a minimum safe distance of 8 inches (20 cm) from the display face.
PERSONAL SAFETY
To reduce the risk of impact hazards resulting from falls, accidents with passing vehicle, and/or from use of unstable
equipment:
• Use appropriate work zone traffic control procedures, methods and equipment.
Strain or back injury may result from lifting equipment improperly. To reduce the risk of strain or back injury:
• Use proper lifting techniques and have adequate help when lifting.
To avoid the possibility of injury due to falling or unstable equipment:
• Be certain the radar speed sign is mounted to an appropriately rated pole or equivalent mounting surface.
• Use appropriately rated mounting hardware.

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Best Practices PRIOR to Radar Speed Sign Installation
• Our signs are designed to be water resistant when vertically installed and mounted properly on an appropriate pole
or mounting surface.
• Prior to installation the sign should be stored inside in a cool, dry place.
• Do not store the sign outside.
• Do not store the sign in a horizontal position. Storing the radar speed sign horizontally outside where it is exposed
to the weather voids the warranty.
• Do not leave the sign in a truck bed or laying on the ground.
• Do not drop the sign.
• Do not leave the sign in storage for months. The batteries will naturally discharge and will damage the batteries.
• Do not leave solar signs plugged in for more than 24 hours without being connected to a solar panel.
Best Practices for Radar Speed Sign Installation
These guidelines and recommendations provide the best practices for radar speed sign installation to assure
successful, accurate and effective traffic calming.
• Prior to the radar speed sign installation, look for any obstructions that might interfere with proper operation of the
sign (telephone poles, large tree limbs, other signage, etc.).
• The radar speed sign should be installed no more than 5 feet from the road curb. Signs placed more than 5 feet
from the road will result in displayed speeds that are LOWER than the actual speed.
• Do not install the radar speed sign in a curve or after a curve. The sign should be installed in a straight section of
road. A radar speed signal cannot “curve” with the road, and will not display speeds with enough time for drivers to
see the alert and adjust their speed.
Sign is more than
5 feet from the
side of the road.
Sign is within
5 feet from the
side of the road.

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• For maximum vehicle detection the radar speed sign should be positioned perpendicular to the road with the
radar pointing directly at the curb in the direction of oncoming traffic, not at the center of the road. Signs rotated
toward the center of the road will not perform as well.
• SOLAR MODELS | Do not install a solar powered radar speed sign under a tree. Summer leaves on the tree could
impact solar recharging. Make sure the solar panel is installed facing as close to South as possible at a 45° angle.
• The radar speed sign should be installed on the same side of the street as oncoming traffic. If installed on the
opposite side of the road, the angle of the sign could result in poor detection of the oncoming traffic.
• The bottom of the radar speed sign should be installed 7-10 feet off the ground. Installing lower than 7 feet will
reduce the detection range resulting in much of the radar speed signal being absorbed by the road.
• For streets with street parking: To prevent the radar signal from being blocked by parked vehicles, the radar speed
sign should be installed high enough off the ground to detect oncoming traffic over the parked vehicles.
• If the radar speed sign is installed more than 12 feet above the roadway, the sign should not be tilted more than
3°- 4° downward to detect vehicles. Doing so will greatly reduce the length of time vehicles are detected and will
display speeds that are LOWER than the actual speed.

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Installing and Positioning the Base and Pole
Base Options
A breakaway base should anchor the pole you select. There are several manufacturers of this type of system, and
most city, county, and state DOT agencies require this type of pole base system for ANY sign mounted on a street
right-of-way. Please check your local/city/county code requirements.
Install the base per manufacturer instructions.
Pole Options
Due to the extremes of weather and terrain conditions that might exist, Radarsign does not recommend any specific
pole or hardware for installation of our signs. It is the responsibility of the user to install the necessary pole size to
provide adequate support for the sign. Please check your local/city/county code requirements.
The size of the sign, the size of the regulator speed sign being used, and the size of the solar panel if you have a
solar powered sign, should all be considered when determining the length of the pole needed.
• AC Signs: The radar speed sign should be mounted on a 4.5" O.D. round
pole or larger. The pole length should be a minimum of 15 feet.
• Solar signs: The radar speed sign should be mounted on a 4.5" O.D. round
pole or larger. The pole length should be a minimum of 16 ft.
Solar models need larger, stronger poles as there is 7.5-12 square feet of
surface on the sign itself depending on the model, plus the square feet of
surface of the solar panel.
Additionally, depending on the size of the regulatory signage used:
• A 24" x 30" regulatory speed limit sign adds an additional 5 square
feet of surface.
• A 30" x 36" regulatory speed limit sign adds an additional 7.5 square
feet of surface.
Install the pole per manufacturer instructions. IMPORTANT: The pole
and sign should always be placed on the SAME SIDE of the road as
on-coming traffic.
When installing, position the bottom of the radar speed sign a MINIMUM of
7 feet from the ground. Mark the pole with pencil or tape at the 7 foot height
level. This will produce the most accurate readings from the radar in detecting
on-coming vehicles.
Pivot Mounting Bracket
A pivot mounting bracket is standard with the purchase of the TC-800 and
TC-1100 models. The installation hardware kit includes the pole bracket and
the sign installation hardware. The housing bracket is built directly into the
back of the radar speed sign housing so only the pole bracket requires
installation.
Features of the pivot mounting bracket
• Allows the installation of the radar speed sign onto a round or square pole using bolts or banding solutions.
• Provides up to 8 degrees of pivot (4 degrees up or down) which allows placement of the speed sign on an uphill
or downhill slope.
• Ease of installation: The design of the bracket allows easy installation and proper positioning of the sign.
Bottom of the sign
should be a minimum
of 7 ft. above the
ground
Regulatory Speed
Limit Sign
24" x 30"
YOUR SPEED
Faceplate
Model TC-800
36" high
Model TC-1100
48" high
AC Sign
15 ft.
minimum
pole length
with base
Solar Sign
16 ft.
minimum
pole length
with base

7 of 16 TC-800 | TC-1100 Radar Speed Sign Installation Manual MN0035 v23.03
Installing and Positioning the Radar Speed Sign
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your sign is shipped with the batteries installed on the back
of the sign housing. The batteries must be removed prior to sign installation to
properly mount and position the sign. Plus, it will be much easier to mount the radar
speed sign without the additional weight.
Attach the pole bracket to the pole with the U-shaped slot on top and the flat side of
the bracket facing the pole. Depending on what type of pole you are using, bolts or
banding can be used. Banding clamps are recommended for round poles; bolts are
recommended for flat surface mounts.
When you are ready to hang the sign onto the pole bracket,
place the ¼" x 4" mounting bolt (supplied) into the top hole of
the sign housing bracket.
With two people, lift the sign and place the mounting bolt into the
U-slot on the pole bracket. This will hold the sign so it can be easily
positioned and the side bolts (supplied) can be installed.
Install a hex head bolt (1/4" x 5/8” length) > lock washer > flat washer
(supplied) into each of the four bolt holes (two bolt holes on each side of
bracket).
For maximum vehicle detection the radar speed sign should be positioned
perpendicular to the road with the radar pointing directly at the curb in the
direction of oncoming traffic, not at the center of the road. Signs rotated
toward the center of the road will not perform as well. (See top of page 5
for illustration.)
The sign should also be adjusted to accommodate road conditions. The
pivot bracket provides up to 8 degrees of pivot (4 degrees up or down)
which allows placement of the speed sign on an uphill or downhill slope.
Once the sign is installed and correctly positioned, tighten the 4 bolts
(2 bolts each side) to secure the sign.
Once the sign is securely installed, the mounting bolt from the top hole can
be removed.
Install supplied
bolts and
washers on
each side of
bracket.
Mounting
Bolt
U-shaped
slot
Flat side of
pole bracket
U-slot

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Solar Sign | Mounting the Batteries to a Solar Radar Speed Sign
(For installation of an AC powered sign see page 13
The sign housing has bolt holes at the top of the housing, electrical connection boxes,
and two milled ledges on the bottom of the housing.
Each battery housing has bolt threads, electrical connectors, and a ridge at the bottom
of the housing.
One at a time, line up the ridge at the bottom of the housing with the ledge on the back
of the sign housing. The ridge should sit in the narrow channel on the ledge.
Line up the bolt thread on the battery housing with the bolt hole on the back of the sign
housing. This should cause the electrical connectors to also align.
Lightly tap the back of the battery housing to adjoin the
electrical connectors in the middle of the sign housing.
Continue to hold the battery housing to prevent any drops.
Once connected, the ridge at the bottom of the battery
housings should completely set down into the groove in
the ledge in the sign housing. You should not be able to
see the ridge if seated correctly.
Using the custom wrench provided in the hardware kit,
gently push the bolt forward until you feel it catch in the
threads in the sign housing.
Being careful not to over-tighten, screw down until the
battery housing is secure and no longer needs support to
hold it up.
Ledge
Electrical
Connectors
Bolt Thread
& Bolt Hole
Bottom of battery / AC
accessory housing with ridge
seated in the sign housing
ledge
Bolt
Hole
Milled
Battery
Ledge
Smart Battery with
Cellular Modem Housing
Solar Model
Standard Battery
Housing
Electrical
Connector
Electrical
Connector
Radar

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Solar Sign | Solar Panel Installation
Best Practices for the Installation of Solar Panels
• The solar panel should be positioned facing as close to south
as possible at a 45° angle. Please use the enclosed compass
and follow the instructions on the compass card to position the
solar panel.
• Once the solar panel is installed, secure the solar panel conduit
as close as possible to the pole to reduce the opportunity for
vandalism.
• The solar panel should be washed with a mild dish detergent
and soft cloth every 6 months for optimal performance.
For solar panel installation instructions for the solar panel
size you ordered refer to pgs. 9-11.
Small Solar Panel Mounting Bracket Installation
(For use with a 50 watt solar panel)
has pre-drilled slots two different orientations depending on the type of
pole/post that is being used, a round pole or a flat surface.
Attach the solar panel to the long tapered bracket (screws, nuts, and washers are included). The holes on the solar
panel and mounting bracket are pre-drilled.
To mount on a pole or round surface,
Secure the short bracket to the pole at the desired height facing as close to south as possible using banding clamps.
Radarsign provides two banding clamps that fit 3½"- 4½" diameter poles. For larger poles, customer must provide
clamps.
Using the 4 bolts provide, attach the long tapered bracket, with the solar panel attached, to the short bracket. The
curved slots on the tapered bracket should line up with the two round holes at the top of the short bracket. Use the
slots to position the solar panel at a 45° angle before tightening the bolts all the way.
Tighten all nuts on the mounting bracket and solar panel.
Position solar
panel at 45° angle
facing south
Secure the solar
panel conduit to
the pole to deter
vandalism
Open side
Banding straps for
securing to pole
Open side of short bracket facing towards the pole
Flat side of short bracket facing away from the pole
Position so top holes are farthest from the pole
Open side
Pole/Round Mounting Surface

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Solar Panel Installation
To mount on a flat surface,
Secure the short bracket to the flat surface at the desired height facing as close to south as possible using bolts
(customer provided).
Using the 4 bolts provide, attach the long tapered bracket, with the solar panel attached, to the short bracket. The
curved slots on the tapered bracket should line up with the two round holes at the top of the short bracket. Use the
slots to position the solar panel at a 45° angle before tightening the bolts all the way.
Tighten all nuts on the mounting bracket and solar panel.
Installing a Solar Panel on a Large Fixed Bracket
For use with a 80 watt solar panel
Assemble the bracket by attaching the support piece to the larger bracket
using two of the bolts provided.
Use the remaining four bolts and spacers to secure the solar panel to the
bracket. Tighten all nuts on the mounting bracket and solar panel.
Attach mounting bracket with solar panel to pole or flat mounting surface.
Radarsign provides two banding clamps for installation on a 4½” OD pole.
For larger poles or flat surface mounts, customer must provide clamps or
hardware.
Position the bracket on the pole at desired position with the solar panel
facing as close to south as possible at a 45° angle and secure to pole.
Tighten all nuts on mounting bracket and solar panel.
Large bracket
Bolts for
securing to flat
surface
Flat side of short bracket facing towards the pole
Flat Mounting Surface
Open side of short bracket facing away from the pole
Flat Side
Position so top holes are farthest from the flat surface