School Zone Alert System Flashing Signs – Custom Cable Assembly

Electronic Components Pty Ltd has been awarded a high-profile and prestigious order for the supply of cable assemblies for school zone alert flashing signs.

Roads and Maritime Services, RMS, (formerly known as the RTA) provides and maintains a system of flashing lights and signs which alerts motorists of the periods when 40 kph speed limits apply in school zones.

This system is known as the School Zone Alert System and is currently provided for over a thousand schools throughout the state of NSW. The School Zone Alert Flashing signs are powered by a solar panel and controlled by an electronic sign controller which operates automatically and can also be monitored and controlled remotely.

Electronic Components Pty Ltd was tasked by our client (a leading sign company) to provide a solution for connecting the solar panel to the sign controller.

The specification was demanding: our client needed a high quality weather-proof and solar radiation resistant method of connecting the solar panel to the Sign Controller enclosure with 2.6 meters of cabling between the two devices. The School Zone Alert Sign Controller enclosure was supplied by others and had a pre-defined standard single connector (a Hirschmann CA3LD connector). The solar panels however come equipped with two MC4 type solar connectors. Two MC4 connectors simply cannot mate with a single CA3LD connector. The problem was how to achieve this transition at minimal labour and minimal cost whilst conforming the exacting standards and specifications required by the RMS specification.

The solution that Electronic Components Pty Ltd designed was a unique cable assembly that was quick & easy to install. The assembly provides simple snap-on connections to the existing solar panel MC4 connectors and a similarly simple plug-in CA3LD circular connector at the controller end of the cable. This unique Y-cable assembly (part number “CM21-A016“) is suitable for IP67 rated operation, utilises solar rated UV-stabilised cable, provides the specified 2.6mtrs in cable length and is in accordance with RMS (RTA) Specifications and Australian/New Zealand standards (AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3100, AS 3147, AS/NZS 60950 and AS5000.1) and the requirements of the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The elegant simplicity of the custom-manufactured CM21-A016 cable assembly design allows very quick assembly of the overall sign to be achieved. Electrical labour is no longer required during the solar panel assembly process thereby significantly lowering sign production costs and production time. Our cable assembly also ensures high quality electrical connections and the weather-proof integrity of the whole assembly. The elegance and quality of the Electronic Components Pty Ltd solution also simplifies future field maintenance therefore minimising down-time and maximising the safety of our school children.