Home > FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Portable Signs

Can I purchase a sign without the arrow bar & tip?
Yes. You can purchase signs with bar and arrow tip, with bar only, or without the arrow bar and tip online from this site, or directly from the manufacturer.
What is the warranty on the flashing arrow sign?
The arrow sign is warranted against part failure and workmanship (excluding bulbs and lamps) for 180 days. The Ballast is warranted for 2 years.
Where are the letters, arrow tip & stand?
Unplug the sign. Remove the end panel with the label that says to remove and slide out the fiberglass face. The tip, letters, lens covers, stand, legs, bolts and instruction sheet are inside the sign.
How do I make the sign not flash?
  1. Unplug the sign.
  2. Locate and remove 6 screws attaching the tip to the bar.
  3. Gently pull the tip away from the sign.
  4. Remove the screw on the top of the bar that holds the flasher unit. The flasher is just inside the bar where the tip connects. Remove the flasher unit from the sign.
  5. Cut all the wires going to the flasher unit.
  6. Strip back the insulation 1/2 inch from both ends of the cut wires.
  7. Wire nut the black, red and yellow wires together with a twist connector.
  8. Wire nut the white wires together with a twist connector.
  9. Tape around each twist connector down to the wires with electrical tape.
  10. Repeat steps 7 -10 for the wires attached to the flasher unit.
  11. Re-install the flasher unit with the same screw previously removed.
  12. Replace the tip on the bar using the 6 screws previously removed.
  13. Plug in the sign.
Why is the U.L. Listing important?
The U.L. Listing meets all outdoor electrical requirements to provide for your safety. Make sure that any outdoor portable sign you buy is U.L. approved. All electric outdoor signs that are U.L. approved will have the U.L. sticker and control number on the sign.
Why is the Electronic Ballast Important ?
  1. The Electronic Ballast will save you 15% on energy use compared to the conventional ballast.
  2. The Electronic Ballast will extend the life of your fluorescent bulbs.
Why do Acrylic Letters make a difference ?
  1. Acrylic Letters will not yellow.
  2. Acrylic Letters will not become brittle and break.
What are the minimum hardware and software requirements for the computer operating the DayStar sign?
Operating System Windows 98 SE, NT, 2000, XP or Vista
Processor 266MHz or faster Pentium III or compatible
Hard Drive 130MB free space (300MB for full install)
Memory 256MB or higher
Data Feed Modem - 56K Modem required
RS485 Direct Connect - Serial or USB required
10/100 Network Card - Required fornetwork connection

Tristar LED Signs

How long can I display a stationary message on the Tristar LED Signs?
A single message can be held for up to 99 minutes (1 hour and 39 minutes). Press the left and right arrow buttons when selecting the duration of the message to switch between seconds and minutes.
Can I show the current time and temperature on my LED sign display?
Yes. Time and temperature messages are a standard function. These messages are displayed independently, and can't be combined together or with any other message.
How many letters can fit on the display?
A single line of text can hold between 10 to 15 characters when using a built-in function to fit the message into the width of the display. A double line of text can hold exactly 13 characters per line.
How many different fonts can be displayed?
There are 49 text style combinations available. For a one-line message there are eight base fonts that can be displayed in upper and lower case. These fonts come in three different sizes. For a two-line message a single font is available in upper and lower case.
What languages and special characters are supported?
The character sets for Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese are available. Special characters such as ñ and é for Spanish, French and other European languages are also available. These characters are only available on a single line message.
Can I control the speed of the message and transition effects on LED signs?
Yes. By using the right and left arrows on the remote control, message scrolling and effects can be made faster or slower.

Identification Signs

How do I change the bulbs in my sign?
  1. Unscrew the retainers and pull them off.
  2. Remove the header panel.
  3. The bulbs will then be exposed and you can remove them easily from the ballasts.