The HANKUN HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-A is a mini, trailer-mounted variable message sign (VMS) with a 48 × 28 amber pixel matrix, 3 lines of 8 characters, and a character height of 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix — on a 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) active display area, powered by its own solar array for kerbside deployment.
Mini Three-Line Amber Trailer Message Sign
Model HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-A Mini Amber Trailer-Mounted
| Active Display Area | Max Character Height | Pixel Structure | Display Colour | Cabinet Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1364 × 792 mm / 53.70 × 31.18 in | 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix | 48 × 28 pixels ｜ full-matrix (every pixel individually addressable); per-pixel LED count confirmed per configuration | Amber; the five-colour configuration of the same platform is also available | 1564 × 992 mm (100 mm border basis; depth 200–250 mm) |
The HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-A is a mini, trailer-mounted message sign with a 48 × 28 amber full-matrix display, 3 lines of 8 characters, and a 198.0 mm (7.80 in) character height on a 1364 × 792 mm active display area — powered by its own solar array, with automatic dimming and an open API/SDK for remote message management.
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The HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-A is part of the HANKUN variable message sign range, built for road authorities, contractors and rental fleets that need a legible, power-autonomous message sign at the roadside. It is a mini trailer-mounted message sign with a 48 × 28 full-matrix amber display and 3 lines of 8 characters, and its published figures are taken from the released engineering drawings.
PCMS
In North America this class of equipment is called a portable changeable message sign, or PCMS — which is how this model is specified.
Trailer VMS
In Australia and New Zealand the trailer-mounted version of this equipment is commonly specified as a trailer-mounted VMS board, per AS 4852.2 practice.
Trailer VMS
UK and European road authorities and contractors refer to the trailer-mounted version as a mobile VMS or trailer-mounted VMS in tenders and specifications.
— Core Characteristics
01
Every model in this range is a full-matrix display — each pixel is individually addressed — so message text, left and right arrows and work-zone warning symbols can all be combined on the same panel. Models differ in pixel matrix, display colour and active display area, not in whether symbols can be shown. Symbol capability is stated as a display capability and is not tied to any compliance claim.
02
198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix. Character height depends on the character matrix selected, so the two are always published together.
03
48 × 28 pixels, full-matrix pixel structure (every pixel individually addressable); per-pixel LED count confirmed per configuration.
04
1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) — the illuminated area, stated separately from the cabinet.
05
3 lines × 8 characters per line (variable format) — stated together with the number of characters per line.
06
Amber. A five-colour configuration of the same platform is available; it is linked from this page.
07
Cabinet 1564 × 992 mm on a 100 mm border basis, depth 200–250 mm. Trailer-mounted with a road-tow configuration.
08
Automatic dimming — display brightness and grey level are adjusted to ambient light conditions; a manual brightness setting is also available. The display therefore draws less power in low light, which extends the working time available from the solar array and battery bank.
09
Powder-coated and oven-baked finish. 2,000 lb (907 kg) capacity; 5-on-4.5 in. bolt-circle idler hub. Double-eye leaf spring group, 1.5 t (3,300 lb) gross capacity. Wheel track 1,800–2,200 mm matched to the active display area. Tires ST205/75 D15. Lifting: electro-hydraulic; manual winch (optional).
10
4G; GPS position reporting. Message management from phone, tablet or PC. Open API and SDK protocol provided, for integration into an existing fleet management platform.
11
This page states what is confirmed and what is not. Confirmed for this model: the 48 × 28 display matrix, the 1364 × 792 mm active display area, the character height of 198 mm (7.80 in) and the pixel structure, together with the solar array, battery, chassis and lifting figures. The remaining items are listed as to be confirmed rather than estimated, so nothing on this page is a placeholder value.
12
Every published dimension — including the 48 × 28 matrix and the 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) active display area — is taken from the released engineering drawings and is internally re-checkable, so the figures can be quoted in a project specification.
Street works and access restrictions. This model carries 3 lines of 8 characters on a 48 × 28 matrix with 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) of active display area at 198 mm (7.80 in), and a single amber output, which leaves one instruction with nothing competing against it — a fit for a street where the whole panel is read at low speed.
Short access messages and closures. A 1564 × 992 mm cabinet can be positioned where a larger sign would not fit, the 48 × 28 matrix holds the instruction without crowding it, and one colour is enough for an access message.
Works that move along a street. Road-tow trailer mounting with an independent solar array keeps redeployment to a single move, the 48 × 28 matrix keeps the message intact between stops, and a single-colour message means the operator is not rebuilding it at every stop.
Immediate warning at short notice. 1364 × 792 mm of display area and a 198 mm (7.80 in) character height are set by how close the panel can be placed to the traffic, and the single-colour output keeps that short warning unambiguous.
Footway closures and diversions read at walking pace. The 48 × 28 matrix carries the symbol or the short instruction a footway closure needs, and a single colour keeps a footway notice simple.
Long-term placement at an entrance or gate. The 1564 × 992 mm cabinet and the 48 × 28 matrix are the two figures to check against the position, and one message colour suits sites that change a single instruction rather than a sequence.
§ MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F)
§ MUTCD Table 2E-4
US practice sets letter height from the posted approach speed. MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F) gives 18 in (457 mm) as the minimum letter height for a portable changeable message sign and permits shorter letters on low-speed facilities; Table 2E-4 adds that 450 mm (18 in) should be used where speeds are greater than 90 km/h (55 mph), in persistently poor weather, or where the driving task is complex. Messages are limited to two phases, and animation, flashing and scrolling are not used.
At 198 mm (7.80 in) this model is aimed at lower-speed approaches and municipal work rather than at the approach above 55 mph (90 km/h) where 457 mm is the named figure, and it carries 3 lines of 8 characters in the single amber output.
§ AS 1742.3:2019
§ State roadworks guidance
AS 1742.3:2019 and the state roadworks guidance size characters to the approach speed, at roughly 120 mm for 60 km/h approaches and 160–200 mm for 80 km/h approaches, with the larger alphabet series applied to high-speed and multi-lane works. The sign face is confirmed with the road authority for each project.
This model’s 198 mm (7.80 in) characters are inside the 160–200 mm band used for 80 km/h approaches, and the single amber output carries 3 lines of 8 characters on the 48 × 28 matrix.
§ NZTA CoP for Temporary Traffic Management
§ Published NZ figures for LED message signs
The NZTA Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management sets a temporary speed limit at least 20 km/h below the normal limit, gated across the carriageway, with repeat signs at 400 m intervals. The published NZ figures for LED message signs set characters at not smaller than 300 mm inside a 50 km/h area and not smaller than 400 mm elsewhere.
This model’s 198 mm (7.80 in) characters are below the 300 mm figure used inside 50 km/h areas, with a 48 × 28 matrix in the single amber output carrying 3 lines of 8 characters.
§ Traffic Signs Manual Ch. 8, Table A1.2
§ TSRGD 2016
The UK sizes characters by x-height rather than cap height. Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 (Table A1.2) runs from 62.5 mm at 30 mph to 200 mm on dual carriageways at the national speed limit, and TSRGD 2016 sets the legal x-height limits at 35 mm to 400 mm, so a cap-height figure has to be converted before it can be placed in that table.
A cap height of 198 mm (7.80 in) in the single amber output converts to about 141 mm x-height on the 1.4 cap-to-x ratio used internally for comparison only, which sits in the 125–150 mm band used on dual carriageways at 50 to 60 mph.
§ EN 12966:2014+A1:2018
EN 12966:2014+A1:2018 classifies a variable message sign on luminance, beam width, colour and luminance ratio, with a temperature class. The class required follows the road type, the viewing geometry and the climate at the site, and it is stated per configuration rather than as a single figure.
Where the sign is read from a shorter approach the beam has to be wider and the luminance class lower than on a motorway, because a narrow high-output beam is the wrong answer at close range. For this 48 × 28 amber configuration the specification is stated as designed to meet the clauses relevant to the destination market, with CE marking and Declaration of Conformity documentation available and testing available on request.
3 lines of 8 characters at 198 mm (7.80 in) suits street works and access restrictions, where the whole panel is read at low speed from a short distance, and the 1564 × 992 mm cabinet is what decides whether the position at the kerb is available at all.
A compact 48 × 28 panel at 198 mm (7.80 in) for school zones and pedestrian routes, where the message is short and it is read from close range — and the 1564 × 992 mm cabinet fits a footway position outside the gate.
The message changes by the hour, from direction to parking to egress, and a pre-set list keeps a 48 × 28 display showing the right line at the right time.
One 1564 × 992 mm cabinet and one controller across the fleet means one spare-part set and one training path, and the 48 × 28 matrix is the figure to quote when a client asks what the unit can display.
Standard highway-sized message trailers take up roadway space a narrow municipal street does not have, and the lane closure made for the sign becomes the second problem. This mini trailer-mounted message sign runs a 1564 × 992 mm cabinet with a 1364 × 792 mm display face, so it sits on a footway, a tight shoulder or a narrow kerb without obstructing active traffic.
Moving heavy traffic equipment needs a large truck and extra fuel. On a 2,000 lb (907 kg) axle with a 1.5 t double-eye leaf-spring group, this trailer tows behind a standard pickup or light commercial vehicle, and the mast is raised electro-hydraulically — one operator, no hauler, no crane.
Continuous operation in a street of buildings drains a small solar battery quickly. This solar powered message sign pairs a 720 W array with 2 × 250 Ah AGM storage, MPPT charging, low-draw amber LEDs and automatic dimming to hold 24/7 operation where sunlight is limited.
Local water, electric and gas trenching, road resurfacing and footway closures. The 3 lines of 8 characters format carries the standard warning a utility crew posts, on a cabinet small enough to stand inside the works rather than beside them.
Connected to Doppler radar as a published option, the unit runs as a dynamic speed display outside a school or on a residential street, showing a driver their speed against the posted limit on the same amber matrix.
A message sign for a tunnel approach or a parking portal: set before the entrance, it posts clearance, lane availability and entry advisories where horizontal space and vertical clearance are both restricted.
For a burst main, a tree removal or a sudden closure: towed into position and set from a phone or tablet, the unit warns drivers before the junction where the diversion starts.
“HANKUN’s Mini Three-Line Amber Trailer Message Sign is the most practical addition to our city maintenance fleet. Its small chassis fits into tight municipal streets where standard trailers just won’t work. The amber text is extremely crisp and visible from a long distance, and towing it behind our standard service pickup is effortless.”
“As a traffic equipment rental business, we need portable changeable message signs that offer high reliability with low maintenance costs. HANKUN provided superior build quality at a very competitive variable message signs price. The solar performance is rock-solid, and our municipal clients love how easy it is to operate.”
One matrix · one message format
48 × 28 matrix→3 lines × 8 characters→198.0 mm
fixed 5 × 7→7.80 in→no extended matrix
Character height and line count are the same decision, and this platform answers it with its matrix rather than with a menu: a 48 × 28 grid laid out for 3 lines of 8 characters, giving 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix. No taller character matrix is offered on this platform, so the character height stays where it is instead of being traded against line count. That is the deliberate answer for a board whose job is one fixed message format.
Full-matrix · every pixel addressable
48 × 28→per-pixel LED count per configuration
text + symbols→one panel
The pixel structure is published as: full-matrix pixel structure (every pixel individually addressable); per-pixel LED count confirmed per configuration. That is what lets a 198 mm (7.80 in) character be assembled from a character matrix rather than drawn as a single line of block letters, because the pixels are large enough to build a character without crowding the strokes at this height — and the same grid carries an arrow or a work-zone triangle in place of a line of text.
Power on board · site off the brief
solar + battery→no generator
no cabling→towable 1564 × 992 mm
Because the platform is self-powered, the constraint is placement rather than supply: a 1564 × 992 mm cabinet that can be set at the kerb and moved within a shift, with no cable run to protect and no generator to secure overnight.
North AmericaAustralia / New ZealandUK / EuropeOther
Long-duration highway work zoneShort-term / incident responseSpecial eventsFixed facility (port, airport, utility)
Arrows (left / right)Arrows plus other symbols (work-zone triangle, speed roundel, etc.)
Amber is sufficientWe need five-colour
Answered the four? Send them with your enquiry.
We reply with the configuration that matches your market, duty and message set — the amber model on this page, or the five-colour configuration of the same display if a colour hierarchy is wanted.
Colour choice
Identical display geometry, only the colour configuration changes.
This is a colour choice, not a selection branch: it does not change resolution, character size or message format.
Mounting branch
The same display class in the other mounting configuration.
Trailer-mounted suits long-duration deployment and towing; truck-mounted suits vehicle-integrated operation.
→ HK-PTMS-CS-1821-24-A
If the viewing distance or the message volume is beyond what a 1364 × 792 mm active display area can serve, the HK-PTMS-CS-1821-24-A is the next step up in the amber trailer-mounted range, with a 72 × 42 matrix and a 1530 × 880 mm active display area.
→ Confirmed per project
This is the smallest published amber trailer-mounted model. If the site is tighter than this model suits, a different display platform is needed — send us the site plan and we will confirm.
→ HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A
The HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A is the truck-mounted alternative in the same size class: vehicle mounting with power taken from the vehicle.
Between two sizes? Send the viewing distance and the message set. We confirm the model against your site geometry — or point you to the next size up before you commit.
The HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-A is one of 19 catalogued models — 15 of them published and available for specification — and it is the 3rd by active display area among the published models. Within the mini amber trailer group it is the 1st of 7. It carries a 48 × 28 pixel matrix — 48 pixels across and 28 down — over 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) of active display area, with a character height of 198 mm (7.80 in).
Those five figures are the whole basis on which this model is chosen: the rest of the range differs in matrix, colour and display area, not in what a full-matrix display can do.
catalogued models
in the HANKUN PCMS range
published & available
for specification
by active display area
among published models
within the mini amber trailer group
Published range · by active display area3 / 15
Third of the 15 published models — only two carry a larger active display area.
Mini amber trailer group1 / 7
Largest of its own group — all six mini amber trailer models below it are smaller.
Need a different position in the range? Tell us the viewing distance.
We place your requirement on the same scale and name the model — this one, a step up, or a step down.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-A |
| Mounting | Trailer-mounted (road tow) |
| Display colour | Amber |
| Active display area | 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) |
| Cabinet dimensions | 1564 × 992 mm (100 mm border basis; depth 200–250 mm) |
| Display matrix | 48 × 28 pixels ｜ full-matrix pixel structure (every pixel individually addressable); per-pixel LED count confirmed per configuration |
| LEDs per pixel | Confirmed per configuration (full-matrix structure) |
| Message format | 3 lines × 8 characters per line (variable format) |
| Character height — standard matrix | 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix |
| Character height — extended matrix | no extended matrix offered on this platform |
| Compliance path | MUTCD configuration options · North AmericaEN 12966 compatible configuration · Europe & UKAS 4852.2 configuration options · Australia & New Zealand |
— System & Operation
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | |
| Solar array | 2 × 360 W (720 W total) |
| Battery | 2 × 250 Ah AGM deep-cycle battery |
| Charge controller | MPPT charge controller, 30–40 A charge current |
| Panel mounting | Fixed as standard; tilt-and-rotate mounting (optional) |
| Trailer chassis | |
| Coating | Powder-coated and oven-baked |
| Axle assembly | 2,000 lb (907 kg) capacity; 5-on-4.5 in. bolt-circle idler hub |
| Suspension | Double-eye leaf spring group, 1.5 t (3,300 lb) gross capacity |
| Wheel track | 1,800–2,200 mm (model dependent) |
| Tires | ST205/75 D15 |
| Lifting | Electro-hydraulic; manual winch (optional) |
| Automatic dimming | |
| Ambient light control | Automatic dimming — display brightness and grey level are adjusted to ambient light conditions; a manual brightness setting is also available. |
| Remote operation and integration | |
| Connectivity | 4G; GPS position reporting |
| Operating terminal | Message management from phone, tablet or PC |
| Fleet integration | Open API and SDK protocol provided, for integration into an existing fleet management platform. |
| Options | |
| Vehicle speed radar | Doppler speed radar, for speed feedback and dynamic speed limit display — configuration item, agreed at ordering. |
| Solar panel mounting | Tilt-and-rotate mounting (optional); fixed as standard. |
| Lifting | Electro-hydraulic as standard; manual winch lifting (optional). |
| Power capacity | Additional solar panel or battery capacity, sized against the insolation profile of the destination market. |
| Position reporting | GPS position reporting. |
| Remote monitoring | 4G remote monitoring and control. |
| Documents available on request | |
| Technical data sheet | Issued against the configuration quoted. |
| Configuration options list | Item-by-item, so two quotes can be compared line for line. |
| Factory inspection record | Module burn-in, full-screen illumination test, structural and sealing inspection, pre-shipment re-check — one record per unit. |
| CE documentation support | CE marking and Declaration of Conformity for Europe and the UK; testing documentation available on request. |
| Still to be confirmed for your configuration | |
| Not yet fixed | Mast type, lift height and deployment method; controller model and NTCIP 1203 support; wind rating, ingress protection rating, operating temperature range and warranty terms; complete trailer weight and overall transport dimensions. |
| Not published | The per-pixel LED count, visual range, luminance value, contrast ratio, dimming levels and autonomy days. Automatic dimming is published as a display capability; its threshold values and step count are not. |
— Compliance & Regional Configuration
MUTCD configuration options; NEMA TS-4 testing available on request.
✓MUTCD
✓NEMA TS-4
EN 12966 compatible configuration (class confirmed per project); CE marking and Declaration of Conformity available.
✓EN 12966
✓CE + DoC
AS 4852.2 configuration options; trailer build to applicable ADR requirements.
✓AS 4852.2
✓ADR
— Procurement Case
01
A 48 × 28 display over 1364 × 792 mm of active display area deploys on a road-tow trailer with its own power, so the site needs no generator and no cabling for the duration of the works.
02
The five published figures for this mini trailer model — 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) active display area, 198 mm (7.80 in) character height, 48 × 28 matrix, amber display colour and a 1564 × 992 mm cabinet — can be quoted straight into a project specification, because each one is traceable to the engineering record.
03
The amber output carries one message layer on this 48 × 28 display, so a crew is briefed once and there is no colour decision to make in service — and the same-platform options mean one spare-part set and one training path across a mixed fleet.
04
At 1364 × 792 mm this model is the 3rd largest active display area among the 15 published models, and the 1st of 7 in the mini amber trailer group — so it can be placed against the other models on published figures rather than on a sales description.
— Before You Specify
Message Format & Visibility
A mini three-line amber sign puts 1364 × 792 mm of display on a 1564 × 992 mm trailer, so it can be set on a footway or a narrow kerb where a full-size trailer will not fit. The 48 × 28 matrix still carries 3 lines of 8 characters at 198 mm (7.80 in) — the format most municipal and utility work posts — and the smaller cabinet means one operator and a standard pickup.
The MUTCD sets letter height from the posted approach speed: 18 in (457 mm) is the named minimum for a portable changeable message sign on higher-speed approaches, and shorter letters are permitted on low-speed facilities. At 198 mm (7.80 in) this model is specified for low-speed and municipal work, and MUTCD configuration options are confirmed per project — send the posted speed and the sign position and we will confirm the figure that applies. No compliance claim is made on this page beyond the configuration options listed.
A single amber output keeps one message layer on the panel: there is no colour decision to make in service and nothing competing with the instruction, which is what a low-speed street needs. It is also the lower-power configuration, so the same solar array and battery give longer operating time — and the five-colour configuration of the same platform remains available if a colour hierarchy is wanted.
Field Operation & Integration
The published configuration is a 2 × 360 W (720 W) array with 2 × 250 Ah AGM deep-cycle storage and an MPPT controller at 30–40 A, combined with automatic dimming, which cuts draw in low light. Autonomy days are not published: the array and battery are sized to the insolation profile of the destination market and confirmed per project, so shaded urban positions are quoted with the capacity they need rather than assumed.
On a road-tow chassis with a 2,000 lb (907 kg) axle, a 5-on-4.5 in. idler hub and a 1.5 t (3,300 lb) double-eye leaf-spring group, the unit tows behind a standard pickup or light commercial vehicle without a specialised hauler. Complete trailer weight and overall transport dimensions are confirmed per configuration.
Yes — vehicle speed radar is a published option. With a Doppler radar head the same 48 × 28 display runs as a dynamic speed sign, showing a driver their speed against the posted limit, which is how the unit is used outside schools and on residential streets. Radar is agreed as a configuration item at ordering.
Messages are edited from a phone, tablet or PC over 4G, with GPS position reporting, and an open API and SDK protocol is provided for integration into an existing fleet management platform. A pre-set list lets one unit show a different line at a different time of day without an operator on site.
Applications, Cost & Procurement
A 1564 × 992 mm cabinet with a 1364 × 792 mm display face suits a tunnel approach or a parking portal where horizontal space and vertical clearance are both restricted. Mast type, lift height and deployment method are confirmed per project, so send the clearance and the siting position before ordering.
Send the market, the duty and the message set to our sales engineering team for a quotation or a custom build review. Factory-direct pricing is quoted per unit and for volume fleet orders, against the agreed configuration list — so two quotes can be compared line for line.
HANKUN publishes the figures for each model from the released engineering drawings, issues a factory inspection record per unit, and supports the trailer from North America local after-sales. Enclosure protection rating, wind rating, operating temperature range and warranty terms are confirmed in writing for each configuration rather than assumed from a brochure.
A question not listed here? Send it with your project location — the answer comes back with the configuration sheet.
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