Going Digital? - Things to Know BEFORE you buy
_____ Thinking of going digital? Whether you’re standing out from you competition, or providing easy to read signage for your church and surrounding community, digital is a great idea! Digital signs are very effective tools but can be a large investment. Choosing the RIGHT digital sign will save you money, enhance your image, and add to your customer base.
Here are some things to look for that will help you make your decision with confidence.
What is an LED?
LED(Light Emitting Diode) is an efficient, ultrabright alternative to incandescent lights. On average, LEDs in an outdoor bulb will last 100,000 hours(about 11 years) and do not require a lot of power. Sometimes less than $10.00 per day.
Unlike traditional light bulbs, LEDs to not burn out because there is no filament. Rather, they just slowly dim over a long period of time. One pixel is comprised of several LEDs which combine to create billions of different colors. On a digital outdoor board, each pixel is made up of a group of red, green, and blue LEDs. The best digital boards offer true NTSC (National Television System Committee) color, allowing you to produce vinyl quality images (or better).
LED Technology continues to grow because of its efficiency. Conventional bulbs generate a lot of heat because the filament must be warm to produce light. This is a waste of energy because a large portion of the electricity used is not going toward producing visible light. LEDs generate very little heat with a higher percentage of the electricity going toward generating light, which cuts down on the electric bill.
Until recently, LEDs were too expensive for use in most lighting applications. The price of the materials used has fallen over the years making LEDs more cost-effective for a wider range of situations. Upfront, LEDs are more expensive than incandescent, but the lower cost over time could make them a better buy.
The quality of Outdoor LED signs.
Not all digital boards are created equal. A close inspection of the manufactiring is critical when choosing an outdoor partner. True full service professional sign companies should get their signs from high quality manufactures such as WatchFire Digital Outdoors. The reason I mention this company? WatchFire will usually send a represenative to your location. They have a vehicle with mounted signs that allow you to see working models.
Be sure to find out the quality of the LEDs and if they are protected from the elements. The LEDs should be encapsulated to protect them from salt water, cold, heat, wind, sand. The LED is the heart of the digtal board and the most expensive component. It’s difficult to tell good LED from a bad LED, but you need to make sure that the LEDs come from a Tier-1 supplier. Some sign manufacturers purchase from low-end suppliers to cut cost. This will bring down the initial cost but lower the life span and the all important viewing angles which we’ll talk about later.
The outside cabinet is also a major factor. Make sure it’s built to last with solid welds and not “pop” rivets. Make sure the materials are a sturdy and light monocoque construction instead of cheaper sheet metal or fabricated metal. Weather such as heavy rains, high humidity, snow, and lighting will test the integrity of your digital board. You don’t want to find out after your purchase! Moisture is the number one factor in LED Failure so complete weather resistants in critical. The most rugged LED boards can withstand being completely submerged in water.
Size Matters.
Size and Pixel Pitch
Pixel pitch is the distance between the centers of adjacent LED. The smaller the pitch, the closer the LEDs and more LEDs per square foot, thus resulting in a better appearance at close range. Most outdoor digital signs are from 19mm to 25mm. These numbers give a crisp, readable image for your advertisment.
A pixel pitch comparison
Image is Everything
Some important factors as they relate to digital quality are: color correctness, brightness control, and
view angle.
Color correctness: Color is critical for sustaining a brand image, especially corporate colors and logos.
Even though a large digital display is comprised of many smaller panels, it’s important that the panels are
consistent across the board—literally.
Leading digital outdoor manufacturers will perform quality and color control tests in their factory before
your board gets installed. This eliminates color variation from one module to the next, helping to avoid a
“patchwork” appearance on the face of the board. Make sure your LED sign manufacturer provides color
correction.
Brightness control: The best digital boards have a built-in brightness control that adjusts to maximize
visibility—whether it’s day or night, cloudy and overcast or bright and sunny. Brightness control can be
managed with both hardware and software solutions. On a sunny day, a digital board has a typical luminance of 5,000 nits (candelas per square meter) and may run at 100% brightness. At dusk and dawn, only 30% of the power level may be required (around 1,500 nits) for optimal viewing.
Viewing angle: The viewing angle measures how bright LED image looks at a given angle. Keep in mind
that the brightness will diminish as the viewing angle increases. Your digital board should have a maximum- viewing angle of 90° to 140° to assure that viewers will be able to see and read the board even as they pass it on the highway.
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