How to protect outdoor LED signs from external atmosphere

In addition to the massive LED hoardings placed on highways, businesses are also trying to grab an audience by placing their LED signs outside their business venues. The variety of businesses that are doing so range from restaurants and bars to transport centers and theme parks.

The concept of electronic signage is not new but when implementing it in an outdoor setting there are many considerations that have to be reviewed. Particularly, environmental conditions will have a major impact on the life of outdoor LED signs. Dust, sunlight, heat, cold and moisture will largely affect the performance of the equipment. High temperatures will interrupt the operation of the outdoor LED sign and extreme heat and cold will cut down the life of the components. Another life threatening factor for an LED sign is the introduction of moisture. Furthermore, there is a risk of electrical short and corrosion occurring on the components. Rapid temperature changes means the glass surface will have condensation, which will reduce the visibility of the message on the screen. Therefore, a business investing in outdoor LED signs has to take special care in order to prevent electronic failure.

Two solutions are available to solve all the problems with outdoor LED signs. One option is for a business to invest in an outdoor rated display which can withstand temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The other option would be to go for a standard outdoor LED display and add an environmental enclosure to it.

With an outdoor rated display, all the features of a commercial display are included in the chassis which is enclosed to make the core panel more durable to variations in weather conditions. The front glass often has an anti-reflective coating and the entire product comes with a warranty that will cover the use of the LED sign in outdoor environments. By choosing environmental enclosures, all the above factors are addressed but the enclosure will be a separate package and is more suitable for enclosing a traditional commercial display.

As for cost considerations, both options are similar. For businesses that have a very restricted budget, they could go for basic enclosures with a fan-based cooling system – no AC, no heat. This option costs a little lesser than the other two.