LED systems for channel letters

by all | 10 February 2014 8:30 am

By Carey Burkett
Over the past 10 years, there has been a major shift in the sign industry, with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) becoming the preferred method for illuminating channel letters, lightboxes, pylon signs, cabinets and other sign products.

Previously, most signs were illuminated with neon and/or fluorescent tubes. LEDs eventually became more popular than those systems due to ease of shipping, low maintenance requirements, energy efficiency and ease of use, among other benefits for customers.

In addition to these advantages, the main goals of LED development for the sign industry have included even illumination, reliability and long operating life. Today, if installed properly and driven with an appropriate power supply, LEDs should be able to provide years of uninterrupted service with no additional maintenance costs.

Since 2005, particularly, signmakers have educated themselves about LED technology and how to ramp it up in such a way as to deliver the most value to their customers. They began to demand more detailed product information about light output, reliability and other qualities.

Defining value
Due to competitive forces, however, today’s mantra is also “price, price, price.” Unfortunately, as in other areas of the sign industry, this way of thinking is simply a race toward zero. When pricing goes down, so do product quality and profit margins. The more important goals of LED illumination are taking a back seat to price.

Customers need systems that will provide the best overall value throughout the life of their signs. While signmakers might offer the lowest-cost products in an effort to win their business, this strategy does not actually align with the aforementioned goals. Indeed, many signmakers and their customers are losing sight of these goals.

As a result, products with questionable performance are being implemented. They will require more maintenance and will not deliver on the promise customers have come to expect.

The sign industry faces a challenging and fiercely competitive market. Difficult choices must be made relating to each company’s position in the market, strategies and business model. There will be high-end, mid-tier and low-cost providers of various LED-based signs.

While going low-cost may be an easy and popular choice during challenging economic times, committing to such a strategy is the beginning of a downward spiral. A sign shop is left to respond to the price pressures from all other competitors that lower their prices, too, whether or not doing so actually has the customer’s best interests in mind.

Another strategic choice is to offer differentiation on other levels, while protecting pricing. This can help distinguish one sign shop as superior to its competition, without the loss of value. After all, it is far more important to be defined in the marketplace by reputation, service and product quality than simply by price.

A higher price point can be justified by the ability to provide greater value. Today, it is no longer sufficient simply to use LEDs in general, as there are major differences between various LED systems’ performance. A sign shop’s sales team needs to be well-versed in articulating those differences to customers.

Supplies and demand
Most sign shops today are using readily available, off-the-shelf 12-V direct-current (DC) electronic power supplies with strings of encapsulated LED modules that offer little distinction or added value above others. In many cases, the only point of distinction is the shape of the modules.

A number of these 12-V DC systems have experienced a massive power supply failure at some point during their tenure. Also, their day-to-day performance has been inconsistent, with well-documented difficulties standing up to the harsh conditions where signs are often installed. One of most frequent additional service costs over the life of these signs involves the replacement of power supplies.

Specifically, the 12-V DC power supplies’ capacitors do not stand up over time in harsh conditions relating to heat and cold. This often leads to failures. Also, DC systems are highly susceptible to corrosion, which can lead to LED failures.

These performance issues relate to the trend of starting with the off-the-shelf power supplies and then designing the system from there out to the LEDs. Instead, the design process should start with the LEDs and then work back to the power supplies, while also giving due consideration to any harsh conditions under which 12-V DC systems would not be the preferred choice.

Some industry professionals refer to these power supplies as a standard, but they actually came directly from the telecommunications industry and were never specifically developed to drive LED-based signage in difficult environments.

Also, with most LEDs being overdriven at 12 V DC, the extra energy is being wasted, meaning additional costs over time for the customer operating the sign.

Taking the right path
Compared to a few years ago, when signmakers started to demand more information about the LEDs in the systems they procured, too many professionals are now installing inexpensive products with no questions asked. This approach will mean a step back to the days of neon, when service costs were higher because maintenance and repairs were needed more frequently.

Great opportunities will continue to exist in a challenging market. Signmakers who take time to identify the right LED products will provide superior performance to their customers, while offering the best value over the life of their signs. As a result, these signmakers will be well-positioned to succeed over the long haul, rather than racing to zero.

Carey Burkett is president of Lumificient, which supplies LED-based illumination for the sign industry. For more information, visit www.lumificient.com[5].

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/led-systems-for-channel-letters/

---