How to Maintain Your LED Sign

For LED signs, exposed to rigorous environments, glaring sunlight or the curse of age, increasing the life expectancy has become a core question for owners. While LED signs enhance the popularity of your business and help get your message across to the audience, nobody wants to splurge a fortune on LED signs, only to have to replace them a few years down the road. Here are a few tips to maintain your LED sign to ensure trouble-free operation and add a few more years to its useful life:

KEEP IT CLEAN

Dirt tends to accumulate on LED signs, especially in arid, sandy climates making them dull and less effective. Wiping the signs regularly can eradicate the grime and restore their vitality. However, only a dry, lint free and soft cloth should be used for cleaning, as an abrasive material can cause lasting damage to the screen. Avoid using water, soap, window cleaner, cleaning fluids or wax but a screen cleaning solution can be purchased to remove greasy marks from the sign.

Remember to unplug the sign before cleaning it. When using a screen cleaning solution, it should always be sprayed over the cloth and never directly over the screen. Be gentle when wiping to protect the delicate screen and let it dry completely before plugging it back in.

PERFORM ROUTINE CHECKS

A disabled LED sign can greatly diminish the visibility of your business so it is prudent to spot minor issues beforehand. Make a habit of routinely checking the equipment your sign uses and look for any pitfalls, such as wear and tear, reduced performance, damage, and abnormal electricity consumption, amongst other things.

TURN IT OFF

Some businesses leave their outdoor or window signs switched on at all times, without affording a break. This keeps your business in the spotlight even when your doors are closed. However, unseen indoors signage can be turned off when your business closes, to reduce energy consumption and extends the life-span of the electrical components. The average lifespan of a LED sign is estimated to be about 100,000 hours, under appropriate conditions. However, during this time the the brightness of the sign will be reduced by 50%. Powering down your sign can help extend its useful life. Make a note on your opening and closing checklist, reminding employees to take care of the signs.

The images on color displays shouldn’t show pure white, or pure blue as high contrast settings cause a high current to flow. This will result in increased energy consumption and power supply temperature. Obviously, all these considerations can decrease the life of the LED display and it’s preferable you program to low contrast settings.

PROTECT IT

Be mindful of the height of installation of your LED sign, as too low a sign could make it easier for unauthorized people to tamper with it. Make sure your sign is at a perfect height, high enough to be out of reach, while low enough to be accessible to the audience.

If you have more questions about the maintenance of your LED Signs, call LED Sign Authority at 800-282-0950 for answers

How Poor Quality LED Signs Can Affect Your Bottom Line

When deciding to look for a new LED sign for your business, it is important to consider several aspects to ensure that you get the very best one. Ask yourself' “What is the best product?  What will give you the best value for your money? What support does it come with? Does it come with a warranty?"  When it comes to buying other things like, say, TVs or microwaves, you can easily check for reviews online and it makes the job of choosing that much easier. When it comes to LED signs though, it becomes much trickier since there are actually very few reviews.

What happens is that you will have to rely on your own research, your gut, and the information fed to you by an eager salesman. Many times, you will find offers for products that allow you to “buy direct” or “get the same sign at half the cost” and they are tempting, no doubt about that. But they are inferior products. 

Inferior LED Signs

Most people would settle for poor-quality LED signs thinking that they could use the money saved on the purchase to buy a new one when the one they have breaks down in a year or two. But poor-quality LED signs do not wait one year or two to stop working. No, they break down continuously until they just finally die. Check out some of the costs associated with poor quality LED signs below

Service Costs

Digital signs are not like your mobile phones or cars where you bring them to the shop and they can fix them for you in a jiffy. These signs are high up in the ground and you will need a truck with a bucket to get to them and fix them. Average costs are listed as follows:

• Charge for standard bucket truck with technician - $150/hour and usually takes 2 hrs.
• Extended bucket or crane with technician - $250/hour and usually takes 2 hours.
• Service for sign troubleshooting - $450-$750 and usually takes 2-3 hours.

There are others involved but as you can see, it gets very pricey and there goes all the money you saved on your poor-quality LED sign. Some of you might insist that you get your cheap signs from companies that do not charge for service, but what if they go out of business or are slow to respond? You will be left with a sign that does not work.

Other Costs Related to Poor-Quality LED Signs

If you are using your signs in your business and your signs go on the blink, you will essentially lose money because you are not drawing people into your business with your signs. Time is money in business, and when your sign is on the blink and you waste time getting it fixed, then you will be wasting money all the same. First impressions are everything in business and if you have a sign that is not working for periods on end, what impression does that give passer-bys about your company? Nothing good I can assure you. Keep in mind that cheap is not always best and spending a little bit more can help you save a lot of money and headaches.

Is It Wise to Import LED Signs from China?

If you take a look at all the products you use, chances are you will find that a majority of them are made in China. It has become so prevalent that there happens to be hundreds of “made in China” jokes told every minute. However, there is a good reason for this abundance of China-made goods and that is they offer cheap labor which translates to more profit for companies that get products from them.

Getting more bang out of your buck is a great business ethic but questions are raised on what you are actually getting when you go for China-made goods. Any serious American company that goes to China for their manufacturing needs will always want an on-site quality engineer in the factory because as the saying goes about China-made goods, “You get what you inspect and not what you expect.”. Just read the book ”Poorly made in China” by Paul Midler, to get a better understanding of how things can go wrong when doing business with China.

LED Signage from China

This is not to totally discredit the quality of China goods but it bears something about the subject. When you factor in the fact that quality is 50-50 and the fact that you need to pay for shipping, wait for the cargo, and pay taxes—well, it seems more trouble than it is worth, doesn't it? It is for this very reason why more and more companies are bringing their manufacturing back to the good ol' USA.

This should be a heads-up for businesses and other people in charge that are thinking of getting their LED signs from China. It might be tempting to save several hundred bucks on your LED sign and get it from Shenzhen but what if it arrives and it doesn't work as it should? Do you have to ship it all the way back to China? Can you get technical support without communications difficulties? Try getting support at 2 pm in the afternoon on a Friday when it is 4 am on a Saturday in Shenzhen. Ever play phone tag? Communication can be bad enough even when people are in the same time zone. If you do manage to contact someone will you be able to understand them through the language barrier? Compare that to buying your LED sign in the USA. If there is a problem you have someone you can speak to within hours not days to get your sign back up and running.

Things Can and Do Go Wrong

It is hard to talk about LED signs from China and not sound like a complete black propaganda instigator but the fact stands that when you order LED signs from them at deeply discounted prices, you get what you pay for. You will be surprised at how creative they can become in using old parts for “new” LED signs just to save dollars and cents from the total cost.

Lets talk design. In China the LED signs are designed to be mounted within in a waterproof surround on the side of a building. This is much different than in the US where signs are set out on a pole and expected to withstand the elements of rain, wind and snow. Signs for the US need to be designed to shed the water away from the the electronics with minimal holes to prevent water intrusion. Cabinet finishes are have to be  durable and long lasting to preventing rust and deterioration. Using a sign not designed for the correct environment will lead to sign failure, as has been found by many distributors (and customers) of China products.    

This is not to say that every LED sign they produce is bad but there can be issues, and most of the time, there are. Sure, there are excellent China-made components that are used on US-made LED signs and there is no denying that they are truly world-class but when these world class components are used in a wholly China-made LED sign that has poor design overall, you get yourself a bad deal.

To really drive the point home, one LED sign is not the same as another LED sign especially when comparing US-made and China-made LED signs. If you want quality, ease of use, and excellent support, choose US-made LED signage.  

Good Practices to Add Years to Your LED Display

Most experts will tell you that digital sign boards and other LED-based signs are as sturdy as anything and can stand up to a lot of wear and tear, especially since they are outside and exposed to nature’s mood swings. You know how it can be blistering hot one day and raining cats and dogs the next, complete with winds that could blow a house apart. Aside from nature’s weather follies, there are a number of other factors that could wreak havoc with the circuits and general well-being of your digital LED signs.

There really is no major different between a digital sign solution and other pieces of circuitry in that they all have parts and components that are susceptible to damage from lack of maintenance, accumulation of dirt and moisture, etc. If you look at it closely, there are really so many things that can affect the efficiency and well-being of your digital signs, but this does not mean that you should just sit back and let the damage happen. After all, it is not like you are completely powerless and there are some things you can learn that will help you take care of your sign boards. A little bit of know-how and some time and effort on your part can save you from a world of pain and prevent your digital signs from going on the blink.

Care and Maintenance Tips

Have a look at some basic care and maintenance tips below that you can apply to your LED signs. They really are quite simple and can save you from hundreds of dollars in repair fees as well as days or even weeks of aggravation.

• Regular cleaning – A layer of dirt can do a number on your signs and not just because it can make the sign look ugly. Dirt can move inside inside the display and cause untold damage. To prevent this, ensure that you schedule a cleaning for your LED signs every couple of weeks. When you do this, most dust and dirt that can cause damage to your signs are cleaned away. When you clean your signs, make sure you clean from corner to corner and really get into all the little nooks and crannies. It is okay if you can't get all the dirt out but it helps to get as much of it off as you can.
• Regular maintenance – There is no getting around the fact that every system demands maintenance from time to time. This is especially true for equipment that are made to stay outdoors. What you can do is schedule maintenance work every several months so that an expert can check for loose or damaged parts and make any replacements when necessary. Maintenance can also include repainting or just judging the state of the circuits and the LED diodes.

If you want your LED signs to stay in tiptop shape and if you want to avoid the aggravation that comes with repair fees and the lack of signage for your business, you owe it to yourself to spend a few moments caring for your investment by following the tips listed above. 

LED Signs for Auto Dealerships

These days, marketing has evolved into something else, and as always, the Internet is to blame. With the rising popularity of the Internet for almost every entertainment need, the TV and the radio have lost their former marketing glory. TV commercials don’t get viewed as often as they used to because it’s more convenient to recorded television shows. The radio industry has suffered a similar fate with the popularity of subscription radio services and mobile devices. Newspapers have struggled to stay afloat, reducing publication frequency and weathering the decline of circulation. People prefer taking out their tablets and reading the news from the Internet.

What does this have to do with auto dealership? It means that traditional advertising won’t work as well as it used to, and that it’s important to look for alternatives. One effective alternative is using outdoor electronic display or LED sign advertising. In fact, LED sign advertising is more cost-effective than other forms of advertising. There’s no need to put in numbers and other geeky marketing data here, but LED sign advertising, like that which is offered by LED Sign Authority, has been proven to be cheaper per thousand impressions or CPM. This is the kind of advertisement people see without intending to. They’re probably just driving to work, and then they see your LED sign and say, “Oh, that’s a nice offer.”    

The LED Sign Authority Displays we offer to auto dealerships ensure that you get to showcase your monthly, weekly, and even daily specials and also be able to highlight community activities that increase floor traffic. What makes LED Signs different from traditional advert media and campaigns is that things can be changed very quickly. There is no need  to take weeks or even months to plan an ad campaign because digital messages that really speak to potential buyers can be loaded in mere minutes.

Auto dealers can further increase the return on investment of their LED signs by using them to market the high-margin services they offer. With the flexibility of these LED signs, dealers have the ability to display different and multiple messages within the day about offers that customers may be unaware of. It will be a significant opportunity to make customers know about service department specials, customer loyalty programs, special financing opportunities, rental cars, and specific vehicles.

Benefits of LED Sign Advertising

The benefits of LED signs go far beyond just increasing recognition and awareness in prospective buyers but go as far as saving you money. Since they are energy efficient, they also lower operating costs in comparison to obsolete bulb signs. Outdoor electronic displays eat up less electricity, which means you will enjoy significantly lower operating costs, thus yielding a better return on investment. High quality LED signs are cost-efficient and may even qualify you for rebates from your local power companies. 

Purchasing an LED Sign

Not all outdoor electronic displays are of the same quality though. It’s important to do a lot of research about LED sign companies before choosing one. Some important details to know are what warranty they offer, how good their customer service is, how they work with repairs, what after sales services they provide, and of course, the price range of their products. Doing your homework is important if you don’t want to blow your marketing budget on an outdoor electronic display that doesn't do the job. An LED sign is indeed a powerful tool but it will only be as good as the services that come with it. Before you buy anything, make sure you have all your bases covered and that you have asked the right questions.

How Fire Departments Can Finance a LED Sign

FEMA offers the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) each year to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations including equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources. Fire department personnel who have questions about the AFG Program can reach the Program staff by telephone at 1-866-274-0960, or by e-mail at firegrants@dhs.gov. Go to their site to sign up for grant email alerts. http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant-program-info/assistance-firefighters-grants-e-mail-alert-signup Also check with the US Forest Service, Rural Housing Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as private groups like the First Responder Institute for other grants available.

Maltese Cross LED Sign

Wireless Ethernet LED Sign Communication

Ethernet/wireless is sometimes called WiFi or 802.11. It is Ethernet over an RF network and uses off the shelf RF equipment bought at the local computer stores (similar to the wireless used on your laptop). Typically there is data encryption or Key’s used to access the network to prevent Hackers accessing the network. In utilizing this type of network, initially there is some setup involved to get the LED sign talking with the master transmitting unit . The distance for the device is limited to 100 feet or less and the broadcast antenna must be located outside the building to be effective. The speed of the network is very good and is suitable for movie and picture files.

When should I use it?

• High speed connection is desired for sending Movie files or large picture files to the LED sign quickly.
• Need access to the LED sign from several computers or from a company wide network.
• Direct wire cable methods can not be used due to High installation costs
• Excessive RF interference is not present at the LED sign or the transmitter location. This can be caused by Cell phone towers, radio stations, TV stations, wireless handsets and numerous other wireless devices prevalent on the market today.

Benefits:

• Direct wire cable is not required reducing installation cost.
• Ethernet networks are common
• Multiple signs can be controlled from single network
• Files load quickly to sign.

Considerations:

• Installer should be familiar with computer networks to link the network to the signs IP address.
• Clear “Line of Site” (no buildings or metal walls between access points) required between transmitter and receiver. 
• Connectivity and performance and subject to interference by many factors such as: obstructions (such as: weather, uneven terrain, large metal structures, water towers, trees, vehicles, radio signals) in between the sign antenna and the transmitter, distance between the antennas, position of the antennas, etc. A site survey is strongly recommended before installation.
• Recommended method for sending movie, picture or large data files due to its fast speed.

Ethernet TCP/IP LED Sign Communication

Ethernet is a wired communication method allowing an Ethernet communication card (installed in your computer) to communicate with the LED display over a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN). TCP/IP over Ethernet network is another term used for this. Ethernet is a very fast communication method. In simple terms, a movie file can be transferred to a LED sign in under a minute versus 15 to 20 minutes using RS232.

When should I use it?

• Ethernet Network is already available (LAN or WAN).
• High speed connection is desired for sending Movie files or large picture files to the LED sign quickly.
• Need access to the LED sign from several computers or from a company wide network.
• Distance from the LED sign to the Computer or Network switch is less than 300 feet.

Benefits:

• Cable is inexpensive 
• Ethernet networks are common
• Multiple signs can be controlled from single network
• Files load quickly to sign.

Considerations:

• Installer should be familiar with computer networks to link the network to the signs IP address.
• Recommended for distances less that 300 feet
• Will need to be able to run a CAT5 cable between the sign and network connection. The may be obstacles in the way such as sidewalks or parking lots.
• Recommended method for sending movie, picture or large data files due to its fast speed.

What is RS232 LED Sign Communication?

How you communicate with your sign is an important factor in setting up your sign system. One of the most common methods for indoor scrolling LED signs that typically display only  text messages is RS232.  

RS232 is a cable method for connecting a display directly to a computers serial com port using a 9 pin plug. The serial port on a PC is a full-duplex device, meaning that it can send and receive data at the same time. The RS232 serial interface is a point-to-point communication: one port, one device or one computer, one sign. Hence with this method, only one sign can be connected to the computer at any given time. This communication method requires software be installed on the designated computer which will control the messages sent to the sign. It has a maximum distance restriction of 50 feet (15m), but  is a simple connection system that is relatively easy to install and use. 

When should I use it?

• When the distance between the computer running the display software and the display are less than 50 feet (15m).
• When your computer has an available RS232 serial port or you can utilize a USB adapter that converts the USB of your laptop to RS232.
• When temporarily communicating to the sign using a computer or laptop.
• When only sending text files and not picture files, because this method is typically slow for large amounts of data
• When you are interested in a low cost, simple communication method and installation costs are not a factor.

Benefits:

• Easy to use
• Easy to install
• Inexpensive 

Considerations:

• Newer model laptops may not have a serial port which would require the use of a USB to serial port adapter.
• Only one sign can be connected at a time
• Recommended for distances less that 50 feet
• Not recommended for sending movie, picture or large data files.

How Can LED Signs Improve Your Church Message?

Outdoor LED signs are an affordable, state-of-the-art way to communicate church programs and ministry news to the local community. Churches are not just places where people go to attend service- they’re also gathering places where people go to find inspiration. As such, outdoor LED church signs can serve as helpful tools for the entire community and make your church a landmark.  Place Outdoor Electronic displays on; facility monuments, roadside pylons, parking lots, and walkways between buildings to:

• Advertise parish activity schedules of the day/week/month
• Highlight important ideas from church bulletins
• Promote religious spirit and special events
• Welcome new parish members
• Display community involvement and events
• Post Service Times
• Fund Raise
• Display a Verse of the Day or Inspirational Messages
• Display Time & Temperature
• Present Public Service Announcements, Amber Alerts, Etc.

Of course, your LED sign can’t display all these amazing messages for you unless you know how to operate it. Odds are you’re not wanting to spend hours learning to operate a new software program. So look for a LED sign that has easy to use software, or one that can upload messages you create in programs you are already familiar with such as Microsoft PowerPoint or stills and animation images you download online.

Some people are afraid LED signs being turned on for long periods will cause their electric bill to shoot up. Nothing can be further from the truth. Advances in outdoor LED technology provide you with a virtually maintenance-free product. Solid-state LED diodes last for over 100,000 hours of continuous operation, consume less than 1/40 the power and outlast comparable-sized incandescent message centers.

Simply put, LED Signs make it easy to get your Church message out where they will be seen.

How to Buy an Outdoor LED Sign

You want to buy an Outdoor LED Sign?  For business owners, it's one of the most important transaction they'll make. That's why doing it right the first time is so important. Sometimes, buying a display can feel like a dizzying set of rules and regulations. Luckily, armed with the right knowledge and know-how, you can start realizing your businesses potential.  There are so many LED display options available, that sometimes it is best to take it step by step. Hope this helps!

1. Survey Your Site

In order to get an understanding for your signage needs it is critical to get the "lay of the land" and determine your locations specific advantages and/or challenges. Take stock of what you location offers. Some things to examine include but are not limited to

• Existing signage
• Distance of signage from the street and viewing distance
• Obstacles in the signs line of site
• Elevation of sign structure
• Lanes of traffic
• Steed of traffic
• Location of utilities

Visit a few signs in the neighborhood to gauge the competition and see firsthand what you want. Pay attention to overall layout, size, color and resolution. 

2. Permit/Zoning Consultation

Research the laws for electronic signs in your area. What, if any are the restrictions? Many towns have specific regulations about the type or size of outdoor signs businesses may erect. If the zoning laws in your area prevent you from installing the type of sign you desire, you may need to apply for a variance to the existing code. Sign companies should be familiar not only with local regulations, but also with the process for applying for a variance. Hiring an experienced sign professional can help you navigate the zoning process saving you time and money.

3. Determine your Budget

Buying an electronic sign need not be a horror. Today's consumer has so much information (at least, the information is available), as to make the experience of buying a sign less stressful. This transformation will occur, however, only if you obey a rule taught to every first-grade student: DO YOUR HOMEWORK. 

• What is you monthly advertising budget? Business owners sometime forget that your sign is first and foremost advertising. Including an electronic sign in your advertising budget may be less sexy than a TV commercial or radio ad, but its twice as smart. Just as all business owners know that advertising is not free. Often times, the budget does not allow us to do all of the advertising we would like so we must carefully consider the various advertising options that are available to us and invest in the advertisement media that makes the most financial sense. When compared to other advertising costs such as radio, newspaper, television and direct mail, an electronic sign is inexpensive. For example, the cost per 1,000 exposures with an electronic sign is only a few pennies a day. In addition, an electronic message center cultivates long term awareness of a business to a local demographic.

• If financing, think about the sort of down-payment you'll be able to afford. Have a general idea in mind. A down payment establishes equity, or ownership, in a sign. That's also money that you don't have to pay interest on. The more of a down payment you're able to make on your  sign, the less money you'll ultimately pay on your sign. Apply to several lenders within a two week period so that the inquiries do not damage your credit report.

• Check out lease options. These often have lower monthly payments that can easily fit into your business's advertising budget. Lease financing adds another source of credit, allowing you to preserve your cash and established borrowing capacity with banks for other needs. Even "soft costs" such as training, shipping, installation, and maintenance agreements can usually be included. In addition your monthly lease payment can be deducted as an operating expense lowering your tax burden.

• As a business owner, you know that signs are not an expense -- they are an investment. Calculate your expected Return on Investment (ROI). How much increased traffic can you expect to gain form a good sign? The Small Business Association (SBA) statistics show that an LED sign increases business between 15 and 150 percent. Put those numbers into a ROI calculator and see how quickly a sign can pay for itself.  Do you expect your income to increase over the next couple years? If your income has increased by 3% for several years in a row and you hold a good share in a safe industry, you can probably rest assured that buying an expensive but still reasonable sign is possible. Many business owners buy relatively expensive and then grow into their lease with the increased traffic.

Before considering the purchase of a LED sign, it is wise to establish the amount you are willing to spend or, if taking a loan, calculate your maximum monthly payment.  You can work out a loan with your bank, but it is also possible to walk into a sign company with financing already secured through a lease company.  Leasing options can generally be obtained without having to indicate a specific make or model of sign ahead of time. 

Don't forget to consider the costs of tax, permits, installation and training for your new outdoor LED sign. As a very broad, general rule, and depending upon where you live, freight, tax, permits, assorted fees and installation costs will add roughly 10 to 20 percent to the purchase price. This makes the price of a $30,000 sign actually about $36,000 and, if you're financing the deal, you will be paying interest on that additional amount. You should be able to afford the sign as well as its installation costs. It always pays to shop around, so check rates with other lenders to compare. 

4. Use Helpful Internet Tools

There is a lot of information available on the internet but, many professionals will tell you, most buyers simply don't use that available information to their best advantage. To help, we've developed a Buyers Guides for refining your search. Contact us and we will be happy to email one to you.  Another useful area of information will be the various websites for other manufacturers. Often, you can learn specifics about the features of that manufacturer's signs. 

5. Research the Right Sign

Many professionals will tell you that this is where huge numbers of buyers make their biggest mistakes. They don't buy the sign that is best for their needs, but instead get side tracked on price by taking the position that you must have the best deal possible. That sign will be worth what you pay for it, on that day, at that time, and sales managers, particularly those at larger sign companies, tend to have very accurate reads on current market conditions and therefore sign valuations. If you deceive yourself into comparing apples and oranges and placing the same value on both, it will only lead to difficulties later.

Figuring out how much you want to spend was the easy part; now you have to find the sign that's right for you. Most buyers (yes, most), are not really sure what's out there or even what they need and want. Start to think about what you're really looking for in a sign. You probably already have a vague idea, but the angel's in the details. There are a couple things in particular that you should give good thought to:

• First, think about the distance the average viewer will be from the sign. In addition, factors such as as traffic speed, sign height, size and resolution can affect how easily the sign can be viewed.

• What will your business need in several years? Maybe you're just starting up right now, but are there are plans for expansion in the future?

• What tradeoffs are you willing to make? In other words, what are your priorities and what are you willing to compromise on? Do you need a workhorse more than a sign with state of the art technology? Do you care more about sign size over color? Full color LED signs can be more effective for some applications but not all. If you sell insurance there are probably no color pictures that will help you sell your product and text messages will work very effectively. But if you sell cars, color pictures can help you sell and may justify the added cost. What are you willing to sacrifice when it's crunch time?

6. Find a Good Sign Company. 

The sign representative should be: amiable, open, interested, relaxed, confident, and qualified. Learn the representatives experience, and training. A very good sign company will use their experience to sell the right sign to the right buyer — you.

• When you do find your company, go into detail when describing what you want in a sign — type, size and resolution. What you want to display and your locations needs. You site survey should help with this.
• Choose a sign company that specializes in the electronic signs. LED signs have special issues that require special expertise. You will often find faster turnaround, higher quality execution, and better pricing when working with such a company. Working with people who are particularly knowledgeable about the issues surrounding a given application and circumstances can save you time and money.
• Where are their signs made? Is it a USA made product sold through a network of factory trained dealers that can assist you before and after the sale with local support. Is it built by American workers familiar with the local codes and marketplace. Or is it an import where fabrication methods, software and support may be questionable.
• What communication method do you need? There are many different ways to communicate with your electronic message center. Understanding the requirements of the LED display in this regard will help in choosing the right technology for your application. Some installations may have specific requirements. Your sales representative should be able to help you select the method will work best for your application and experience.

Talking to an LED sign professional for help you find the the right sign for your company.

• Call Toll Free 1-800-282-0950
• Fill Out Our Easy Online Financing Form
• Free No Obligation Consultation

With that, good luck, good shopping and good business.

Special Tips

Allow for Updates if Needed - If you expect to upgrade in the future, look for a design that is easy to update or change. In many cases, updates can even be made by your staff instead of returning the sign to the manufacture.

Consider Stock Signs - Although most Electronic message centers are custom made, it is possible to find pre-made LED signs. Buying stock LED signs can be much cheaper than having a sign custom-made.

Be Prepared to Wait During the Summer - Sign companies are generally busiest during the summer. Expect longer turnaround times during this time of the year.

What You Need to Install a Sign

Most states require that hardwired electric signs and/or neon be installed by a State Licensed Sign Specialist. To qualify for a license they must be at least 18 years of age, have over 4,000 hours of experience, obtained over a period of not less than 2 years, related to manufacture, installation, maintenance, connection, or repair of electric signs and related wiring, and must take and pass the Sign Specialist examination.

The sign specialist is actively in charge of and responsible for code compliance of all installations, connection, and repair of electric signs and related wiring. To ensure your sign permitting goes smoothly and your electric sign is installed properly, ask if your sign contractor employ's a Licensed Sign Specialist.

How to Choose the Right LED Sign for Your Business?

As a business owner or as a soon-to-be businessman you have a lot of decisions to make, but one of the most important and first thing you should decide on is what signs you will install to advertise your business. Your sign is your “face” so to speak and it's how people will find and remember your business. So you better make your signs first impression a good one.

Elements of good signage

When considering signage for your business, you need to think size and placement first since you want people to be able to see your sign. Your municipality  and landlord may have something to say about the size they will allow and where you can install it. The next thing you need to consider is illumination. That is right, illumination . It doesn't matter how massive your sign is and how well-placed it is; if it is not illuminated, customers will not be able to appreciate it in the dark. Even in the daylight they may think you are closed. This is where purchasing a well designed Outdoor LED Business sign comes in.

Outdoor LED Open Sign

The Benefits

There are so many benefits you can get from outdoor LED signs and they include:

• Durable -- Other types of signs including neon and back-lit fluorescent tubes can break during shipping and handling, LED modules are very durable requiring little maintenance.
• Reduce Energy Costs -- LED signs can draw as little as 10% of conventional light sources, reducing wattage usage as well as your carbon footprint.
• No Mercury -- LED are RoHS compliant

• Flexibility -- Because of the smaller size, LEDs can be used in slim sign cabinets providing more flexibly in sign placement.

• Illumination -- Passersby can see your business from a distance day or night making it a focal point in the neighborhood.
• Location Branding -- Bright LED signs getting the message out about your company's location and help customers find your business in a clutter of competing messages.

So you see, purchasing an outdoor LED business is a real boon and one of the smartest business decisions you can make. 

LED Sign Viewing Distance

At what distance will your LED sign be viewed? And at what angle? This will help you determine the correct message display character height and minimum pitch required to produce an image that is crisp and lifelike. Longer distances require less resolution and shorter distances require more resolution. If you are traveling 55mph on a freeway and the LED message sign is 600 feet away at a truck stop, the LED message text letters must be at least 20 inches tall to be legible. If you are standing 60 feet away from a LED sign, the message letters need only be 2 inches tall to be legible.

Resolution is the most important factor affecting the cost of your LED sign. More resolution means more diodes and more circuits, which usually means higher cost. How do you determine the resolution of an LED sign? Pitch is the distance between one diode and another. The SMALLER the pitch the HIGHER the resolution. You are probably not a sign expert, but we can give you the knowledge you need on distance and angle to ensure your site and LED sign match up correctly.

Why do I need an Outdoor LED Sign

You say "I already have a sign". An Outdoor LED sign or electronic message center offers a unique way to capture the attention of passers-by. A LED sign allows you to communicate more effectively with the typical person passing by at a particular time day by changing the message and graphic of your sign to match the profile on the street. Outdoor electronic LED moving message centers have proven to increase business 15%-150% (Small Business Administration) at 10% the cost of TV, Radio and Newspaper advertising.

You say "my customers already know where I am". Consider the public - your existing and potential customers - is on the move, both literally and figuratively, and sometimes catching their attention is like hitting a moving target. Approximately 85% of customers live within an 5 mile radius of most businesses and 18.6% of Americans move every year. Potentially that is a loss of 18.5% of your current customer base. Add to that the fact that 15-35% of the traffic on a given street is "just passing through" (vacation travelers and such), and you can see the great potential for stops by those unfamiliar with the area.

We no longer live in a 9-to-5 society, and people will drive past your business location 24 hours a day. With a lighted LED Electronic Message Center sign, you have an opportunity to communicate with your existing and potential customer, even when your business is closed and you are at home enjoying your family.

What is a pixel on a LED display?

A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when current passes through it. A pixel on a LED display can be composed of one or more LEDs. A pixel is the smallest individual component of an image. For example 16mm, 20mm, 25mm LED displays can utilize 1 LED per pixel for monochrome signs and 3 LED per pixel for full color LED displays (1-red, 1-green, 1-blue). Whereas a 32 mm LED signs can have have 4 LEDs per pixel for monochrome LED signs, and 5 LEDs per pixel for full color (2-red, 1-green, 1-blue). When determining the quality of the display, the number of LEDs per pixel is not as important as the overall brightness of the LEDs. High grade LEDs exceed 5000 NITs. Some LED display manufacturers try to overcome inferior LEDs by adding more LEDs of the same color to each pixel. This makes the pixel larger, which increases the viewing distance, but it also increases energy consumption.