Updated for 2011, this guide covers how to estimate, warranties and quantity discounts, an estimate form, design and engineering fees, service and installation hourly rates, a letter footage chart, and ...
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LEDs have gained popularity among signmakers, according to ST’s 2008 Lighting Survey (see ST, March, page 76) and, in some cases, the illuminated-diode applications have exceeded neon’s marketshare. Undeniably, LEDs’ continuing technological advances are producing attractive, alternate lighting sources for electric signs; thus, sign designers and end-users have additional lamp choices for their illuminated-signs.
The Lighting Survey shows 68.4% of the LEDs used by signmakers are for channel letters. It also indicates, for the first time, that signmaker’s use of white LEDs has surpassed red (46.9% vs. 40.5%).
Compared to neon lighting, LEDs’ channel-letter and cabinet-sign illumination advantages are: reduced energy use, longer lifetime ratings, more flexible patterning, less breakage, lighter weight and easier maintenance. Unlike neon tubes, the LEDs are durable and easily installed. Such systems comprise small, discrete modules, which can be connected in either parallel or serial fashion, via electrical wire strings. This module/wiring feature allows for variable layouts and easier lamp replacement.
In addition, retrofitting neon-illuminated channel letters with LED sources is feasible because LED systems are modular and can be cut to size in the shop or field, to fit the needed shape. Installers can easily attach modules with pre-applied, self-adhesive tape, or they can mechanically affix them to the channel-letter back. An accompanying, low-voltage (12VDC) power supply, connected with Class 2 power wires (10-12 AWG), may be placed inside or outside the channel letters.
Many companies are finding that replacing the old neon with an LED system is cost effective because of lower maintenance costs and reduced energy consumption.
Disadvantages
Despite these notable advantages, LEDs struggle with brightness, color quality and uniform illumination. White-LED disadvantages are even more pronounced. They also suffer from inadequate luminous efficacy, brightness, color rendering and consistency in the white color – otherwise known as the “color binning” problem. These faults can affect a sign’s final image.
Such inconsistencies also increase white LEDs’ costs.
Over time, however, technological advances will overcome these disadvantages. Meanwhile, signmakers can apply some measures, today, to achieve greater channel-letter illuminance, as well as improve uniformity and color quality.
Illuminance is the amount of light, from a light source, that falls on a surface. Its measurement essentially tells us how well a surface (a signface, for example) is illuminated.
Choosing LEDs
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