The Guggenheim/Bauhaus architecture offers many signage opportunities.
On April 9, 2008, HP transported numerous technology journalists to Tel Aviv, to tour its Israel plants. Following the tour, my wife, Li, and I spent several days traveling in Israel. We visited and photographed the Dizengoff Center at night, following a walk on the Dizengoff thoroughfare, Tel Aviv’s most energetic street.
The center presents dozens of shops, cafes, cinemas, art exhibits and events; it also features interesting signage.
Because I’m unfamiliar with offshore, electric signage, I asked Marcus Thielen, ST’s “Lighting Techniques” columnist, to comment on the channel-letter signs. Although uncertain of Israel’s codes, Marcus said, in Europe, self-enclosed “independent transformers” are permitted within the molded plastic, with adequate spacing and ventilation. EU codes also allow most electronic neon transformers.
Regarding the window-mounted sign, Marcus said European regulations permit a ground-fault-protected, remotely installed transformer and unshielded, ungrounded, high-voltage cable (sans conduit) to run into the insulated plastic sign body – if there are no metal parts. Note the cable at the window-mounted sign’s upper right.
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