We have been using JS LEDs for the past 5 years. Aside from the occational driver failure, we have had great success with the LED lights. They are brighter than most of the other brands we have tried and need fewer of them to light the same area as other brands. We not only use them to light our channel letters but are now lighting cabinet signs as well. So long as you do not over load or under load the driver i can't see any reason for failure. For the money, I have not found a better LED on the market. I have yet to be called back because of a failure.
I haven't seen any LED that the lighting output doesn't degrade at least 25% in the 1st year and within 3 years they are well under 50% of the original light output. If these are in letters on a stand alone building then it is not noticed as much but place in a strip center where new LED letters are being placed or neon letters exist then it is quiet noticeable. This situation has cost me a long time and valuable customer and in the future I will more than go the great lengths to explain to customers the down fall of led and let them be the decision maker in the future and without a doubt neon will prevail over a product that yes is valuable in certain situations but not in the over taking of neon in lighting of channel letters .... .....
We have been using these for 3-5 yrs now and have since made them a standard when not specified otherwize. I recommend moisture resistant butt/wirenut connectors as with all DC outdoor applications. If you load and install them correctly you will not have any problems.. I can't stress enough...Moisture resistant connectors are key. I have yet to service an LED module (with exception to PERMLIGHT) in 8 yrs that was wired with moisture resistant connectors. I cannot say the same for the typical wire nut/ butt connector.
Good luck.
jason@qscct.com
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We've had a module fail in our testing on TheSignSyndicate.com, they have a new line out haven't had the chance to test those yet, if we even will. I've had friends who have used them with a high failure rate even when used in cold climates in Alaska where LEDs should be at their ideal environment.
My advice is stick with something that is Nichia, Toyoda, something will known and not patent infringing. Osram and Cao Group is sueing Samsung, so now those cheap LEDs might not be good for future servicing any longer if the litigation is successful, which I'm sure it will be.
Look at all the people who used the cheap JT LED, rumor is they got sued by Nichia, then had to make a swith over to cree. So their .33 watt mod went to a .4 mod, so much for if you need mod replacement.
Ah, gotta love the LED world!