Sign condition after a windstorm destroyed an old sign cabinet. Sign was missing a panel, had broken fluorescent bulbs, old distressed and peeling panel graphics and a missing lower sign cabinet.
Illuminated outdoor signs have been historically fabricated with either neon or fluorescent bulbs as the industry standard. Over time fluorescent illumination became the standard as neon became expensive, not very reliable and not environmentally friendly. Today the new standard is LED illumination and the fluorescent tube is now viewed as inefficient, high maintenance and hazardous to the environment.
LED illumination is very efficient and reliable while providing a brighter light.
LED Vs. Fluorescent Lighting
On average, converting signs from fluorescent to LED reduces maintenance cycles from 2 to 3 times per year to just once every 5 to 10 years. Fluorescent bulbs are significantly more fragile and frequently break during installation or inside the sign during storms and high wind weather events. While the cost of a new fluorescent bulb is minimal, the life cycle of a bulb is significantly lower than LEDs. The cost for replacement though is expensive. The sign owner must pay for service technicians, a bucket truck, and safe disposal of the fluorescent bulb, which contains toxic mercury. In the end, the cost for just one fluorescent bulb going out can amount to hundreds of dollars.
Testing the new LED lighting.
Below are some benefits of changing over to LEDs.
Higher Efficiency:
LED lighting is 70% more energy efficient than neon and 40% more efficient than fluorescent bulbs. This efficiency can lower your costs due to lower electric consumption. LED illumination typically operates on 24 volts where as fluorescent requires 120 volts.
Increased Brightness:
LED lighting is brighter than neon, even in cold weather where neon fails. LED lighting maintains a better level of brightness throughout its entire lifespan.
Final Sign. Replacement panels for AVIS, Ridge Spa, and new Store For Lease cabinet and panels all converted to LED lighting!
Better Performance:
LED lighting is more consistent throughout is life cycle, as its performance does not have a flickering issue like neon signs and has a lower degradation rate in regards to level of light output. It keeps its illumination longer and is more uniform throughout the entire sign.
Less Maintenance:
LED signs require less maintenance than neon signs. LEDs have a significantly longer life cycle in comparison to the other options. Fluorescent bulbs are very fragile and subject to breakage and early failures.
There are many options available to retrofit your illuminated signs. LEDs are available in strings typically used for channel letters as well as reflective panels for sign cabinets to directly replace your fluorescent tube with minor modifications to the sign cabinet wiring.
If your sign is in need of repair or maintenance or if you are interested in a more efficient illumination package, give the experts a call at Paramount signs for a free consultation. Our experts would be glad to discuss the options that will best fit your needs.
We want to save you money and get you noticed. After all, getting you noticed is PARAMOUNT!
