A question we often get when we discuss building signs is whether LED is better or should they go with neon. The individually lit letters on a building that are enclosed in aluminum housings withacrylic faces are called channel letters. It used to be that most of the signs had neon tubing inside the channel letters and that’s what you got. With the acrylic faces on the letters you really couldn’t tell anyway what was lighting the letters. When LEDs came on the scene they were originally more expensive than neon, so many continued with the cheaper option and stuck with neon.
Example of an LED sign
Today, LED and neon generally cost the same amount. That is they cost the same to manufacture and install the sign, but which is the better option. Here are some differences that will probably make this sound like a no brainer.
- LED lights are low voltage lighting, so they consume about 1/6th of the electrical consumption of neon. That can make a big difference over time in your electric bill.
- As you probably know from all the new LED light systems coming out, LED lights last a long time. They are going to be more reliable over time. Neon lights will require more maintenance sooner.
- The power supplies for neon are very heavy and need to handle the higher voltages for the neon signs and they tend to need replacement sooner than the transformers in the LED signs.
- LED lights maintain a bright consistent light over time. Neon signs will start to go dimmer over time, especially in colder weather.
- When LED lights go out it will generally be an individual light and it’s barely noticeable. It doesn’t take out the whole string of lights. When the neon lights go out it can take out the lighting in multiple letters at the same time.
- Neon and LED can both come in multiple colors now. LED used to be somewhat limited, but there are advances in additional colors now.
Now neon is not all bad. Neon has a certain look that can draw people’s attention, especially when it stands alone outside of the channel letters. It’s also excellent for what’s called open channel letters. These are letters with either a clear acrylic face of no face so you can see the neon tubes. What’s fun with LED now is that you can get LED light tubes that look a lot like neon tubes, yet they have the same advantages of LED as listed above.
Example of a Neon Sign
 
You also have the environmental issue. LED is a lot smaller and safer on the environment than neon tubes.
As you look for ideas for you sign lighting solutions we will be glad to work with you on your options. That’s one thing that sets us apart as a sign business. We listen to your desires, we will help educate and give you what you need to make an informed decision. Give us a call and we will gladly work with you to create the best signage solution for your business in either LED or neon.
