Channel Letter Lighting...To Be LED or Not To Be?

Channel letters fill a need for corporate IDs and building identity programs on the sides of building and have done so for decades. Times are changing and more than filling a need is that the channel letters are now filled in terms of their lighting source.

Whereas neon once had an almost complete monopoly on illuminating channel letters, LEDs are now emerging as an alternative lighting source. Their overall features of high brightness, lower cost in terms of energy efficiency and a long operation life of at least 100,000 hours per unit make them very attractive as lighting fixtures......................

HB LEDs (High Brightness LEDs) evolution

LEDs have been valuable for both electronic billboards and as an illumination source for channel letters where it performs as an alternative lighting medium to neon lighting. Its features have been widely praised, including its small size, its low voltage efficiencies, and its robustness in lasting upwards of 60,000 - 70,000 hours before they have to be replaced. Its performance efficiency is a moving target as its overall cost is continually descending and new technological improvements are resulting in LEDs constantly getting brighter as an illumination source..................