If you’re looking to purchase an outdoor LED display, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Outdoor displays come in many shapes, sizes and prices. But what should you look for? Things like quality, distance, size, outdoor elements — all factors you need to consider.
We’ve put together this list of 7 things to look for so that you can make an informed decision when it comes time to buy your next outdoor LED display.
Minimum viewing distance
The minimum viewing distance of a display is the shortest distance at which a person can clearly read the text or recognize what’s being shown on it. The minimum viewing distance depends on the resolution of your panel, and the size of the display.
So how do you take this into consideration on purchasing a display? You’ll want to pay close attention to the pixel pitch — the lower the pixel pitch, the higher the image quality and resolution (and vice versa). The quick and easy method is to take the Pixel Pitch in millimeters and multiply it by 10 — this will give you a rough estimate of viewing distance in feet.
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Display brightness
The nits rating of an outdoor LED display is a standard unit of measurement for display brightness. Higher nits mean brighter displays, which will be clearer and more visible from further away.
The brightness of your display will depend on many factors including how bright it needs to be for use at night and other environmental conditions like weather, lighting and shade/sunlight exposure. In general, your outdoor LED display should be at least 4000 nits (or 4K).
Resolution & Quality
Resolution of the display refers to the number of pixels that make up an image. The higher the resolution, the higher the pixel density, and the clearer and sharper your outdoor LED display will appear.
As mentioned prior, keep in mind the scale of your LED display and at what distance it will be viewed. Additional quality elements to look for are contrast ratio, gray scale and refresh rate. Each of these specs will help your picture and video be viewed with excellent quality.
Maintenance & support
A company that provides solid support is a must. Look for companies that offer service and maintenance, and can partner with integrators for installation. Consider customer support as well — if you cannot get a hold of a company via phone or email and get a response within a reasonable amount of time, it’s an additional sign that this is not a company to do business with.
In general, though, LED displays are very low maintenance, making them an excellent option for investing into a long-lasting, durable product.
IP rating
While you can use an outdoor LED display for a variety of purposes, such as a billboard or in transportation, the main reason people choose to purchase an outdoor LED display is because they want the ability to show off their brand with a beautiful and eye-catching display. The last thing you want is for your new investment to get ruined because it was not made with the proper protection against moisture or other harmful elements.
It’s important that your display has an IP rating (International Protection Marking). This mark represents how resistant a product is to various environmental factors, such as water and dust. All outdoor LED display products from Firefly are rated IP65 for optimum protection.
Energy efficiency
There’s no question, you want a display that will use the least amount of power possible, but still look great.
When considering which display is right for your needs, look at both the average and max power consumption. You might find an outdoor LED display that uses an outrageous amount of power — this should not be the case, as LED is a very efficient technology.
Plus, review how well the materials and components are put together for heat dissipation and energy savings. Things like flip-chip technology can help.
Warranty
A good warranty is the best way to know that an outdoor LED display will last, and it’s also a sign of confidence in the product. When shopping for an outdoor LED display, look for a warranty that will protect the workmanship and materials of the LED display.
Check these 7 things before buying
Before you go making a purchase for an outdoor LED display, be sure to check this list of 7 things off. LED is not a small investment, and you should be confident in the product (and the company) that you are buying.
