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Outdoor digital signage: To enclose or not to enclose?

When working with end-users to determine the best fit for them regarding an outdoor display, there is a wide range of factors to consider.

April 28, 2015

By Brian Rhatigan, CTS, DSCE, Business Development Manager for Almo Professional A/V

With limited real estate and almost unlimited competition, businesses are always looking for ways to get the attention of prospective buyers and provide relevant messaging. Digital signs are available in many different sizes and even different shapes. Additionally, interactive technologies such as touch-enabled displays continue to gain momentum in business and retail applications.  

Another area where businesses are looking to capture an audience is outside of their store or place of business, and this is true in a wide variety of venues, from bars and restaurants to theme parks and transportation hubs.

Digital signage display technology, and the use of flat panel displays for informational signs, is hardly new — however, when looking at implementing this technology in an outdoor environment, there is a whole new set of considerations that must be reviewed during the planning stages. Environmental conditions such as heat, cold, dust, sunlight and moisture will have a big impact on both the performance and effectiveness of this equipment.  

I am still trying to find a city that offers a consistent 70-degree dehumidified environment year-round to live in, but that sounds more like wishful thinking. Evidently, outside temperature is definitely at the top of the list when planning for an outdoor display. A typical operating temperature range of a flat panel is between 32 degrees and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Given that high temperatures impede electronic operation, and extreme hot and cold will reduce the life of electronic components, special care needs to be taken to overcome one of the biggest contributors to electronics failure. 

Moisture, not only from rain but also from condensation, is an inherent challenge when deciding to use a display outdoors. It's a pretty safe bet that any type of electronics will not continue to operate for very long when moisture is introduced. Besides the high risk of an electrical short, corrosion on the boards and components is inevitable. Add to this that rapid temperature changes can cause condensation on the glass surface, drastically reducing the effectiveness of whatever messaging is on that screen.  

Unlike temperature and humidity/moisture, there is rarely a value listed on a flat panel spec sheet that describes a display's resilience to dust and debris; however, that does not mean that it is not a concern.   Since heat is usually considered the No. 1 enemy of any electronics' performance, every display will have some method of dissipating that heat generated during its normal operation, which is often accomplished with fans and vents. This becomes a two-way street, allowing for dirt and debris to come inside the display and land on the electronics.

As enjoyable as a bright sunny day is, it can wreak havoc on an LCD display. There are two main concerns, the first of which is brightness. An average brightness rating for a commercial LCD screen is usually somewhere about 500 nits, which is fine for indoor environments; however, put that screen in sunlight and it will be very difficult to view. With the increased demands on display manufacturers for products to be placed outdoors, we are now seeing displays made for this purpose with brightness ratings of 2,000 nits and higher. The second major concern is that many LCD panels, when exposed to direct sunlight, can become unstable and the image can turn black. In most cases this is temporary, although at a minimum it will cause a disruption to the messaging on the screen. Thankfully, we are starting to see manufacturers produce products that are designed to be viewed in direct sunlight. 

As you can see, there are several factors that need to be addressed when end-users are looking to expand their digital messaging beyond the inside of their store. Perhaps it's a home/garden/nursery outdoor area of a hardware chain, or maybe a menu board in front of a restaurant, or possibly a display outside a jewelry store with messaging enticing people to come into the store. Regardless of the application, there are really only two primary ways to address all of these issues, including either using an outdoor-rated display which would have a typical operating range of -40 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit or using a standard display within an environmental enclosure. 

A true outdoor-rated display will take all of the features of a commercial display and "ruggedize" the chassis and enclosure to make the core panel impervious to heat variations as well as humidity and moisture variations. Often an anti-reflective coating will be used on the front glass and weather proofing will be provided for the full enclosure, and of course it will include a warranty that will cover the product for use in outdoor environments. Environmental enclosures will address all of these factors but will come in a package separate from the display and are meant to house a traditional commercial display inside.

When I am working with a customer to try and determine the best fit for them regarding an outdoor display, there are several factors that I consider. Probably the most important is brightness. (So, will the display be mounted under an awning, or will it be exposed to direct sunlight?) Although there are a few exceptions, most non-ruggedized displays are not bright enough to be used for direct sunlight applications, so a high-bright ruggedized display will be the way to go for direct sunlight applications.

Another factor is whether or not the sign will be interactive (e.g., a touchscreen display). Again, the enclosure would not allow for the use of touch, while there are ruggedized outdoor displays that have integrated touch.

What is the environment? In humid environments, displays inside of enclosures have more of a chance to develop condensation on the inside of the enclosure glass due to the gap, whereas with a ruggedized display the protective glass is typically optically bonded to the LCD display surface, removing this air cavity.

In extreme temperature environments, it is typically easier to specify a ruggedized display as opposed to a standard display with an enclosure so that you don’t have to calculate BTUs and make sure you choose an appropriate heating/cooling element for the enclosure.

When it comes to cost, both options are fairly similar. In the case of a basic enclosure with just fan-based cooling (no AC or heat), then the enclosure system will likely be less expensive if customers are on a budget.

Currently, outdoor-rated displays are available in sizes of up to about 55-inches diagonal, and environmental enclosures are available for slightly larger screens. As demand increases, production will follow suit. As businesses continue looking for different ways to attract customers, outdoor digital signage products will certainly become more appealing to them.  

Brian Rhatigan, CTS, DSCE, is a Business Development Manager for Almo Professional A/V. His specialties are in audio, content management, control systems, digital signage, signal distribution and touch/interactive. Rhatigan is part of a highly specialized team of Almo Pro A/V experts offering technical knowledge, system design assistance, in-depth brand/product knowledge, bid and project registration capability, and a direct line to manufacturers.

Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York.

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