LED neon signs are gaining in popularity for businesses wanting their brand creatively catching eyes over traditional neon signs. Find out why companies are moving to LED Neon and how it’s a step in the right direction to a brighter future.
What’s the Difference Between LED and Neon Signage?
In terms of the mechanics, LED signs and light sources are derived from a string of Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s) spaced far enough apart such that the light sources overlap each other, giving a constant glow, compared to the ‘flicker’ of neon lights.
LED’s are generally wrapped in a protective polymer, more lightweight than neon’s glass tubing and more flexible. Not to mention much less fragile as well! Tradition neon signs tend to be a little wider and taller than their LED counterparts. An LED sign can be as little as 1 inch thick, compared to the minimum of 3-5 inches deep of neon, where the glass tubing must extend away from its backing.
LED technology is increasingly seen as a better, cheaper and environmentally friendlier way to attract attention for the following reasons:
Lighter Electricity Use
Energy consumption is a key business expense, so saving money on electricity bills is vital. Our Custom neon signs use about 15x less electricity than traditional neon signs. Size of signage is measured in terms of tubes straightened. One foot of old neon signage typically uses about 20 watts per hour of electricity. The same length and thickness of LED light as a neon tube, would use only 1.2 watts of electricity per hour, however. What’s more, our neon signs are cheaper than traditional neon, are will save you money over the duration of its lifetime, so you’re saving money as soon as you opt for the newer version of our custom neon signs.
Versatility
Traditional neon signs are fixed in terms of their functionality, remaining fixed on or off without any opportunity to customise the visual experience. LED neon signs offer a lot more creative versatility, being a collection of thousands of tiny single lights, each being programmable independently to be ‘active’. LED lights can change colour, as well as fade or flash. Variety in the size of LED bulbs also allows for more creative designs , regardless of the space being illuminated. Contrast this with tubes that are difficult to bend into intricate shapes and simple blink on and off capability and it’s easy to see what will turn more heads.
Brightness
While on the subject of aesthetics, it’s useful to know that LED signs provide consistent brightness, making them easy to see either up close or from a distance. Neon signs can be difficult to see at a distance with detail, especially at night, when signage looks bleary. LED neon lights can be easily dimmed to your personal requirements, for day or night-time display, making for greater energy consumption control. Our personalised neon lights are more energy efficient whilst also being brighter. Configurable brightness makes for flexibility of display.
Branding Matches
The range of colours available for LED signs is almost limitless. Expressing brand image more closely is easier because of this, maintaining brand integrity. Our array of other custom neon signage options means that there will always be something NeonExperts can do for your brand to liven your work or leisure space up!
Low-Maintenance
Individual, sturdy bulbs make it easy to maintain LED signs, without having to handle components that are hot to touch. Cleaning LED signs, on or off, simply requires a damp cloth. Neon signs need to be off and allowed to cool before cleaning. This means that you’ll have one less thig to worry about, and can be exposed to people due to its safety and sturdiness even if it falls.
LED signs are also virtually maintenance free. Neon signs eventually lose all of their neon gas inside the glass tubes, which has to be replaced by a professional neon sign manufacturer or by buying new signage. Although this takes 10 years or more, during the meantime, your old signs become dimmer over time. LED bulbs retain their brightness over their longer life and are also far less sensitive to weather events so you can use your personalised neon sign outdoors without worry of water damage, as well as being easily replaceable.
Longevity
LED signs, on average have a 100,000+ hour (11 year) lifespan is they are consistently brightly lit, before needing replacement, compared to the average lifespan of a neon sign of 30,000 hours, during which time, their strength fades considerably. Traditional neon signs use fragile glass tubing, whereas LED bulbs are robust to the touch. LED neon signs are also waterproof and less prone to weather damage, potentially saving more where you are subject to extremes.
We often see a partially ‘burnt out’ sign, making a business look a little tired and shabby. With LED bulbs, it’s easy to replace, so it doesn’t undermine the quality of your business or the space you are using it for. LED neon signs do not require immediate replacement to preserve impact, whereas neon failures must be replaced immediately.
Safety
Custom made LED neon signs generate little heat and are safe to touch, unlike neon signs that become extremely hot when on. Neon risk potential shock hazards and furthermore, LED bulbs are durable, so if the sign gets broken, broken glass doesn’t become a hazard, unlike the delicate glass tubing of traditional neon signs.
Installation Speed and Cost: Because of LED’s flexibility and lighter weight, installation of LED signs is easier and faster than their outdated counterpart to install. While LED the equipment itself comes at a higher up-front cost, this is mitigated by labour and longevity savings. The components of old neon signs make them bulkier and riskier to transport and more time-consuming to install, which add to costs.
Improvements in technology have brought down the price of LED’s and now the majority of contemporary signage is LED.
Energy Savings
LED's can save you up to 70% or more in energy costs; traditional neon signs run hotter and demand more energy. Glass neon uses 15,000 volts, compared to LED lighting using only 24 volts. LED is also low voltage (12 v) as opposed to high voltage neon (120v) i.e. LED signs use 1/20th the electricity of neon ones.
Eco-friendliness
Due to their low energy consumption and longevity , LED signs are the eco-friendlier option for lit signage. Increasingly, LED bulbs are becoming recyclable too. Obsolete neon signage is classed as toxic waste, however. LED have no gases, glass tubes, argon or mercury problems .
Summary
LED neon signs are the future for businesses seeking to cut costs on eye-catching , creative signage. Cutting advertising costs does not mean compromising on versatility and visibility. When you compare the features and benefits of LED and neon signs outlined here, the short and long-term benefits of LED shine through. The clarity and creativity of a professionally designed LED sign is highly appealing, leaving a sharper impact in the mind’s eye. LED signs are an excellent and proven tool for footfall based advertising.
Want to know more about how LED signs can brighten your brand? Contact Neon Experts with your questions and ideas to get your own sign, whatever that may be!
