How do temperatures affect an outdoor digital signage solution?
Temperature extremes play a major role in deciding what kind of outdoor digital signage your company may need. If the LCD or media player overheats, your equipment could malfunction or necessitate an expensive on-site repair. This could cost an excessive amount to fix. Obviously, weather and geographic location are extremely important when reviewing the many different outdoor digital signage solutions available in the marketplace, whether it be an outdoor digital menu board for your quick service restaurant, or an LCD enclosure displaying when the next train is arriving (see image above). Being able to regulate the temperature inside the LCD enclosure is vital.
2 Items to Consider Prior to Installing Outdoor Digital Signage Enclosures
Temperature Extremes
In many cities across America, it can be 15°F one day, and then 80°F the next day. Will your outdoor digital signage enclosure be able to function and survive such extreme temperature fluctuations? Research demonstrates that the hotter the equipment gets, the less likely it will work properly. Excess heat is simply bad for electronics, but, then again, so are freezing temperatures. Will a digital signage enclosure protect against frost, ice, sleet, high winds, rain, and snow? Yes, of course! Choose an enclosure solution that will protect against all weather extremes based on the installation location. Waiting until after a big storm hits to evaluate your needs could cost the company a great deal of money, both in terms of lost revenue and customer loyalty.
Solar Load (direct exposure to the sun) & Outside Ambient Temperature vs. Inside the Enclosure
Just because the temperature in your town or city does not reach 90°F, doesn’t mean that the inside of the enclosure will stay below 90°F. Oftentimes, the inside of the enclosure will become hotter than the ambient temperature just due to solar gain. (Ever burn ants with a magnifying glass?) Extreme temperatures will put a strain on the electronics inside of the digital signage enclosure. Electronic equipment already gives off a great deal of heat on its own, and that heat must be evacuated from the enclosures system. Always be sure your enclosure is properly ventilated, cooled, or heated depending on the environment. Best practice is to consult with an enclosure expert prior to setting your project budget. There a number of outdoor LCD enclosures available on the market (please also see “4 Types of Outdoor LCD Enclosures”). Based on the installation environment, an enclosure company will be able to recommend whether a vented, fan cooled, air conditioner and/or heater will be adequate for your application.
When deciding on an outdoor digital signage solution, there are many elements to consider. Taking into account weather extremes and direct exposure to the sun is very important. As with anything, examine the high and low temperature extremes in your area, consider the direction the signage will “face” for solar gain and above all else, consult an expert!
If your customer wants a piping hot cup of coffee in the dead of winter, it’s important that the digital menu board with the price of the coffee is working correctly!
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