The United LED 2 vs BrightON - II Shoot Out

[Erik Sine]

The United LED 2 vs Principal Qwik Mod2 vs BrightON - II Shoot Out

 

I've been getting asked questions from clients about a new option on the block and how it compares to the BrightON - II LED Module.

 

At the time I ran this benchmark there has been very little information about the United LED Module, which is Wensco Sign Supplies's "Fuck You" product aimed at Principal LED's Qwik Mod2 specifically for hurt feelings....and it's backed by Montroy & Spandex.  This is Wenso's way of getting back at Principal for them losing the Principal / Sloan LED Line...Which IMO...losing those products... was NOT a big loss.

 

I admire Wensco for coming out and hitting back at Principal Publicly when the Principal line was pulled back from them.  But, it was the way Principal did them dirty that I myself understand their anger.  

 

It was the way the relationship ended, and not just for Wensco but others like Montroy.  It is reminiscent of how Matt BooB of Vidon/Jewelite silently ended our relationship Link  This happens a lot in our industry behind the normal closed doors sign shops will never hear about.  We ourselves have gotten doors closed on us because I wouldn't play ball.  

 

We've had large sign suppliers contact vendors we carry to try and shut down what we stock from them down under a threat...THEY won't stock them if they continue to stock us....in fact, now that I think about it, the two brothers at Principal ended our supply of Transco To Go once they bought them.  It's not something to cry about, everything happens or a reason.  All the bad things that happen in life have a way of installing a drive in you...

 

....There's a way to end a relationship and it BEGINS with a phone call and having a conversation, no one likes to learn their girlfriend dumped them by text or email, or by social media.

 

 

On a normal day I wouldn't even touch this comparison because I think Principal LED is turning into a monopoly just like anyone else, shops are overpaying more for mediocrity and their buying because they don't do their own research...clearly.  For now Principal can dictate a large portion of the market....for now... 

 

I'm being asked about it because Wensco is choosing to offer this Brighter, Whiter, Cheaper module ("Brighter than others") for cheaper than the Qwik Mod2... I have to jump in and tell my Customers what the difference is between the two LED Modules and how they differ.  There is some truth to it, and some exaggerations. 

 

Back to to the Modules...

 

I didn't know what to expect on this United LED Module and some specs seemed a little exaggerated to me.  It's a G2G Lighting LED Module made specially for Wensco.  

 

In my humble opinion this is a race to the bottom, and it reminds me of the JT LED Era by N.Glantz

 

If you're going to build something, don't start with the Qwik Mod....for just "Cheaper".  The bar for the Qwik Mod is nothing to shoot for, and this does not help the industry, it retards it. They're chasing after shops that want "Cheaper", NOT Quality.  

 

I myself CAN make cheaper, but I don't want "Cheaper", I want to service the shops that want.... "Immaculate"....Competitive Light...NOT Usable Light

 

Anyhow, I was sent some modules of both United LED's 2LED 12volt .8 watt and higher power 2LED 1.2watt module which I think is geared for cabinet lighting.

 

 

I did a quick benchmark comparison per the usual, and I did it this time with my portable sales case.  

 

 

PIC 1 - Basic LED Module Specs

 

Left to right.  

 

BrightON - II

12V & 24V .8watt

6500K

Constant Current

 

3M VHB Tape

18 AWG Wiring

 

 

Principal LED's Qwik Mod 2

12V .8watt

7100K 

Constant Voltage

 

3M Foam Tape

22 AWG Wiring

 

 

United LED (G2G) 2

12V .8watt

7500K

Constant Voltage

 

3M VHB Tape

18 AWG Wiring

 

 

 

 

PIC 2 - Method of Attachment 

 

Method of attachment to surface, 3M VHB Tape or a budget Foam Tape.  I personally don't like foam tape as most of you know as a sign shop, because when you place it down once, you're not picking that module back up if you have to move it again for any kind of adjustments without ripping that foam tape and making mess on the surface to reposition.  

 

With VHB tape you can simply twist and move again over and over again.

 

 

 

 

 

PIC 2 - The Comparison Makeup 

 

The comparison channels are simple, 12" x 4" x 3" Depth, and typical 7328 white faces.

 

The United LED .8 watt module does it's job of beating the Principal Qwik Mod 2, in Correlated Color Temperature and in efficiency, but it's not a huge jump.  The real test would be the long haul and that's what the Lumen Maintenance would be...The Light Degradation and possible color shifting over time.... but that's going to take time....but we're doing that too!

 

The BrightON II with better Correlated Color Temperature for a better whiter, and brighter (Chip Efficiency) white exceeds both greatly.  

 

Pay special attention to the Foot Candles Per Watt, this is the amount of light you get per power on a sign face which is more important and truthful than what you will see printed on a LED Module Spec Sheet as "Lumen per watt...or lm/w", because this does not lie and this has to do with chip efficiency and quality. 

 

The BrightON II almost 25% brighter than the Qwik Mod 2, and about 15% brighter than the United LED Module 2 for the same power....But this light output for both United and Principal is favorably handicapped in their advantage and I'll explain later on...

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIC 3 -  The 1.2W Large Channel Letter & Cabinet Lighting Module Comparison

 

Here we have the 12V United LED 2 big 1.2W module up against our 12V 1.2W module, the BrightON - III.  These are made for larger channel letters and sign cabinet lighting.

 

There is a big efficiency difference (Light per Power) between these two... the United LED Module at 107 Foot Candles per watt of power from their 130 for their .8watt module

 

 

The BrightON III has nearly 30% more light per power as a 1.2watt module than the United LED 2 Module used for large channel letters and sign cabinet lighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

Besides the percentage brighter of the High-End BrightON than the other modules there are other aspects, and some more important than others.

 

I'm going to address the smaller issues first as to why it affects the lower cost of their modules.  

 

The Foam Tape

It's convenient and cuts down the cost on the LED Manufacturer of course, by tape cost as well as packaging costs.  

 

For the sign shop nothing is more aggravating than placing a LED down and when having to reposition it, it means the tape breaks, makes a mess on the sign surface as well as the module.

 

 

22 AWG Wire

Again....It's convenient and cuts down the cost on the LED Manufacturer to help the cost of Budget LEDs along.  But smaller gauge wire means voltage loss for these Constant Voltage LEDs, and voltage loss brings uneven lighting for CV LED Systems, more so than CV LEDs that use 18 AWG Wire, which CV LEDs are already not built for life already.

 

 

Constant Current

I feel like I beat this topic to death.  

 

But if you're going to build quality, build CC Systems NOT CV.  

 

Life of the LEDs are longer because each module is protected,  because they have a current regulator on each module that does the following.  Assures consistent lighting of each module from the first to the last module on a string.  

 

The first CC LED on a string does not take a bigger hit than the last module on a string.  Any slight fraction of a volt coming from a LED PSU above 12.0v can kill a CV System, and faster depending on the overage.

 

On any under voltage such as 11.5 to 11 volts the CV system will dim, and this usually occurs on fully optimum loaded LED Power Supplies, mixed in with voltage loss occurring from string length and secondary line length (mix in 22 AWG wire too).  

 

That same voltage on a CC system LEDs, the LEDs won't dim, they will be just as bright as if hooked up to a true 12volts.  This is why when you ever light up a few CV modules on a sample string they will be brighter than when it comes time to hook up these modules on a fully loaded PSU at 85%.

 

So in reality, if I were to optimum load these power supplies to these Channels….”One Bag…One Power Supply” as they’re pitched…. the CV LEDs (Principal & United LED) would have lesser light output than what I'm showing here favorably by hooking up only 2 led modules per power supply, or in this case, 6 LED modules to one single unit.  So, in a sense right now…..I’m favorably handicapping these Principal / United G2G modules.

 

 

 

Lastly...

The "Upgrade" has always been here...the "Upgrade" is the BrightON LED 

 

I admire Wensco for going out and sticking it to Principal and ruffling their feathers, I completely understand the anger Wensco has and I know that anger is what will drive them.  Competition is good, and in the electric sign industry whether you know it or not, there is a fight against the monopoly going on

 

I'm only doing this comparison because I'm getting dragged into it, large samples are being left and special pricing to "try me" is being left and I was being asked by customers as well as Sign Suppliers what the differences are.  The BrightON LED line is NOT a budget line, there's plenty of that out there...it's just not how I would build a sign.  

 

The BrightON LED Line is a premium product that is priced around the same as the Qwik Mod System on average, provides better lighting and efficiency, lasts longer due to those aspects explained, and priced lower to similar built systems that still won't beat it in lighting efficiency (Light per Power).

 

By Years end our BrightON LED Line will be taking another huge Leap forward in Lighting Efficiency.  From our prototypes that we have been playing around with the this last year we will be Brighter, Whiter, and doing it for a much lesser Cost of Operation (Light per Power).  So, what is already Great now, will be even GREATER!

 

 

BrightON LED is Built from within the Sign Industry...FOR the Sign Industry, offering Competitive Light...NOT Usable Light! 

 

 

 

 

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