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March 2014 Electric Sign Industry Neon & LED Test Comparison Results

Erik Sine
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Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

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Posted

March 2014 Electric Sign Industry Neon & LED Test Comparison Results

post-3-0-81383200-1395007810.jpg


Below are the various categories of our test results made available for the electric sign industry. You can download the newest Sign Syndicate test comparison .pdf result sheet at the bottom of every Light Project Test entry with the most current date.

Please remember....we have now made these light testing results available to you for free. If you feel like you have learned/gained something from these results or found that these results have saved you money by choosing one product over another please help support us in upgrading your free membership, or by purchasing various sign supplies we have available for you & your company. Many of our sign supply products are usually well below what you might pay for at one of the mainstream sign suppliers and some are bundles with free shipping. We've attached many various banners to the results in hope something may grab your eye.

The Sign Syndicate does not engage in light source lamp sales such as LED's or Lamps so that we do not become a biased source for news & information and maintain that high standard of only dealing with the facts.

For individual test result updates & information visit the Project Tutorials located here LINK

As always, enjoy the results and hope you learn as we do going down this adventurous path!



The Great White Hope II (Year 1) - The high powered white Neon & LED test comparison for large channel letters and sign cabinets, comprised of high powered LED modules 1watt+ and above with Tri-Phosphor Neon Lamps. (656 hrs)
The start of our second month. Neon takes part of the usual normal initial 1000 hour lumen maintenance.
GreatWhiteHopeII 031514.pdf

Project Tight Whitey (Year 3 & 4) - The white exclusive LED only test comparison for mid (.85 watt modules and below) to mini sized LED modules. (32,000+ hrs)
This month we introduce AA LED's Eco White used in large sign programs, MaxBrite LED, and SS Lights new improved LED
ProJectTight 031514.pdf

The Red Light District (Year 3 & 4) - The Red Neon & LED channel letter light source test comparison. (26,000+ hrs)
This month we drop EGL's Red and add JS LED's new lineup
RedL031514.pdf


Border Security (Year 3 & 4)- The Neon & LED border tube lamp test comparison. (16,000+ hrs)
Updated soon with Glostertube
BorderSec 031514.pdf


Blue Light Special Year 1 & 2) - The blue Neon & LED test comparison for channel letter. (5,000+ hrs)
Updated Soon with FMS Neon & Glostertube
BlueLight031514.pdf

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

mburrell Drive By Register

mburrell

Posted
Posted

It would be great if some one did a summary of these reports as it is hard to figure out what to use for what scenario. the best lights the best value for the buck etc.

Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

That's sort of a tough loaded question that asks more questions than probably answers. A lot of these LEDS & Neon have their strengths and weakness's based on your application.

For example in The Red Light District, Red Neon does have a higher cost of operation but does NOT degrade in light over time vs Red LEDs. Quick example, Neon vs. GE Mini Max. The GE Module cost of operation (power cost) is 70% less than Neon, BUT the Neon lamp is putting out more than 50% light on the sign face surface (54%) than the GE LED Modules (FC Foot Candle AVG). The 15 channel letter cost of lamps for is Neon ($135), GE ($198.30) = $63 savings using Neon. Cost of operation annually for Neon is $51.52, GE $15.35 = $36.17 saving annually using GE

A case can maybe be made that you would need to double the material of GE to make an even comparison for Neon. After all we can only say GE is 70% "more efficient" than neon IF GE was putting out the same light output as neon (Otherwise were comparing a Maglight to a Pen Light and we're claiming we're more efficient), which their not. So if we double, maybe GE is actually only 40% more efficient but now operating at $30.70 annually, saving $20 a year over Neon. Cost of LED modules is now almost $400.00 for GE, with saving on using Neon lamps is $265.

Now in the limited hours of operation in our tests we have GE at 20K+ hours of operation or (5 sign years @ 10 hours a day) GE has dipped 22% in light in that time, Neon because it's just glass and gas...none.

If you're doing a retrofit job (Neon to LED) then you will want to know the Return on Investment (R.O.I.), when will the customer make his money back removing Neon to GE to save 40% in cost of operation (being truthful) for a product that will degrade over time (some companies will lie to their customers for a buck and still claim 70%) .....savings power cost/material lamp cost = 13.25 years for a Return On Investemnt, and chances are that light may not be very good in half that time which will require a whole nother relamp or retrofit job which will even more than double the ROI. Now this is just straight lamp cost without labor, so it maybe 20+ years for the ROI

On the White Neon & LEDs, well they all degrade in light overtime (Lumen Maintenance). This is just for another equation.

These are kind of the journals so to speak.

http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/tutorials/category/3-light-source-tests/

Another way to look at the sheet is the amount of operating hours + Foot Candles AVG + Foot Candles Loss vs Initial Brightness + Cost

For more in depth questions I would suggest upgrading to a Board Patron and asking/ posting in the Board Patron Forum

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

  • 2 weeks later...
Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Just had a national send us some AgiLight's that they use for their program to throw into The Great White Hope II & Project Tighty Whitey. Thought I should mention because a lot of LEDs that we have in the tests are from sign companies such as yourselves who want to see these products in and how they perform.

We also have another sign company sending us some new JT's.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

  • 3 months later...
  • !llumenati
imanut Master Engineer

imanut

Posted
  • !llumenati
Posted

In quickly peaking, I would really wonder why the egl 13mm requires more watts, and is so many many more lunens? Not conceivable. You have 2 feet of glass. You have gas and electricity. Period. If the fill pressure and gas purity, and pressure are the same, then wattage would be similar to others. Powder might change lumens, but not to extent you show.

Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The current results are for July 2014 here

http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6829-july-2014-electric-sign-industry-neon-led-test-comparison-results/

As for the 13mm EGL are you referring to the 60ma or the 30 ma system?

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

  • !llumenati
imanut Master Engineer

imanut

Posted
  • !llumenati
Posted

Duh. Scratch that. I missed the 60ma note. I just knew You wouldn't make a mistake like that.

Change of subjects. What's happening with that neon job of yours?

Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Updated that thread. Design changed a little, added a little more neon to it and now just waiting for deposit. Should be starting that one this week.....hopefully!

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

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