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Signsfast

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    Imagebrite?

    in General Message Board

    Posted · Edited by Signsfast

    LOL, they called for a quote to reinstall a 10' raceway for a rent-a-center(neon) that was falling off the facade- literally falling and hanging on by about an inch of 2-3 lags.

    I got the message from somone in the office, called the woman right back from imagebrite, I asked if they still needed this taken care of as it sounded like and emergency. her reply was" I have somone else on the line for that, how much are you going to charge?" LOL so that pretty much told the tale there I told her i would have to look at it and get back to her.

    I luckily had a tech about 15 mins away who was almost finished with his first job. Sent him down, told him to not touch anything just get pics and a gameplan. I called the lady back said it would be about $300 to reinstall correctly.(throughtbolt) She said she was going to have someone else do it.

    I am sure ill drive by and see somone with a ladder and a corded drill running some 3" drywall screws back into the 1/2" plywood

    Channel letter retrofits.

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Well then, let's look at it this way.

    How many shops have you seen go through many different LED manufacturers? For their signs, how many have stuck with the same "time tested product" LED line? How many times have you seen a re-retrofit LED jobs. I walk through many shops here in so cal, all the shops have go through various makes and models. Now the same can be said about neon benders, some like...LEDs just suck.

    "Retrofit" is the purpose to save money somewhere, and these days, to trade one "time tested" light source for another? Why would you do that?

    If you're having service issues with say neon channel letters, then it's much cheaper for the client to retrofit it with the same light source (even better phosphor) and correct the poor installation, re-engineer the neon circuit make the secondaries shorter make sure no primary is laying on any secondary, test the actual load etc etc. Change 60ma systems to 30ma if it's not needed. That's big savings in service for the client!

    Again, why would you trade a light source like red clear neon pumped lamps, something that's just gas and glass and does not degrade in light last 40+ years to say red LEDs that do degrade on a regular basis?

    If there is a benefit in savings to retrofit and trade out one for another, I'd like to see it, I'd like to see the numbers because I can't find it unless it's a remote location where access is hard or the environment is so harsh you must use another, i.e. LEDs dying in Arizona or Neon dim in Alaska. I've done many ROI figures here on the SS with Neon , Fluorescent and LEDs, along with electrical engineers and I can't find the immediate upfront savings in only a few years ROI that saves the client money on typical conventional location signs with typical access. But the Marketeers like Magic Mouth can tell you they can, and save 80% in energy costs, and that retrofitting is "More Efficient"

    But it's applicable under conditions then yes it can makes sense.

    For new signs I like both light sources too, and have used both. But according to my local, I have very good Neon benders, my temps are mainly 70F and unless access is hard, letters are not big enough for Neon components, it makes sense to use neon and because I "know" how to install it. If size matters, or access then so be it. I've guaranteed both Neon and LED signs for 5 years labor included, but these are news signs.

    Being in this industry I can't see ever selling anyone (end client) on a retrofit job from one light source to another under the guise of "Green", "Saving the Planet", or "Saving Money" "Energy Efficient (myth)" it's not there, at least the ROI is not in a few years, what I see with running the numbers is 15 to 40+.

    It's not just me saying this, it's electrical engineers too. In no way am I biased, I use to be, but I see the benefits of LEDs

    Erik I agree with everything you said. i stand by my statment that I never see people going from neon to led to neon, it just doesnt happen. I love selling and servicing neon. I am happy when I open up a can and see neon still, but For some applications LED is very practical

    Channel letter retrofits.

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Thats fine. Just had me curious since I see many neon to led conversions that end up re-installing neon when the sign owner realises that they made the wrong choice in going led, be it brightness or longevity claims that were too good to be true.

    I have not seen or heard of such a thing.

    Need your participation this week!

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    I will do so. Also I noticed there are some companies not on the list at all, Egan Sign from Reading,PA being one. You can pull their info off the site or i can send it to you. They have some nice accounts that go around the country. Im sure there are many others that people can chime in with too.

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