Sign Builder Illustrated Illuminations Supplement September 2015

:Illuminations A supplement to sign builder illustrated

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Down gauge your sign materials with Makrolon® LD • First choice for oversized or formed letters and cloud signs • Extensive industry standard color palate

• Eliminates the need for diffuser films and textures

Get more information at sheets.covestro.com or call 800.254.1707 * 119 Salisbury Road Sheffield, MA 01257

*Formerly Bayer MaterialScience

Lighting: Sign Cabinets | Products & Projects

New Outwater Products

Condition Critical for an LED Sign Retrofit

cover photo: shutterstock/Stephen Gibson

Olympic Signs, a full-service sign shop in Lombard, Illinois, recently employed SignBOX II modules from SloanLED to retrofit a 9.5-by-84-foot single-faced rooftop identity sign for Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. The hospital was already in the middle of a sitewide renovation, and its officials decided that now was the time to also upgrade its existing signage.

The hospital had been using this roof-mounted sign cabinet since the 1970s; however it looked spotty much of the year and required too much maintenance (once or twice per year).

Its fluorescent lamps were going out constantly, and the hospital would often let the sign’s illumination stay out, due to the costs generated by these maintenance calls (an annual cost of $2,065).

Hospital officials also desired a sign with uniform and consistent illumination year-round—even in winter, when

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below-zero temps would cause the fluorescent lamps to lose as much as 50 percent of their light output.

Olympic Signs had already changed the flex face of this sign to a digital print. So they were able to convince the hospital’s engineers and front office to do an LED retrofit rather than a new build instead. (Note: LEDs feature consistent brightness in warm or extreme cold weather.) “The sign is solid from the steel structure to the cabinet skin,” says Robert Whitehead, president of Olympic Signs. “After we had completed the new flex face, there was no reason to even consider a new sign.”

The sign shop removed the existing fluorescent tubes and ballasts from the sign and cleaned the cabinet. They then placed 567 total feet of 6,500K SignBOX II LEDs inside. (Note: SignBOX II is mounted on flexible straps for easy installation and provides bright, even illumination.) “A sign of this size made using SignBOX II a no-brainer, especially because of its ladder design,” says Whitehead.

SloanLED provided an LED population layout, and Olympic Signs installed the SignBOX II in sixty-three rows, laid out sixteen inches center-to-center (instead of the standard twelve inches on center). They completed the retrofit thanks to easy access from the back of the sign.

SignBOX II proved to be the final piece of the sign puzzle to give the hospital an efficient, visible sign. www.sloanLED.com

Outwater’s newly introduced FOGA® Fabric Flex Framing System (pictured, below) includes a comprehensive range of clear, anodized, extruded aluminum profiles and accessories. The system is engineered for use with tensioned fabric to readily and cost effectively create custom-built, single- and double-sided LED backlit or unlit signs, banners, exhibits, pop-up displays, and light boxes of any size.

Meanwhile the company’s new generation of 120-volt and 24-volt Non-Neon Flexible LED Lighting is available in seven colors. It not only enables one to install and create interior or exterior sign illumination

wherever required, but it can be utilized in any job or situation in which cost-effective “flexible” lighting might be beneficial.

Finally, available in 24- and 36-watt configurations as 39-inch-long adjustable mounting fixtures that produce super-bright cool white lighting, Outwater’s LED Wall Washer Lights use standard 120V household current without the need for transformers and have an IP65 Rating (enabling their use as landscape, building facade, and display lighting).

800/631-8375; www.outwater.com

September 2015 // SBI Illuminations

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Lighting: Sign Cabinets | Products & Projects

Light Tape Offers Innovative, Creative Opportunities for Signage Lighting The Backlit Out-of-Home lighting system from Light Tape® integrates a radically distinctive and patent-protected form of electroluminescent technology with two novel printing techniques. The result injects creativity into the traditional design process, while at the same time guarantees increased audience impressions.

Selective Backlighting (pictured, left) uses inverse black-out printing methods and thoughtfully placed Light Tape panels to illuminate selective messages of

the campaign, focusing attention only where desired. This is achieved by using a base layer of Light Tape panels positioned seamlessly next to one another and a top layer of double-sided printed translucent vinyl. The front side of the graphic is printed normally while the reverse is printed in black-out ink in selective areas.

Day/Night Backlighting (pictured, right) allows one creative to appear by day and a second creative in the same space to appear by night when the Light Tape is

illuminated.. This is achieved by printing a ghost image behind the first image.

The Backlit Out-of-Home lighting system is possible because of Light Tape’s ultra-thin and lightweight design. It is thinner than a credit card, as light as card stock, and is ultra flexible. It is a uniform light source without diffusion and can cover any-sized surface, curves, and contours without unsightly hot spots. It offers worldwide power connectivity with AC and DC inputs. www.lighttape.com

GoVivid Announces New LED Light Box Frame Collection GoVivid, the new digital printing division of Rowmark LLC, shines a light on signage supplies for digitally printed projects with the launch of their innovative Streamline LED Light Box frame collection. GoVivid’s Streamline Light Box uses powerful LED lights to provide a bright, consistent lighting output for illuminated signage and displays.

Constructed from aluminum anodized metal, these LED frames feature an innovative, magnetic locking frame system for quick, easy installation of

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printed graphics.

Additionally the small track along the back of the frame makes the product easy to display, while still providing multiple mounting options.

GoVivid’s new Streamline LED Light Box is available in eight different sizes in Nighthawk Black.

It also offers 50,000 hours of LED life and a six-foot cord length—creating nearly endless display possibilities for the industry’s highest quality illuminated graphic panels. www.govividusa.com

SBI Illuminations // September 2015

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3M Envision Substrate with 3Mwith Envision Flexible Flexible Substrate FS-1 FS-1 ™

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with 3M Envision Flexible Substrate FS-1

* Unprocessed 3M™ Envision™ Flexible Substrate FS-1 provides nearly twice the light transmission as unprocessed 3M™ Panagraphics™ III Wide Width Flexible Substrate. See Product Bulletin FS-1 for details.

© 3M 2014. All rights reserved. 3M, Envision and Panagraphics are trademarks of 3M.

™

Greener Solutions

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™ ™ Envision Flexible FS-1 isasnearly twice as transmissive*.

3M™ Envision™3M Flexible Substrate FS-1Substrate is nearly twice transmissive*.

That means more efficient use of LEDs and energy.

Go greener without That means more efficient use of LEDs and energy. Go greener without sacrificingAnd performance.

And because LEDs require less maintenance, sacrificing performance. because LEDs require less maintenance, customers with hard-to-reach pylon signs can feet on the ground. customers with hard-to-reach pylon signs can keep their feet keep on thetheir ground. ™ ™ In short, 3M Envision Flexible Substrate FS-1 is one very In short, 3M™ Envision™ Flexible Substrate FS-1 is one very bright idea. bright idea.

3M™ Envision™ Flexible Substrate FS-1 is nearly twice as transmissive*.

Bookmark KNOW IT: ThatBookmark means more efficient use3Mgraphics.com/switchon of LEDs and energy. Go greener without 3Mgraphics.com/switchon KNOW IT: Visit the website for complete product details including Product Visit the website for complete product details including Product sacrificing performance.

And because LEDs require less maintenance, and Instruction Bulletins and warranty information. and Instruction Bulletins and warranty information. customers with hard-to-reach pylon signs can keep their feet on the ground.

IT: Visit™3Mgraphics.com/wheretobuy VisitBUY 3Mgraphics.com/wheretobuy BUY IT: In short, 3M™ Envision Substrate FS-1 is one very bright idea. or callFlexible 1-800-328-3908

or call 1-800-328-3908 for a sample roll IT: Go to 3Mgraphics.com/samples Bookmark 3Mgraphics.com/switchon KNOW IT: Go toTRY 3Mgraphics.com/samples for a sample roll TRY IT: Visit the website for complete product details including Product and Instruction Bulletins and warranty information.

BUY IT: Visit 3Mgraphics.com/wheretobuy or call 1-800-328-3908

TRY IT: Go to 3Mgraphics.com/samples for a sample roll Greener Solutions

Lighting: Sign Cabinets | Products & Projects

The True Difference Between a Fluorescent Lamp and a TriLight Max Voltarc’s TriLight Max™ T8 will last six times longer than a standard T12 fluorescent and is up to 40 percent more efficient. Highquality, tri-band phosphor yields maximum lumen output with maximum color rendering. Made with recessed double contact (RDC) end tops, they accommodate an easy change out from conventional fluorescent lamps in a timely and efficient manner.

Energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, the TriLight Max fluorescent lamps use Voltarc’s Long Life™ Cup-Cathode Technology and are compatible with most magnetic and electronic sign ballasts. Unlike

your conventional fluorescent, this comes with a six-year warranty and is also available in a thermal to ensure brightness even in cold temperatures as low as -23 degrees.

Designers and specifiers have specified these lamps for many national programs (such as Sunoco, BB&T, Santander, Wells Fargo, and Astoria Bank) and even some of the world’s greatest spectaculars. http://bit.ly/1KMkHZI

In-stock at West Coast Custom Designs West Coast Custom Designs, LLC offers a full line of lighting and sign animators.

Stocked are one-, two-, three-, and four-circuit plug-in flashers, chasers, back-n-forth effects, as well as a simulated failing neon unit, all available for same-day shipping. A full line of old-school mechanical units and parts are also offered. Custom-built and programmed units (whether it be hardwired or easy plug-in) for any-size projects are the company’s specialty. www.wccdUSA.com

Announcing LuciteLux Illuminations Series The LuciteLux® Illuminations Series offers high-quality continuous or cell-cast acrylic options to meet a variety of indoor and outdoor lighting applications (including signs, architectural features, and light fixtures).

Products from the series offer optimized, next-generation lighting performance that enables today’s design community to maximize the benefits of LED technology while following the latest aesthetic trends.

Products in the LuciteLux Illuminations Series—Spectrum, Spectrum Block, and Light Guide Panel—are manufactured specifically for back-lit and edge-lit lighting applications to effectively conceal light sources and resist banding and hot spots.

LuciteLux Spectrum acrylic sheet (pictured) is designed for back-lit applications that are slimmer, brighter, and more efficient (signage, corporate imaging, retail P-O-P, illuminated architectural features, etc.). It is available in a variety of bright, vibrant colors and thicknesses.

LuciteLux Spectrum Block acrylic offers a European style of chunky block letter S4

design with exceptionally clean, bright light. It is high-gloss, lightweight, easy to fabricate, and compatible with white or colored LEDs. Finally developed specifically for edge-lit applications in visual communication, retail, signage, lighting, and display applications,

SBI Illuminations // September 2015

LuciteLux® LGP continuous cast acrylic is formulated with evenly dispersed illuminating particles that provide brighter, even illumination. With technology built into the acrylic sheet during manufacturing, there is no requirement for laser etching or dot matrix printing. www.lucitelux.com

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LIGHTING: LED | By John Baylis

B LEDs and Color Considerations

A

Looking at LED

The effective use of LEDs in a channel letter sign.

LED illumination is available in a variety of colors. White is the most common, but other colors may be utilized to generate the optimal illuminated letter appearance.

For example, one potential configuration is to simply match the LED color with the face acrylic color. This configuration will often result in a stronger color appearance. For example, red LED modules can be matched with red face acrylic.

However this layout also has some limitations.

Red LED emits a color with a narrow bandwidth. If the color bandwidth of the face acrylic does not match the LED color bandwidth, then some of the colored illumination will not be transmitted—instead it will be absorbed.

Nonetheless a color match between the LED and the letter face acrylic will often yield a more compelling and colorful illuminated channel letter appearance.

For example, compare Photo A (a logo box with a sub-return in the center lit by red LEDs) with Photo B (the same logo box lit by white LEDs).

This article will outline some of the common issues and solutions relating to the usage of LED channel letter illumination.

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SBI Illuminations // September 2015

all Photos: direct sign wholesale.

LED has now become the standard illumination media for channel letter signage. However the proper use of LEDs (and matching them correctly with other channel letter components) can make the difference between a mediocre letter set and an excellent one.

C

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LIGHTING: LED | By John Baylis

The cost of the sign is another consideration. While a channel letter sign that has a matched LED and face color may have an improved illuminated appearance, it will also usually have a higher price. Colored LED is typically more expensive than standard white.

So the potentially improved letter appearance from an LED/acrylic color match must be weighed against the higher cost. However many customers find the higher price is well worth it.

LEDs and Viewing Angle One important LED feature affects both the necessary stroke quantity and the mounting distance between modules. That feature is called the “viewing angle” (Photo C), and the specified angle varies among differing LED brands.

The viewing angle tells you the distance covered by the “fan of light” produced by a module prior to losing half of its peak illumination level. The angle is simply a measure of the position where the intensity of the LED light spread reaches 50 percent of its maximum brightness.

A professional-looking channel letter will have the faces lit evenly and consistently. Using an LED with an inad-

equate viewing angle (for the amount of installed LEDs) may cause a common channel letter illumination problem: a letter face area that appears brighter than the adjacent face area. This is sometimes referred to as “tiger striping,” and it detracts from the illuminated appearance of a channel letter sign.

One related cause of this uneven face illumination is the number of LED strokes that have been placed within the letters.

A “stroke” is simply a strand of linked LED modules mounted within a letter interior. For example, Photo D shows a channel letter return with a singlemounted LED stroke. Photo E shows a double-mounted LED stroke.

If too much space is placed between the LED strokes (after the module viewing angle has been taken into account), then the illuminated letters will exhibit uneven face illumination.

The main point is this: The illumination viewing angle emitted by each LED module impacts both the number of strokes necessary to clearly light a channel letter sign and also the correct mounting distance between the strokes.

The letters may have uneven illumination, if too much space is placed between the strokes.

E LEDs and Energy Consumption Another consideration in LED illumination is the wattage used per module.

Each module within an LED stroke requires a specific amount of wattage for operation. This watt usage difference can add up over time, especially in terms of power consumption.

For example, some LED brands utilize as little as 0.24 watts per module, while others use as much as 1.5 watts.

Multiply that number by the quantity of modules contained in the entire sign and you have that sign’s ongoing wattage consumption.

The optimal approach is to utilize the lowest LED wattage necessary to brightly light your customer’s channel letter sign. That amount gives your customer the best of both worlds—bright illumination and lower utility bills.

LEDs and Module Brightness LED module brightness (illumination intensity) is measured in lumens. All things being equal, a higher number of lumens per module results in brighter letter illumination.

LED manufacturers will typically state a brightness measurement in both

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SBI Illuminations // September 2015

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TD3

Performance Summary

Input Voltage (V DC): 12/24V Module Level Power (W/ft): 4.5W

Delivered Lumens (Lm/ft): 360 Lm/ft Viewing Angle: 155º Correlated Color Temp (K): 6500K CRI: 80 Ingress Protection: IP66 Stroke: 8” - 24” Depth: 3” - 18”

WIDE STROKE

www.usled.com 1 866.972.9191

LIGHTING: LED | By John Baylis

lumens per module and lumens per foot.

For example, one producer is currently listing a channel letter LED product that produces 130 lumens per module and 195 lumens per foot. That also means this product has 1.5 LED modules per foot (130 lumens x 1.5 = 195 lumens).

An important trend taking place in the LED industry is that individual LED modules are now generating a higher number of lumens than in the past. In turn, that means fewer modules per channel letter may be used to produce the same level of face illumination.

This is a significant development for several reasons.

First fewer modules mounted within a channel letter sign could mean a lower energy bill for your customer.

Second greater illumination levels from individual modules means a decreased risk of uneven face illumination.

Lastly this also means that smaller channel areas (such as the tip of a serif letter font) may now receive an increased level of illumination.

In the past, a tight corner of a channel letter could mean dimmer illumination of that face area because the smaller mounting space restricted the placement of additional LED modules.

The increased illumination output of this newer LED generation decreases the risk of that problem.

LEDs and “Hot Spots” One potential channel letter illumination issue is something commonly called a “hot spot.”

A hot spot is an illuminated LED module that is physically visible through the translucent acrylic sign face. (Note: The term “hot spot” is also sometimes used for the previously mentioned issue of uneven face illumination.) LED

module visibility is an unsightly condition that detracts from the professional appearance of an illuminated letter set.

The depth of the letter return may contribute to the possibility of hot spots.

Hot spots are typically treated in two ways.

First the interior of the letter cans may be coated with reflective white paint.

The reflective surface helps to evenly distribute the LED illumination through the letter interior and decrease the “hot spot” appearance.

A second method is the use of a product called diffuser film (also known as light management film.) This product is mounted to the interior of the letter face acrylic and distributes the LED illumination more evenly.

John Baylis is marketing director at Direct Sign Wholesale (www.directsignwholesale.com) in Denver, Colorado.

MAKE YOUR OWN LED LAYOUTS IN YOUR SHOP, ON YOUR SCHEDULE, UNDER YOUR CONTROL

YOU CAN DO THIS IN FIVE MINUTES:

800-294-7273 S10

THE GLOBAL INDUSTRY STANDARD SOFTWARE FOR LED CHANNEL LETTER & CABINET LAYOUTS

WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE HOW IT WAS DONE. www.ledwizard.com/showme

SBI Illuminations // September 2015

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Lighting: Channel Letters | Products & Projects

Domino’s Pizza Lights Up a New Look, Drives Down Costs Costs add up quickly when you run a business. For many franchisees, new investments directed by the corporation must be multiplied by five, ten, or however many franchise locations they own.

However the franchisor can also be a valuable resource, vetting materials to make sure they deliver a positive return on investment.

Such was the case with the recent overhaul of the brand image and signage for Domino’s Pizza. With about 1,100 independent franchise owners in the U.S., Domino’s set out to find signage materials that would deliver both value and performance to its franchisees.

EasyMount, LLC Channel Letter Raceway Extrusions EasyMount, LLC offers its 3-1/2-inchby-6-inch channel letter raceway extrusion that features a true twopiece system (the back weighing 0.899 pounds per foot and the front 1.437 pounds per foot, available in 16- and 24-foot lengths). This raceway extrusion is pre-fabricated and allows for dropping and locking the front piece

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In this process, Tobin Northway, manager-unit controller of domestic stores and fixed assets at Domino’s Pizza, and his team discovered 3M™ Envision™ Translucent Film Series 3730. This film is more light transmissive, so fewer LEDs are needed to get the level of brightness you want in a sign.

With LED-enabling 3M Envision translucent films, the Domino’s management team found a way to bring down the cost of channel, monument, and pylon signs for franchisees by as much as $200 per sign. Plus thanks to the energy efficiency of the new signs, ongoing operational costs have been lowered as well.

to the back along with grooves for the power supply panel (either sixteeninch or twenty-four-inch that slides out of the left or right of your raceway), a lifter channel, and tabs that allow any installer to administer fasteners between the two pieces on top and bottom. Having minimal parts virtually eliminates in-shop assembly time, greatly cuts down installation time on the job site, and because of the slide-out power supply panel,

“The cool thing is, not only are we reducing the initial investment cost for our franchisees and for our stores, but we’re also reducing ongoing operational costs to power the signs,” says Northway.

“So from a sustainability standpoint, this is a very impactful product for us.”

Franchisees have noticed. Phil Pedigo, vice president of a thirty-three-store network of Domino’s franchises in the Memphis and Nashville areas, had installed a new sign on one of his stores just before Domino’s adopted the 3M Envision translucent films as its standard. So when Pedigo installed his first sign using the new 3M film, the difference in both the price and the sign’s appearance was noticeably clear.

“The new sign just looks cleaner and crisper, and it looks really good at night,” he said. “It looks as good or better than the old signs, and it’s costing a lot less.

“It’s just a no-brainer; there is a noticeable price difference and no negative impact on the quality.”

Phil Rands, owner of sixteen Domino’s stores in Florida, echoed Pedigo’s praise.

“The new signs are just super bright,” he said. “They totally stand out. We’re really happy with them.”

With help from 3M, Domino’s Pizza is not only reinventing the look of its restaurants but also strengthening its relationships with franchisees. With all of its U.S. stores set to upgrade their signs over the next four years, Domino’s is making 3M Envision translucent films a key ingredient in helping franchisees stand out. www.3M.com

reduces servicing time because there’s no need to overtop the letters to access the power supply. www.easymountllc.com

September 2015 // SBI Illuminations

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Lighting: Channel Letters | Products & Projects

US LED: Innovative Signage Solution Offering Time & Cost Savings with Maximum Versatility

Photoluminescent EXIT Signs are Non-electrical Nationwide codes allow several types of EXIT signs: electrically activated, self-luminous, and photoluminescent.

New construction typically installs electrical exit signs (nowadays usually LED), but once those electrical EXIT signs fail, building owners and property managers look for alternative technologies that allow them to save on electricity and maintenance.

For many years, self-luminous EXIT signs were the only non-electrical EXIT sign technology. Self-luminous stands for radio-luminescent; these signs are filled with radioactive tritium gas. They come with ten-, fifteen-, or twenty-year life expectancies, and at the end of S12

their rated life, the expired signs have to get returned to the manufacturer for radioactive waste recycling.

Since 2001, the Codes have been allowing photoluminescent EXIT signs as an additional non-electrical and nonradioactive solution, if they carry the UL924-listing. The photoluminescent signs get charged by ambient lighting and emit their photoluminescent effect when all lights are out.

Photoluminescent EXIT signs can not be used in areas where it is always dark (e.g., movie theaters, basements, etc). Yet in all areas with at least 5 foot-candles (54 lux) of ambient lighting, photoluminescent EXIT signs are the ideal solution where electricity-saving and maintenance-free signs are desired.

Photoluminescent UL924-listed EXIT Signs do not carry an expiration date, so users can look forward to many years of maintenance-free use, as there are no components that could fail nor any light bulbs that could burn out.

Available in a variety of materials, photoluminescent EXIT signs can be ordered in aluminum, plastic, and acrylic, as well as with a 100-foot viewing distance. These signs can also provide LEED project points. 888/737-6254; www.americanpermalight.com/photoluminescent-exit-signs.html

SBI Illuminations // September 2015

New TD1 and TD3 LED sign modules from US LED are an innovative signage solution designed not only for shallow depth but also greater flexibility. The flexibility starts at the input voltage—being able to take 12V or 24V power supplies (allowing for multiple applications and reducing inventory) and still maintain the same light levels.

TD1 modules are extremely versatile and made for backlighting a large variety of channel letters, sign cabinets, and graphic displays, while TD3 modules can be used in a three-inch-depth letter or sign with eight-inch spacing or an eighteen-inch-depth cabinet with twenty-four-inch spacing. The flexibility continues when you move the modules farther from the face, increasing spacing from row to row up to twenty-four inches apart at a twelve-inch depth. This gives you the ability to create even lighting in most depths using less product, thereby keeping your project and your shop efficient and effective.

At 240 lumens for TD1 and 360 lumens for the TD3 with an IP66 rating for protection from dust and moisture, they are ready for any signage challenge. Both modules come with a five-year warranty. www.usled.com

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we just changed the sign industry...

LED DRIV

ERS

LIGHTING: Neon | By Peter Perszyk

1

Follow the De-sign ideas with neon.

O

ne of the easiest ways to make a sign is with neon. The omnipresent red tube neon sign in the store window is a classic example because it is visible day and night (Photo 1).

The process is especially easy if the text needed is designed in a script-type font. Fortunately this proves a natural for neon tubing.

As long as you “follow the script,” you will have lots of design options for your neon lighting project.

Over the years, I have used my articles to look at several of the reasons why neon

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Script

remains a top pick in the sign industry.

One reason is the inherent rigidity in the glass tube. Minimum support is needed, and its shape will remain as it has been fabricated.

Take a look at Photo 2. You would have to agree that these neon letters really do a great job of proving a point.

So it also goes without saying that the neon is scriptable and shapeable (Photo 3).

The soft, smooth flow of a neon script sign also conveys a message (like the heart found in a handwritten letter versus the cool distance of an email). Neon

SBI Illuminations // September 2015

does not need an image or dimensional backing that mimics the text nor a constraining, defining channel to be fully functional—although it is often built that way (Photo 4).

Shaped neon alone plays the part of a fully functioning sign quite well even when used as text that is presented in a block style (Photo 5).

Foremost in proving this point is the illumination that neon provides. Light spreads 360 degrees around the tube.

And if the client desires a thin line of light, they will have it here. signshop.com

2

3

5

4

6

Script neon fits nicely into different sign designs. Neon can be bent into many shapes and lettering forms, it can span out and away from the architecture, and its rigidity means it keeps its fabricated form.

In the right color and background (Photo 6), light is visible at a wider angle of view than comparable internally illuminated letters.

Matching corporate-mandated definitions has never been a challenge to neon script signage either (Photo 7).

Do not think of the terminology “script� as a restriction. While lengths of neon tube are not limitless, they are quite amazing when there is a need for the letters or sign to span out and away from the architecture (Photo 8).

The final item on the properties of neon concerns electrical connection and conductivity. There has been much debate in the electrical sign world on the methods of connecting neon. It is imsignshop.com

portant that high-voltage and safety go hand-in-hand.

But what makes for an easy installation with neon is the fact that the light conducts the electricity. Are you ready to argue that the fluorescent lamp does the same?

Well I counter that a sign with four

fluorescent tubes may need as many as a dozen conductors running to a central location.

Comparable neon tubes throughout a sign or letter set would need only the connection to the starting electrode and the ending electrode, with interconnections as short as possible.

7 September 2015 // SBI Illuminations

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Lighting: Border, Accent, & Area | Products & Projects

Unique Interactive Neon Sculptures for World of Speed Museum Three “Pop-Art” pieces created by Modern Artifacts—Portland, Oregonbased creators of industrial, threedimensional sculptures—are included in the new World of Speed museum located in Wilsonville, Oregon. These handcrafted sculptures have a labored patina of rusty steel, bronze, hand-formed neon, programmed LEDs, motorized elements, and even audio components.

“We’re thrilled to have World of Speed open in our own backyard,” said Modern Artifacts Founder Jeff Meyers. (Note: Meyers founded Modern Artifacts in 2011.) “It gives us the opportunity to showcase both our one-off commissioned work and a limited-edition piece.”

For World of Speed, Modern Artifacts was commissioned to build two unique pieces. The first was a tribute to Craig Breedlove’s Spirit of America land speed record holder that went 526.277 miles per hour in 1964. The 3D interactive display (pictured) features lights, neon,

the authentic sound of the car’s jet engine, and an amazing crackle tube that illustrates the effects of the car’s jet exhaust—something that kids love.

The second commissioned piece, an interactive robot called Ignito, was designed to be educational and enjoyed by kids of all ages. This hand-cranked display illustrates how a four-cycle gasoline engine works: Basically it’s suck, squish, bang, and push. Kids can also press the “start” button and watch the gauges work and lights flash as Ignito talks.

Larson Electronics: 212-Watt, High-output, Explosion-proof High-bay LED Light The EPLC2-HB-212W-LED-PND explosion-proof high-bay LED light fixture from Larson Electronics provides a powerful and effective alternative to HID and incandescent high-bay lighting and offers higher efficiency and lower maintenance costs.

This powerful fixture produces 26,500 lumens of high-quality light output while drawing only 212 watts, making it a highly efficient option for those seeking to cut energy costs.

This LED fixture is compact in size and has no ballast, resulting in a lighter fixture that also requires less maintenance to operate. The advanced LED light assembly—in tandem with a high-efficiency, heat-dissipating design—helps this light to achieve a 60,000-hour operational life.

The unit is designed to be pendant-mounted by using user-supplied rigid conduit. The light can run on voltages ranging from 100 to 277 VAC, 50/60Hz and is approved for Class 1 Division 2 and Class 2 Division 1&2 environments. It is an ideal alternative to heavier and less-durable HID fixtures.

800/369-6671; www.

Larsonelectronics.com S16

SBI Illuminations // September 2015

Modern Artifacts also crafted a third item, one of their limited-edition pieces, celebrating one hundred years of racing at Bonneville. Measuring 30-by-28 inches, this tribute to the Salt Flats would be cool in any garage, man cave, restaurant, bar, or even home.

“Having our artwork on display at World of Speed is a great endorsement,” said Meyers. “It proves that neon is alive and well and has a special place in the hearts of Americans.” www.Modern-Artifacts.com

Halco Lighting Technologies Announces LED Floodlight Series The LED Floodlight Series from Halco Lighting Technologies® includes long-life, energy-efficient replacements for 100W, 175W, and 400W HID fixtures. Halco LED Floodlight Series utilizes high-performance LED technology to deliver consistent color and CRI for a uniform installation and up to 81 percent energy savings.

The LED Floodlight Series is constructed from durable die-cast aluminum to protect against rust, corrosion, dirt, and insects in outdoor, wet location environments.

Fixtures are supplied with voltage sensing 100V-277V dimmable driver and with 0-10V dimming standard.

Electrical snap-in connectors simplify wiring and installation. An optional photocell accessory controls the fixture for dusk-to-dawn operation. Proper thermal management and heat dissipation contributes to the LED Floodlights’ 50,000-hour rated life, which is more than twice the life of an HID lamp. www.halcolighting.com

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Upgrade to Exterior LED Luminaires Yields Big Improvements at Sonic Restaurants Like any business, quick-serve restaurant chains know the importance of reducing their operating costs, but only recently have they realized the money-saving potential inherent in energy efficiency.

Since lighting accounts for nearly 13 percent of all the energy used in a restaurant, lighting upgrades offer a tremendous opportunity to lessen energy costs and maintenance expenses, while reducing the carbon footprint.

Exterior lighting has three primary

functions—safety, security, and ambiance. With sustainability and design now complementing each other, LED luminaires for outdoor general lighting provide a win for everyone.

D.L. Rogers Group of North Richland Hills, Texas is one of the largest Sonic restaurant franchisee organizations and ranked Number 30 on Multi-Unit Franchisees’ 2014 Mega 99 Rankings™ with locations in Texas, the Midwest, and the Southern East Coast.

As a forward-thinking company, D.L. Rogers installed poles and metal halide area light fixtures over twenty years ago, something unique to this restaurant chain.

As lighting technology improved over the years, D.L. Rogers did comparison testing between metal halide and LED. The LED luminaires won hands down with light uniformity, energy savings, and, in particular, reduction in maintenance expenses. The metal halide fixtures required changing burned-out bulbs that only lasted one to two years—compared with up to ten years with LEDs—an expensive and timeconsuming ordeal that required the rental of a bucket truck.

In their ongoing effort to improve parking lot security, lighting performance, and energy costs reduction, this franchisee recently retrofitted one existing restaurant and installed LED luminaires at seven new Sonic locations.

The retrofit at the Mexia, Texas location included sixteen 240W Optec LED area luminaires, which replaced 400W metal halide fixtures in the parking lot.

Meanwhile the seven new Sonic Restaurants include 111 240W Optec LED pole fixtures and 26 60W wall packs.

These were a one-for-one replacement and an upgrade from 1000W metal halide pole fixture, and 150W and 175W metal halide wall packs.

“The high-quality LED light makes everything appear brighter and safer— and that translates into a better customer experience,” said Darrell L. Rogers, chairman of D.L. Rogers Corporation.

Rogers estimates that the new Optec LED luminaires should provide payback in 2.5 years and the financial savings just add-up after that. Meanwhile these Sonic locations anticipate more than a decade of virtually maintenance-free lighting operation. www.optecledlighting.com

EVERLINE Simplifies LED Driver Replacement As the industry is starting to see the need for field replacement, having the right replacement driver is critical. Drivers must be specifically selected with the precise current and power rating for optimal lighting and color performance.

Universal Lighting Technologies’ EVERLINE® LED Drivers are designed for the latest generation of LED-based indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures, and they simplify driver replacement with a variety of options. EVERLINE Drivers in the distribution channel make replacement quick and convenient.

EVERLINE LED Drivers feature a variety of controllable dimming options, including 0–10V Dimming, Step-Dimming, and tuning. Tunable output allows the driver output current to be factory set at lower currents to increase application coverage.

EVERLINE allows for easy replacement of high-power drivers such as those used for area/street lighting, flood and wall packs, gas station canopies, and bay lighting. EVERLINE Constant Voltage LED Drivers are often used with sign appli-

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cations. Different case configurations provide application flexibility, from small, lower power 12V/20W to rugged 24V/100W IP67 ratings. EVERLINE Linear Drivers offer ease of replacement in general lighting troffers, high-bay lighting, and specialty fixtures. Finally EVERLINE Compact Drivers offer ease of replacement in downlights, track lighting, and specialty fixtures. www.unvlt.com

September 2015 // SBI Illuminations

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