The Cascade S&G Guide to:

LED Retrofitted Signs

As signs begin to age, and more things become electrified, you may be thinking of ways to reduce your energy bill. If you have signs that are lit using neon, then having your sign retrofitted with LEDs is a fantastic option.

LEDs are bright, consistent, need almost no maintenance, and draw significantly less power than neon lighting does. Here’s how it works:

Depending on how large or deep your sign is, different sizes of LEDs are available; larger diodes for deeper signs, and smaller ones for the smaller signs. The LEDs size and distance from the sign face dictates how light is diffused through the face itself; too close means you get bright spots on the sign (these are called hotspots), and too far runs the risk of the sign not being as bright as it could be. However, a proper LED installation will look much more even and consistent than neon. LEDs can also be set to run brighter than neon, comes in a plethora of colors, lasts longer, and is much, much easier to repair. On average, 1 foot of neon lighting will use about 4 watts, compared to LEDs, which use about 1.5 watts for the same. So if you have a neon sign that uses 400 watts, and you run it for 12 hours a day, you’re generating 4.8kWh. An LED retrofit would reduce that 400 watts to 150 watts, and 1.8 kWh if you ran it for the same amount of time. You’d be cutting the amount you spent on lighting that sign by more than half!

LED Retrofitting is easy as well, as the sign housing the neon does not need to be replaced. Be it channel letters or a box sign, everything can stay (save for the neon, of course), saving you money on having to purchase a brand new sign. LED strips are easy to trim or replace, depending on what is needed. Additionally, many LED brands, such as Principle LED, the brand we work with, also come with multi-year warranties, ensuring their quality.

Nothing is without its caveat, however. We found that precise measurements are paramount when it comes to a proper retrofit. Hotspots will immediately make a sign look much worse. Good measurements and properly placed LEDs will make your aging sign look as good as, if not better than it was. The reduction in power draw will make you feel good because you’re not only saving money, but also helping to conserve energy. Feel free to contact us if you have more questions about LED retrofitting!