Neon or LED Lighting?
Drawing attention to your business is easy with clear and bright signage. Do you want a neon sign for a keen vintage look? Do you want the constant glow of LED lighting to highlight your business name? There are benefits to both neon and LED signs, and each type has an interesting story to tell.
The Short Story of Neon
Neon, a colorless and odorless gas, is the fourth most abundant element in the universe. English chemists Ramsey and Travers discovered neon in 1898 and named the newfound element after the Greek word “neos,” meaning new. When neon gas is placed in a vacuum discharge tube, it begins to glow. Pure neon only glows red. The other colors you see in these signs are actually other gases, but are still referred to as neon signs.
Inventor Georges Claude patented the neon lighting tube in 1915. A Packard car dealership purchased the first neon signs used in the United States in 1923 from Claude’s French-based company. The two signs read “Packard” and cost the dealership a whopping $24,000- over $365,000 in today’s currency.
Most people associate neon advertising with a beer sign hanging in the window of the local pub. Neon signs are vivid and versatile. They remain a top choice for restaurants and bars throughout the world. Neon signs use up to half of the energy of conventional light bulbs. When professionally maintained, neon signs also have a long lifespan. There’s really no substitute for the nostalgia that neon signs bring to customers. Neon signs still hold an important place in business advertising.
The Short Story of LED
LED (light-emitting diode) is a type of solid-state lighting. A semiconductor coverts electricity to light in a very small area, usually less than one square millimeter, called a diode. In essence, it is just a very tiny light bulb. Thousands to millions of diodes work together create colorful displays for items such as signs and television screens. LED technology came into popularity in the late 1960s. The first LED sign in the visible spectrum was invented American engineer Nick Holonyak at General Electric in 1962. Hewlett-Packard produced the first practical LED display in 1968.
The largest LED sign in the United States hangs on Mercedes Benz Stadium, home of the NFL Atlanta Falcons. It measures 1,075 feet at its tallest point. Globally, the award for largest LED sign goes to the Suzhou Sky Screen at a China shopping mall. It is 1650 feet tall and contains over 20 million LEDs.
Whether you need a sign that is three feet or three hundred feet, LED lighting might be the right choice for your needs. LED is one of the most-energy efficient technologies available in lighting. Low heat output and tremendous visibility make LED signage increasingly popular. LED can be utilized in very small applications to very large intricate designs.
Should I choose neon or LED?
Both of these sign types have specific uses and advantages to consider. Call the experts at Dale Sign Service to discuss your project. We customize signs for your business with cost-effective and feasible solutions to fit your needs. So if you want the soft glow of a neon sign in the window or the bright lights of LED shining atop your building, Dale Sign Service will certainly bring your sign ideas to light.