How to improve the lifespan of outdoor LED display screens?

Generally speaking, the service life of outdoor LED displays is 8 to 10 years. In midsummer, the frequent alternation of high temperatures and rainy seasons can have a significant impact on the stable operation of outdoor LED displays and may even shorten their service life.

How to improve the life of outdoor LED displays in midsummer? This article will give you a brief overview.

Brightness Adjustment

Outdoor LED displays do not operate at a fixed brightness level, but have an adjustable brightness range. While LED displays have a maximum brightness setting, prolonged use at the highest brightness level may accelerate the rate of light decay in the LED diodes.

You can adjust the brightness of the outdoor LED display based on the actual ambient light conditions. Avoid keeping the display at the highest brightness level continuously, as this can effectively extend the lifespan of the LED diodes.

In addition to manual brightness adjustment, you can also install automatic sensors in the outdoor LED screen, allowing the screen to automatically adjust brightness based on the ambient light conditions, thereby achieving energy savings, protecting the LED diodes, and extending the lifespan of the outdoor LED display screen during the midsummer.

Enhanced Protection

Install a lightning rod

During the midsummer, thunderstorms are common. As an electronic display device, outdoor LED display screens may attract lightning, potentially causing damage to the screen.

You should regularly inspect the stability of the grounding connections for outdoor LED displays. Additionally, installing a lightning rod on the outdoor LED display can maximize protection against potential damage caused by lightning strikes.

Install an Air Circuit Breaker

Installing an air circuit breaker on an outdoor LED display can help prevent circuit issues from causing damage to the display. It primarily serves two protective functions:

Overload protection: When the current of the outdoor LED display screen exceeds the rated power, the air circuit breaker automatically cuts off the power supply to protect the safety of the LED display screen circuit.

Short-circuit protection: If the cables become loose during use and are reconnected incorrectly, it may cause a short circuit in the circuit, damaging the LED display screen. The air circuit breaker disconnects the power supply when the cables are connected incorrectly, preventing a short circuit.

Installing a waterproof canopy

The outdoor LED display has an IP65 protection rating, providing some water resistance. However, during heavy rain, water may wet the cables outside the LED cabinet, and water contact with the current may cause abnormal current flow and damage the cables.

To ensure a more reliable operating environment for outdoor LED display screens during heavy rain, consider installing a waterproof canopy above the outdoor LED display screen. This can effectively prevent large amounts of rainwater from washing away and damaging exposed circuits, thereby extending the service life of the outdoor LED display screen.

Regular Inspections

Inspect Cables

If an outdoor LED display screen is operated for an extended period, the electrical and signal cable connectors may become loose during operation. Loose connectors can cause improper circuit operation, excessive circuit voltage, or short circuits, leading to damage to the LED display screen. Alternatively, prolonged contact between cables and walls or other hard objects may cause wear and tear, exposing the cable cores to the air.

These situations can cause the outdoor LED display screen to malfunction and affect its service life. Regular inspections can help identify and address such issues promptly.

Inspect the steel structure

The steel structure not only supports the weight of the LED display screen but also withstands wind forces caused by environmental conditions. Therefore, it is essential to regularly inspect the stability of the steel structure to prevent it from becoming unstable due to stress, which could cause the outdoor LED display screen to fall and be damaged.

The outdoor environment is harsh, and the steel structure may be corroded by moisture in the air, damaging the anti-corrosion coating. Once the metal material is corroded and oxidized, it becomes fragile and unable to withstand the weight. Upon discovery, the anti-corrosion coating should be promptly reapplied to the corroded areas of the steel structure.

Inspecting fixing screws

Outdoor environments are complex, and LED displays are subject to significant forces. Over time, the fixing screws of various structural components may become loose or fall off. Regular inspections can promptly identify potential issues, allowing loose screws to be tightened or missing screws to be replaced, thereby maintaining the overall structural stability.

Inspect LED modules

Faceplate

Regularly inspect the faceplates of outdoor LED modules. Visually check for physical damage caused by impacts, faceplate detachment, or faceplate warping due to loose screws.

If faceplate warping is caused by loose screws, tighten the screws to repair the warping. If the faceplate is damaged beyond direct repair, replace it with a spare LED module.

Waterproof seals

The internal waterproof seals of outdoor LED displays may age over time. Visual inspection showing yellowing of the seal or loss of elasticity indicates seal aging.

Aged waterproof seals cannot provide proper sealing and waterproofing, leading to corrosion and damage to internal electronic components by moisture and dust in the air. Therefore, aged waterproof seals must be replaced promptly.

LED Lamp Beads

Power on the outdoor LED display screen and observe whether there are any dead lamps or LED lamp beads with abnormal colors. If the lamp beads are lit, but the colors are abnormal, it indicates that the circuit is functioning properly, and the issue may be related to the signal. You can try reconnecting the signal cables or adjusting the settings through the LED screen control software.

If there are dead lamps, the faulty LED lamp beads must be replaced. This depends on the encapsulation technology of the outdoor LED display screen you have installed. Some types of LED screens cannot have individual LED chips replaced.

For example, if you have installed an SMD LED display screen, individual LED chips can be replaced on-site (professional technicians are required for replacement); however, for COB LED display screens, individual LED chips cannot be replaced, and only spare LED modules can be replaced, with faulty LED modules returned to the factory for repair.

Conclusion

The operating environment for outdoor LED displays is relatively complex, especially during the midsummer when weather conditions are unpredictable, posing significant challenges for the operation of outdoor LED displays.