What affect does cold have on Minnesota signs?
Great question. Weather does have a huge impact on how electric signs in Minnesota operate. In Minnesota, we have both extremes, very hot and very cold. Let us look at each.
Hot Minnesota weather affect on sign:
Lit signs need to disperse the heat that builds up inside of the sign. The light bulb, or neon tube isn’t so much troubled by the heat, but the sign ballasts and transformers are affected by heat. In most cases, having air movement inside of the sign can dramatically help disperse the heat. Heat buildup will shorten the life of these sign components.
Electronic message centers (EMC) have a potential heat problem. These electronic signs have on board computers, and as anyone knows computer processors hate heat. These message centers have cooling fans that work just like your cooling fan inside your personal computer.
The LED’s bulbs themselves are also suseptible to heat and are designed to disperse the heat. LED’s aren’t overly effected by heat as long as they are installed the way the manufacturer instructs.
The heat, in particular, the sun also fades colors and otherwise has an effect on outdoor signs in Minnesota. But you knew that.
How about the Minnesota cold?
Cold definitely helps to cool things down. : -) But, now the bulbs start to show a problem. First, a little more about bulbs than you want to know. Most light bulbs found in signs, ie. Neon & Flourescent, have an element present inside that needs to be vaporized by heat in order to get the white color of light. In the extreme Minnesota cold, this element doesn’t vaporize as well and then the bulbs grow dim. This is why you see some lighted signs that look very dark or splotchy at night when lit up.
A good sign company compensates for this by using cold weather components to give the bulbs enough power to vaporize the element and therefore give you a nice bright light. Some sign guys go cheap and put in a cheaper part because you won’t notice it until much later.
LED’s love the cold. Yeaah! Another reason to request LED light for your sign in Minnesota.
So, how do you get a lighted sign to work in Minnesota?
My recommendations is to contact a good Minnesota sign company that is familiar with the extremes, who will build your lit sign in such a way as to protect your sign from the heat, and will light your sign brightly in the winter. Ask for sign components that will withstand the Minnesota weather. It can be done and you need it done.
If you have a lit sign in Minnesota and it is dim in the winter it can be fixed without very much expense.
Good Signing
