Comparison Chart
- Brightness
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- Ultra-Bright LEDs
- Convex waveguide for 180 degree viewing
- Stays bright even in direct sunlight
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- Brightness varies greatly depending upon the quality of gases, glass and electronics
- Many will “wash-out” in direct sunlight
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- Brightness varies based upon the quality of the LEDs used
- Many manufacturers “overdrive” their LEDs – makes them brighter initially but reduces later light level and overall lifetime
- “Washes out” in direct sunlight
- Interchangeability
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- Letters, numbers and special characters are fully interchangeable
- The message can be changed anytime
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- Style & Design
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- Crisp, professional look
- Injection molded design allows for easily readable, modern font style
- Light path is illuminated evenly, even at ends and angles
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- Neon signs are inherently rough approximations of the intended look
- Meaningful portions of the neon tube are often unattractively covered in black paint or tape
- Ends and bends can be dimmer than the rest of the sign
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- Not smooth, each individual LED dot can be seen
- Pixelated look is not perceived as attractive or professional
- Safety
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- Can be placed within customer reach
- Cool to the touch
- UL listed, low voltage design (12V)
- No glass, gasses or dangerous chemicals
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- Glass tube construction
- 8,000 – 20,000 volts
- Outlawed in many municipalities
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- Many “dot” signs are designed and engineered overseas
- Typically 12-24 volt
- Check for UL Listing
- Repairability
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- SpellBrite is a modular system. All letters and characters are interchangeable
- A sign with an issue can be easily fixed by replacing only the letter or character that is broken
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- Repair of a broken component often more expensive than the sign itself
- Local neon repair shops are difficult to find
- Shipping broken neon signs for service is often costly and risks further breakage
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- Not modular
- Entire sign must be replaced if one section burns out
- Durability
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- Housed in ABS plastic and impact resistant acrylic
- Broken letters/characters can be removed and replaced
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- Entire sections of the sign will not illuminate if glass tube is cracked anywhere
- Repair may cost more than a whole new sign
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- Durability varies by manufacturer
- Entire sign must be replaced if one section burns out
- Longevity
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- Long life LEDs rated for between 40,000 and 80,000 hours
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- Average life is 20,000 – 30,000 hours
- Low quality, high voltage transformers may need replacement frequently
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- Some manufacturers “overdrive” their LEDs, causing damage and reduced LED life
- Many “all sales final” terms
- Check warranty terms. Manyship from overseas locations
- Cleaning
& Maintenance
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- Easy to clean
- No exposed electronics
- No sharp edges
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- Glass tube twists and bends difficult to clean
- Many signs are broken during cleaning
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- Face panel often made of cardboard, can’t get wet
- Some have openings around each LED
- Danger of fluids, insects and objects getting inside of sign
- Mounting Method
& Structure
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- No electrician required, can install it yourself
- Lightweight design can hang from chains, mount to a wall, or rest on a counter
- See-through, open-frame design
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- Often installed by licensed sign shop or electrician due to weight and high voltage
- Glass tube usually mounted to plastic board or metal cage
- Obtrusive support structure
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- Typically mounted in a black box
- Obtrusive support structure
- Energy Usage
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- Low power consumption, low voltage design
- Can be powered by a 12V battery pack or vehicle
- Up to 22 letters uses less power than a 40W incandescent light bulb
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- High power consumption
- Neon uses over 3X the power of a comparable SpellBrite sign
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- Low power consumption, low voltage design
- Most don’t have a battery pack / portable power option
- Animation
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- Features 7 animation and 6 dimmer options
- Rows can be controlled separately to highlight specific parts of the message
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- Most do not contain animation and limited to on/off flashing
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- Some contain animation
- Most do not contain dimmer control
