Illuminated Sign Box – 5 Things to Consider
Jan 26th 2010DrewAdvertising & Business & Marketing & Signage
Get Noticed!
Last time we talked about channel lettering. The second part of the fascia sign trifactor is the illuminated sign box. There can actually be some overlap between channel letters and sign boxes. Sometimes a designer will create a design for a sign box that extends beyond a regular rectangular box and becomes an odd shape to accommodate the outline of a logo. This is true “thinking outside the box”. These projects show that we are not restricted to just a rectangle and everything has to fit neatly inside. Signs like this will be more noticed than your garden-variety rectangular box. It’s something to consider when creating your brand image – more expensive than the rectangle, but much more effective in attracting attention. Isn’t this the reason for putting up a sign anyway? To be noticed above the competition?
Whether you are restricted to a rectangular box or not, there are some things to consider when planning your fascia sign. We’ve already looked at layout and content, what I am talking about here are the more technical issues..
- To what surface is the sign box going to be attached? Brick, block, metal, wood or other? Each has its special requirements for attachment. The last thing we want is for the sign to leap off the wall!
- What power supply are you using for the sign box? 120 volt single phase or 347 volt 3 phase. 347 is less expensive to run but the components are a bit more expensive to buy.
- Is the box UL or CSA approved? Many box manufacturers are licensed to inspect their own work. The Canadian Standards Association does not hand out these licences without a lot of analysis and inspection. Therefore, if you are buying a box that is CSA approved, you can take comfort in knowing the shop has achieved a high standard in its workmanship, especially the electrical components. If the sign box is not CSA approved, the electrician connecting it to the power supply is required to call for an inspection from the local utility. This inspection will be at your cost and the inspectors aren’t sitting around waiting for a call. Some inspections can take weeks to book.
- What lamps to order? Daylight Hi-Output (or DHO) are the most popular lamps for a sign box. The colour of the light is a true white and illuminates the colours of the sign without introducing new, unwanted colours. Cool White and Warm White lamps have a slight off white colour and can drastically change the colour of your sign. Be cautious when ordering replacement lamps that you always order DHO lamps so that the sign is the same colour throughout. I’ve seen many signs with patches of yellow light in them where someone has installed Warm White lamps alongside DHO’s. (This is a little off topic but worth mentioning here.)
- Acrylic or Polycarbonate (Lexan) face? Acrylic is more brittle than Polycarbonate and can be more easily broken by flying debris, especially during winter when it is cold. However, Acrylic stays white whereas polycarbonate will yellow from the sun’s rays and is more expensive than acrylic. If the sign is exposed to damage from vandals or passing traffic, then we would recommend polycarbonate. Any sign that is not in the line of fire should be using acrylic so that the colours stay true for many years.
What experiences have you had with your sign box? I’d love to get your feedback. Here at ICSigns, we have lots of experience with these and many other kinds of signage.
For all you bloggers out there, by leaving a comment, you also can leave a link back to your own blog! I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime,
Happy Signing,
Drew
