How Do They Electrify A Lighted Sign. Most people are familiar with the term “electronic” when it comes to signs, but what many don’t know is that there are two main types of electronic lighting: direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC).
Most streetlights use AC lightings, which we can easily identify because they flicker in an oscillating pattern. These Electrify A Lighted Sign are powered via power lines from the city or utility company, so there’s no need for self-powered LED lamps.
Businesses looking to create their own internal system may opt to use DC technology instead.
Connects the power source to the electricity grid
Most large outdoor lighting displays are powered by either batteries or an alternating current (AC) power supply. Batteries will eventually run out, which is why most light-up decorations use AC as their power source.
Most people are familiar with AC power from home appliances like refrigerators and televisions. An electrical generator produces high voltage, low amperage DC power, which can be converted into AC power in a device called a converter.
The converter then re-trims the energy of the high voltage, low current electricity down to safe levels for consumption. This process is what electrifies it so that you can use the lights!
The tricky part about powering your display via the electricity grid is that there isn’t always a steady flow of electricity available. Power plants work hard to keep up with demand, so some times there may not be enough juice left over to fully illuminate your show.
Use power strips for the lighting circuits
Power strip connectors are very common these days. A lot of people use them to connect all their devices together so they can easily access them. Irvine Sign Technology has made it possible to do this with lights as well!
Power strip connectors come in different sizes and styles, but what they have in common is that you can add more connections by adding additional connectors at the end of the strip. This way, you don’t need to buy a longer length cable to connect two lamps together.
This article will talk about some easy ways to electrically connect two lamps using a power strip. These tips will work no matter which type light socket you have- hot plate, refrigerator, freezer, counter, or table top. If you would like to learn how to wire a lamp for your kitchen or bath, then continue reading!
What types of bulbs fit into a powerstrip?
There are three types of Electrify A Lighted Sign that most powerstrips contain: incandescent bulb, florescent tube, and LED (light emitting diode). All of these work similarly, however there is one major difference between each type.
Incandescents require slightly higher voltages than either of the other two. Because of this, they cannot be directly connected to another source of electricity without some sort of adapter. The same goes for florescent tubes, although not many people still use those.
Use power strips for the power source
Power strips are very common these days, you probably have one in your home already! A power strip is an electrical device with several ports that connect to separate devices such as phones, laptops, or televisions.
A power strip can easily be connected to another power strip so that every port gets its own set of wires from the two power sources. This way you do not need to constantly re-wire everything to make it work.
Power strips are very affordable too, often costing less than $20 each! If you ever find yourself running out of wall space due to all of the gadgets you have, check out a power strip to see what size ones they offer.
This article will talk more about how lighted signs are electrified and some tips for powering off power strips.
Use a surge protector for the power source
Powering a lighted sign is tricky because it requires electricity to run it, but you don’t want your equipment to back out due to poor quality power.
A good way to avoid this problem is by using a surge protection device (SPD). An SPD uses capacitors to create an electrical barrier that will help protect your equipment from large fluctuations in power supply.
Surge protection devices can be connected directly to a wall socket or through an external battery pack. Because they have their own separate power source, users do not need to worry about running out of juice while using the lights.
Your SPD should use at least 0.1-0.2 volts per 1,000 millivolts of regular voltage to work effectively.
Check the sign for loose connections
If you check your lighted signs at night, you will notice that some of the bulbs are not glowing as bright as they should be. This could be due to a bad connection in the lamp itself or poor electrical contact where the bulb connects to the circuit.
If you pull out the power source, the cord will also hang down lower than it normally would. If this happens, try replacing the old connection with a new one. Make sure to use the correct size connector for the socket position!
Also, make sure to clean both the plug and the contacts of any residue that may have accumulated over time. This can help ensure good electrical contact.
Check the sign for broken wires
Sometimes, even after performing step one with no light, the seller will state that the lamp does not work and you can tell why! The lamps are actually working, but you cannot see it because of bad wiring.
If you check the sign by shining a flashlight onto it or using a battery powered device to test, then you may find that there is indeed light coming from the bulbs, but nothing close to what it should be.
This happens when someone takes out the old bulb and connects it into place where it did not belong. Or they put in a new one and do not have proper contact with the socket. If you look closely at the wire connection, you may also notice some knots and twists which prevent good electrical flow.
These problems can be avoided through testing of the lights before buying, as well as having your seller do the same.
Use battery backup power
Many lighted signs are powered by direct current (DC) batteries that require constant re-charging to keep them working.
Many people use disposable AA batteries as their DC source, but this is not a good option because they will run out and you will have no warning!
Instead, use rechargeable batteries that do not need to be replaced completely. Batteries that can be recharged thousands of times are best so that you do not have to invest in lots of new ones too soon.
You can find many types of reusable batteries that work just as well if not better than your average one time use alkaline battery.
Use a grid-tie system
Grid-tied systems are one of the most efficient ways to electrify an outdoor sign. Rather than using external power sources, like solar panels or battery packs, this method uses electrical wires that connect directly into the metal frame of the sign.
The cables run parallel to each other within the frame, then attach to a central junction box where they meet. This way you don’t have to worry about protecting the connectors on the cable ends as they’re enclosed in the frame.
Because there’s no exposed wire at any point, you can’t easily touch either end and get shocked. Also, the frame acts as its own protective cover for the cables should something happen nearby.
Sites such as Allglobeelectric.com offer easy to use grids tied kits that work beautifully.
