Electrical for Wall Cabinet Signs
Our illuminated wall
signs are manufactured and installed to Underwriters Laboratories, National Electrical Code (National Fire
Protection Association), and City Code standards using UL
components and either LED lighting, "High Output" 800MA fluorescent, or H.I.D. lighting; depending on the size and shape of the
signs, component cost, and the resulting electrical
consumption.
H.I.D. lamps in our signs are
screened by proprietary lamp diffuser panels so
that the sign faces light evenly.
"High Output"
fluorescent burn brighter than standard fluorescent, and
most importantly burn evenly in cold weather. H.I.D.
lighting does not dim as much as fluorescent in cold
weather. Both will light a sign equally when
properly installed.
Electronic
fluorescent ballasts use less than half the energy of
standard ballasts, and have proven their reliability.
This is why we now use them! See our "Energy
Savings" tab under "Lighting
Choices."
The fluorescent and
H.I.D. ballast's used by Signs Manufacturing™ feature a
TWO-YEAR warranty.
Every ballast is
individually fused to prevent one failed component from
costing more in repairs than is necessary.
Each fluorescent
ballast also has a high-heat switch that automatically
turns the ballast off until it cools to a safe operating
temperature, important in preventing fires.
We
test each ballast on every secondary wire to insure proper
cathode heating voltage on the Rapid-Start Circuit.
If this test is not performed, even though the lamps may
light, they may not last 3 months. (We also perform this
test when we install new lamps in a customers used sign.)
To insure the
electrical integrity of our signs, each lamp socket is
individually tested to insure that it has been properly
wired, since it is possible to wire a sign improperly
and still have the lamps light (for a short time).
We also test every competitors sign when we perform
maintenance for the first time.
Electrical sockets
for vertical fluorescent tubes are protected from water
damage with "H" washers on each tube.
A Signs Manufacturing™
sign's total wiring system is tested by a "Hi-Pot" test
which insures that there are no wires which MAY short-out
at a later date by testing them now with ten times their
operating voltage.
If neon is
incorporated into the sign, glass neon electrode housings
are employed wherever possible to increase reliability and
improve the appearance of the sign.
To help prevent
fires, the National Electric Code and Underwriters
Laboratory require that all large signs containing neon
use ground-fault protected neon transformers.
To
function their best, these transformers need their
electrical circuit to have a grounding conductor.
All modern buildings have them. These transformers also
require a dedicated common wire so that other devices,
like a refrigerator turning “on”, on the same wire circuit
does not turn your GFI transformers “off.” If your
building is not wired properly you will want to have it
corrected, so that your sign will work reliably.
Signs Manufacturing™
uses "France" standard neon transformers because unlike
ALL other transformers these U.S. manufactured
transformers contain a "Smart" microprocessor that
automatically tries to reset the ground-fault before
shutting down the transformer. If the fault was only
momentary, the transformer will remain "on," illuminating
your sign. These transformers also automatically
reset when their power is turned off and then back on.
They offer our customers the greatest opportunity to avoid
service calls.
Our newly-developed energy-saving in-series transformers
also contain “Smart” microprocessors. The related
costs of the two different types of transformers with neon
lighting, as well as LED lighting, is explained under our
"Neon/LED
Energy" tab under our "Lighting
Choices" tab.
Each
neon transformer is warranted for two years from its
manufacturing date.
Translux high-voltage
silicone-insulated wire will be used during neon
installation, even though it is four times more expensive
than some neon wire, to insure against transformer
“nuisance tripping”, arcing, fires, and potential service
calls caused by neon transformer outputs as high as 15,000
volts.
Glass tube/wire
supports and porcelain insulators will be used because
they do not degrade over time, unlike the plastic and clay
components used by some.
LEDs are very sensitive to voltage. The power supplies we use to power LEDs provide internal overvoltage, low voltage, spike and brownout protection for the sign. Many manufacturers do not.
Please stop by and see all of these products displayed in our unique Sign Lighting Laboratory and Display Showroom.
Zap Protection™
- Optional Electrical Surge and Lightning Protection
Electrical surges on a sign’s incoming power supply, and lightning strikes, are not covered by any manufacturer’s warranty, and they are common in Texas.
As technology has moved us from the use of electrical components such as core-and-coil ballasts to electronic components, primarily to reduce power consumption, the susceptibility of a sign to damage from electrical power surges or lightning strikes has increased dramatically. Old-style electrical components are simply no longer available in most cases.
Signs Manufacturing™ offers surge and lightning Zap Protection™, at a reasonable additional cost, adding components to signs to lower the potential for damage from an occurrence.
150 VRMS clamping volts for ground, 310 VRMS for line. Maximum surge current 100,000 amps, 0-400 Hz, UL Listed.
NightLit™
Solar-Panel Lighting Option
Solar
panels are ugly and expensive.
So what can you do when it is
cost-prohibitive to run power to a sign location?
Signs Manufacturing™ created an
affordable, attractive, unobtrusive answer. We created an outdoor,
wet-location, sealed solar-panel and multiple-light combination pack
specifically designed for signs. Patent and Listing Pending.
NightLit™ lighting is designed to not be as
bright as an advertising sign; it is designed to provide adequate,
attractive lighting for identification, directional, and informational
signage purposes.
Three screws/bolts can attach this sign
to virtually any surface. It is solar-powered with internal back-up power
rated to last 72 consecutive hours without recharging. Automatic
self-contained on-at-dusk, off-at-dawn controls.
An example of where it can be
beneficial is building identification.
Modern America searches for locations using computer
assistance, and by address and suite/apartment numbers, primarily. Even
while driving.
The International Fire Code (IFC) 505.1
contains specific requirements for commercial building identification. Many
AHJ’s (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) modify these basic requirements to
require that building identifications, including both address and/or units
identification where appropriate, be lighted to aid emergency service
responders at night.
Frankly, this requirement also aids
package and food delivery companies (UPS, FedEx, Uber, Lyft, GrubHub, etc.) Many
apartment and condo management companies use this amenity of user-friendly lighted
building identification as a selling point to prospective dwellers who might
have guests/deliveries trying to find their apartment at night.
Specific to emergency response, some
AHJ’s require that lighted address identification remain lighted if the power supply to
the building is disrupted; a very good idea. But it has been very costly to
meet modified IFC 505.1 rules with existing structures because of the cost
of providing power and back-up power to retrofitting signage; until now.
Increased safety and convenience at an
affordable cost.
Other uses?
-
Adding a lighted address to an
unlighted monument sign.
-
Adding lighted directional signs in
parking lots.
-
A lighted Valet Parking A-frame
sign.
-
A lighted real-estate or
construction temporary sign.
-
Lighted informational signs, directory signs, identification
signs…etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
It is relatively cheap, can be
permanently custom-inscribed, custom-painted, UV-protected,
vandal-resistant-coated, repairable, and readily available!
There are, however, size and design
restraints on this technology. Discuss your vision with us; since we’re the
ones who created NightLit™ we’re the experts. We’ll create a way to make it
work for you.
Our initial product requires a 24-36” cabinet length, and a height of 15” or
less.
Electrical Circuits for (almost) All Signage
The National Electrical Code (NEC)
adopted by the State of Texas, and virtually every Authority Having
Jurisdiction (AHJ) requires that circuits serving electrical signs be
20 amp. maximum, and serve no other device. This includes the common wire,
and the ground wire (the white and green wires.) If the signage
contains neon the circuit can be rated up to 30 amp.
The above was not always true, so it is
possible that wiring serving older signs will need to be replaced by your
electrician.
Why?
Signs used to basically be lights,
running on lighting circuits, but this is no longer true.
A modern electrical sign contains
electronics, which includes Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
tripping.
We have seen signs wired to older
electrical circuits where turning on a fan inside a store turns off the
exterior sign.
NOTE: The Sunburst
LED Signs™
we manufacture are fed by branch circuits, we distribute the electrical load
inside the signage. Therefore, the circuit feeding our digital LED
signs, or signage containing one of our Sunburst LED Signs™ are not
constrained by this requirement. (Other manufacturers cannot do this.)