Outdoor environments differ in weather elements, temperature and seasonal extremes. Different locations can have dramatic swings in temperature, while freak weather occurrences can also occur, so any LCD enclosure protection system for an outdoor screen needs to consider all these variables and encompass systems to cope for the extreme and unexpected.

The difficulty with protecting a TV screens from different weather variables is that often that can mean using contradictory methods. For instance, any screen, even in the mild climates can easily overheat if measures are not taken. This often involves using cooling fans that move the hot air way from the screen to replace it with cooler, fresher air. However, having vents to expel and allow fresh air in, also creates problems when you consider other weather elements such as rain, which need to be kept away from the screen.

A similar contradiction occurs when you try to counter the extreme variables in temperature that many locations experience during different seasons. In summer, it may well be that a screen is vulnerable to overheating and needs methods of cooling, while in the winter, freezing temperatures may require heating methods to prevent the screen from freezing.

Other contradictions exist for outdoor screen protection too. Any screen left outside will need protection from physical impact such as caused by vandalism. This requires a solid structure housing the screen. However, because an audience needs to view a TV screen, the screen face requires transparency, and most transparent material such as glass are fairly brittle.

Outdoor TV enclosures utilise some ingenious and sophisticated methods to counter these contradictions and ensure comprehensive protection regardless of the environment they are located.

Temperature is controlled by a combination of cooling fans, insulation  and heater systems, with exhausted hot air and access to cool air, permitted through intricate venting systems that prevent elements such as rain from permeating inside the enclosure while still allowing free movement of air. This enables an outdoor TV enclosure to cope with severe heat of summer–even in the hottest of locations–whilst also coping with the freezing temperatures of winter and Arctic locations.

Furthermore, the steel housing that protects the majority of the TV enclosure is accompanied with shatterproof screens that ensure maximum visibility of the display, while still protecting the screen face from impact.

Outdoor TV enclosures utilise some innovative and sophisticated engineering solutions to counter the various challenges that outdoor environments pose. Few other outdoor TV systems offer such comprehensive protection, which makes TV enclosures the preferred choice for most outdoor TV applications.

Sophistication of an LCD Enclosure for Outdoor TV Protection is a post from: Armagard

Keeping railway customers informed about delays and scheduled changes is a challenging task. Public address systems have traditionally been the communication system of choice with the familiar announcer calls a common sound in most railway stations.

LCD screens provide railway and station operators an ideal platform for keeping customers informed and displaying timetable information, news of delays and scheduling changes.

The great advantage of using a screen network around a railway station or platform is the immediacy. As soon as the station hears of train delays, this information can be uploaded to the screens for the customers to see.

This immediacy drastically reduces the number of complaints from disgruntled passengers, as customers can see for themselves, how long the delay is and when the train is now due to arrive, rather than standing around not knowing what is going on.

Traditionally, information screens were only ever placed inside the station itself, or on platforms on larger, central railway stations; however, increasingly, due to the falling cost of delivering information screens, more and more smaller stations are implementing them too.

Part of the challenge and costs of implementing information screens on railway platforms comes in protecting them. Many rail operators are now turning to LCD enclosures as a means of protection for their information screens as they enable the use of standard LCD TV hardware.

While most platform information screens are under cover, there is still a need for protection as rain and other elements get blown onto the display. Furthermore, without temperature control, the heat of summer or sub zero temperatures of winter could lead to the display failing. Another advantage that many railways stations have found using the LCD enclosure system is that when the screens eventual expire—as all screens will—they are easy and cheap to replace and install in the same enclosure, as opposed to buying specific outdoor hardware that will only last the same amount of time.

Railway Information Screens – Importance of Protection is a post from: Armagard

Information screen can also provide news and other content

The difficulty in providing information for all these industries is that the information is forever changing and needs updating, for the transport industry, this could be minute-by-minute so finding an effective means of updating information is critical.

Traditional methods such as paper noticeboards and PA systems have their limitations, especially when information forever changes, but using a modern flat screen device is an ideal method of communicating information to customers.

The great advantage of using information screens is the immediacy information can be uploaded. Railway stations have been using information screens for years inside their ticket offices and on their platforms. This enables customers to view when the next train is due and discover any cancellations.

Some locations prove difficult to provide information screens, however. Outdoor locations and areas that receive extreme seasonal weather can cause any installed screen to fail.

To provide an information screen in open, outdoor locations, or in areas that experience extreme weather, requires the use of a protective TV enclosure.

LCD enclosures house normal TV screens but ensure they are kept dry and at the right temperature for use in extreme locations. Built to European IP65 guidelines, an LCD enclosure is designed to prevent moisture and weather elements from getting inside to the display, but the real key to their use in outdoor locations are the components inside.

Keeping the screen at the required temperature, even when ambient temperatures are extremely hot, or below zero, require the use of climatic systems. Cooling fans help carry heat away preventing overheating while thermostatically controlled heaters ensure that the temperature inside the enclosure remains constant, no matter how cold the ambient gets.

By using an LCD enclosure, outdoor information screens can function throughout the year, providing customers with the necessary and relevant information to keep them happy.

Information Screens for Outdoors is a post from: Armagard

An outdoor TV can benefit many businesses

Pubs and bars can benefit from an outdoor TV helping to keep customers happy and on the premises longer—especially considering smoking bans and the number of people that spend time outside a premises.

Of course, simply carrying an indoor TV outside isn’t going to work, as the first rain shower will disable it. Outdoor TV protection is a must, therefore, but there is a lot more to think about than just rain and the weather.

Obviously, weatherproofing a screen is necessary to allow its use outdoors, and this is often achieved using a waterproof LCD enclosure—usually sealed to IP65 or NEMA equivalent—but an LCD enclosure needs also to offer protection in other areas.

Temperature control is essential for any outdoor TV as LCD screens (and plasmas) have a limited operating temperature range. All TV screens produce heat when in operation so when the screen is housed in an LCD enclosure the heat needs expelling.

Of course, just having a vent to allow airflow is complicated by the need to keep the device waterproof, so sophisticated ventilation systems on LCD enclosure are used to allow hot air out and cool air in whilst preventing moisture from getting inside.

High ambient temperatures can easily lead to overheating too, especially when the sun is bearing down on the display. Internal cooling fans inside the LCD enclosure need to be sufficient to dispel heat during seasonal peak temperatures, otherwise other cooling systems like air-conditioning need considering.

In winter, the opposite problem occurs. Plummeting temperatures, especially when the ambient falls below zero, will also disable a screen. Keeping the internal temperature of the LCD enclosure above the minimum for screen operation often requires using insulation and heaters, but these need thermostatic control to avoid overheating.

Physical protection is also a must for a permanent outdoor TV. Risk of theft and vandalism requires a secure mounting, a lockable enclosure and anti-vandal measures such as shatterproof screens and a steel housing for the enclosure.

Placing a modern LCD or plasma screen outside does pose several challenges but if you use a trusted LCD enclosure manufacturer such as Armagard, who will assess your needs and requirements, you can soon gain the benefits of an outdoor TV and the rewards it can bring to your business.

Using an Outdoor TV Screen Successfully is a post from: Armagard

Outdoor LCD enclosure--wall mountable

Many other cities too are following suit with large-scale digital signage projects aimed at reaching a wider audience as possible, while companies like JC Decaux and Clear Channel are replacing many of their six-sheet advertising hoardings along high streets with modern digital versions.

Outdoor digital signage is certainly becoming more widespread, and while outdoor screens have a long way to go to catch up with their indoor rivals, more and more static hoardings are going digital.

But it is not just these big screens and multinational companies that are taking advantage of outdoor digital signage, increasingly, smaller businesses are seeing the advantages of outdoor screens too.

And it’s not expensive as many people think to use an outdoor screen for branding, promotion, information or advertising.

While bespoke outdoor digital signage are expensive, for simple single screen applications outdoor TV enclosures provide an inexpensive solution. Able to house standard TV models, either LCD or plasma, these weatherproof LCD enclosures provide all the outdoor protection necessary.

With wall mountable systems and totem floor-standing enclosures, outdoor LCD enclosures provide a simple and cost-effective method of displaying outdoor content.

outdoor LCD enclosure--floor mountable totem

LCD enclosuresare not just weatherproof but provide all the protection needed for using a modern LCD of plasma screen in an outdoor location. With internal temperature control that ensures the screen is at the optimum conditions—no matter what the ambient temperature is doing—and vandal and impact protection, outdoor LCD enclosures are ideal for almost any outdoor application, providing a robust, secure and protective environment for screens of almost any make and model.

Outdoor Digital Signage – Not Just for Big Players is a post from: Armagard

More and more digital signage displays are being utilised outdoors and in other hazardous locations, not just for advertising but also for information and communication. Of course, standard digital signage screens are unable to operate in the open air, as the weather would cause the screens to fail. The same is true of dusty locations, as dust is just as problematic as liquids if it penetrates a TV as it can lead to short circuiting, overheating and other problems.

Different types of locations require different levels of protection. While a distribution warehouse may only need to keep dust out of a display, a screen operating in a food production facility that is regularly washed-down will need to keep water out. While outdoor locations will need to keep both rainfall and other weather elements from the screen as well as any wind-blown dust or particles.

Fortunately, outdoor LCD enclosures used for protecting screens in outdoor and harsh locations, are manufactured to international guidelines, which indicate what type of environment the equipment can operate in.

IP rating

The European IP rating (ingress protection) is a numbered scale that describes protection from both liquids and solids. The first digit of the double-digit number denotes the effectiveness of the enclosure against solids. The higher the number, the more effective, and therefore, smaller the particles the enclosure prevents getting inside.

The second digit denotes its effectiveness against liquids. Again, the higher the number the more effective the enclosure is defending against liquids; with splashes on the lower end of the scale to full-scale power-washing defence on the higher end of the scale.

NEMA

Commonly used in North America, the NEMA scale operates a little differently to the European rating. NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) operates a single digit number scale going from 1 through to 13, with each number offering a specific type of protection. For example, a NEMA 2 enclosure is suitable for indoor screens just requiring protection from dust, while a NEMA 4 enclosure is suitable or outdoor use to defend against rain.

For most outdoor digital signage systems the minimum ratings to look for are NEMA 3 (NEMA 4 is preferable) and IP 54 (IP 65 is more comprehensive).

IP and NEMA Ratings for Digital Signage is a post from: Armagard

LCD Enclosure

As perilous to screens as liquid, dust can disable a modern LCD or plasma and cause all sorts of problems.

Dust is a common cause of electronic failure as it penetrates inside vents, covering circuit boards and causes overheating and sometimes short circuits; attracted to static, dust also forms a film over screen faces, which slowly dims the screen and requires regular cleaning.

In locations where high levels of dust are present, such as warehouses and distribution hubs, screens can fail extremely quickly, so protecting any digital signage or other display in these areas is essential.

Keeping dust away from a screen, however, can prove problematic. All TV devices need a route to transfer warm air away from the screen to avoid overheating, which can lead to an area for dust to penetrate.

LCD enclosures, commonly used for outdoor digital signage, are also ideal at keeping screens dust free. Using the same technology that prevents water from seeping into the display, LCD enclosures are also dust tight.

Furthermore, as LCD enclosures provide a glass front over the display, there is no static build-up, preventing attraction of dust. The internal fans and filter systems of an LCD enclosure prevent dust from getting into the cabinet and infesting the screen.

Even in outdoor locations dust can cause potential problems. Nearby construction and other sources produce airborne dust that can penetrate outdoor digital signage and information screens. By using an LCD enclosure for outdoor weather protection, the screen will also be protected from these airborne particulates.

Digital Signage and the Perils of Dust is a post from: Armagard

Since the rise of the LCD and plasma flat screen, TVs have found their way into a whole host of other applications, not just digital signage, but as many of the locations for these applications are not suitable for indoor technology, they require protecting.

Industrial Displays

Industrial locations find screens an effective method of communicating with workers. Often these noise levels in these locations make other forms of communication difficult so using screens provides a clear way of passing on information.

Industrial locations are full of dust, dirt and other airborne compounds. Screens operating in these sorts of locations require as much protection as outdoor digital signage displays. Dust affects a screen in many ways, including causing short circuits and overheating, but LCD enclosure’s IP rated housing (NEMA 4) provides as much protection against these elements as it does the weather.

Distribution Areas

Not only are some food distribution areas dusty, requiring protection for screens, in facilities that store food these areas are chilled, essentially being large fridges. Because of the low temperatures in chilled distribution hubs, LCD screens require heated or insulated protection.

LCD enclosures provide climatic systems that ensure the enclosed TV always operates within optimum temperature ranges.

Physically Demanding Locations

Some locations require physical protection for screens. For instance, TVs housed in institutions such as prisons may become vulnerable to physical impact, so the screens require some form of impact protection. Because of their solid steel housing and shatterproof screens, LCD enclosures provide ideal protection from impact forces. LCD enclosures have even been fitted in ape houses in zoos to allow the primates access to visual stimulus and the screen protection from the apes.

LCD Enclosures – Not Just Outdoor is a post from: Armagard

The transport industry, in particular the railways, have uses LCD screens for providing information for years. A common sight inside railway stations, screens let passengers know of departure times, delays and cancellations.

The speed of uploading information is the great advantage of using LCD screens for railway and train companies. Once a train is delayed, relaying the information to passengers takes seconds, reducing frustration and complaints.

Traditionally, screens placed inside, in locations such as the ticket office, could provide this information, but increasingly, more screens placed on the platforms themselves are providing news of cancellations, delays and arrival times.

Of course, the difficulties with placing screens on railway platforms is that they are essentially outdoor environments so train companies require a form of protection for the display, to prevent damage caused by the weather, and particulates and debris blown across the platform by fast-moving locomotives.

While waterproof, outdoor screens don’t usually have adequate protection against dust, and lack physical protection needed for railway platforms.

Increasing, railway platforms use LCD enclosures as a means of screen protection. LCD enclosures several advantages for use on railway platforms, firstly, the comprehensive protection defends against weather, dust and physical impacts. Secondly, it allows the train companies to use the same sort of screens as they use indoors.

The temperature systems fitted inside LCD enclosures provide another advantage for train companies. As most nations have railway systems, the temperature ranges of platforms from country to country varies wildly. Some locations that experience high levels of heat require an LCD enclosure with cooling fans or even air conditioners, while areas that experience low temperatures need heaters inside the LCD enclosures. And in some locations where heat varies to both extremes depending on the season, may require both.

Generally, outdoor screens don’t offer the same temperature flexibility, which is why so many rail companies now use LCD enclosures.

LCD Enclosures at Railway Stations is a post from: Armagard

With the barbecue and outdoor furniture, we are able to spend a lot of time outdoors, eating, drinking and socializing; however, there are many times when we have to stay inside, regardless of the good weather.

During sporting events, or when popular shows are on TV, we often have to sacrifice an afternoon in the sun to go sit inside and watch TV. Of course, having a television outside could solve these problems, but the costs of outdoor TVs may cause most homeowners to baulk at the idea.

Outdoor TVs are often many times higher than the price of equivalent indoor varieties. For example, a standard 46” High Definition TV costs between $600-$800 dollars, while a similar specification outdoor TV can cost up to $6000.

Of course, you could temporarily take an indoor TV outdoors, but this cannot only be cumbersome and dangerous to try and move such a bulky and heavy item around. And if it suddenly rains, you could find the TV not only fails, but could also become an electrocution hazard.

There is, however, another solution. Outdoor TV enclosures enable standard TVs to be installed in any outdoor environment, both securely and safely, preventing the need for a costly outdoor screen and ensuring a standard device will function properly outside.

Outdoor TV enclosures off complete protection for a standard screen. Not only are they weatherproof and able to withstand rainfall and other weather elements, but they also maintain a steady internal temperature ensuring they can be used even during the hottest periods of summer.

Furthermore, TV enclosures are manufactured from steel so provide solid protection against impact and vandalism. Once mounted securely to a wall, the enclosure can be locked to provide a permanent and secure outdoor TV feature.

Providing an Outdoor TV for your Home is a post from: Armagard