How to choose an Outdoor LED Display Board

An outdoor LED display board is a single or multicolour light up display positioned on a trailer. Often these are used for short term advertising, for example for sales at furniture stores, consumer electronics retailers, lighting and bedding warehouses and other big-box retailers.

They are also an ideal promotional tool for medical centres, car dealerships and sporting complexes.

Why buy an outdoor LED display board?

Many retailers and community organisations choose to buy an outdoor LED display board rather than hire. This is because frequent sales and events can easily be promoted by simply rolling out your own LED sign trailer without the hassle and expense of organising short term hire.

With rental costs for outdoor LED sign trailers costing in the vicinity of $1000 per fortnight to hire, it’s easy to see how costs can add up if you are hiring regularly. If you find yourself regularly hosting sales and events, it may be more economical to buy an outdoor LED display board mounted on a trailer.

If you are considering buying an outdoor LED display board for advertising and promotion (also known as a VMS or Variable Message Sign), there are a few things to take into consideration. Think about these key points:

• What size VMS do I need?
• Is it easy to tow and move?
• Where am I going to position the trailer?
• What kind of LED display do I need?
• Are there any regulations in my area I need to be aware of?
• Does it need any maintenance?
• What is my budget?

Let’s take a look at some of these points in more detail.

What size VMS do I need?

Variable message boards come in a range of shapes and sizes. They are commonly divided into A, B and C sizes which is most relevant to traffic and roadwork use. These size categories are taken from the Australian Standard and refer to the legibility of the sign over certain distances, and the size of the characters and the overall board. Signs categorised with A can be viewed from 100m away, B signs from 200m and C signs from 300m away. Refer to AS 4852.2-2009 Variable message signs for more details.

For advertising and promotional use, these standards are less relevant. If your store is located in a retail park or homemaker centre, generally motorists will be reading your sign from a relatively close distance, whilst they are travelling slower than on a road.

Think about the size of the VMS screen and the area you want to place it in. With sizes from 1.5 metres wide to 2.6 metres wide, there is a range of options to choose from.

How do I move my variable message sign?

Trailer mounted outdoor LED display boards are easy to tow and move. The sign board and its control panels are fitted to a standard trailer type base, which means you can hook them up to a car with a tow bar and move them with ease. Once in place, your trailer can be levelled using the supporting feet, and the mast and sign can be folded open into place.

Where to set up your VMS trailer for maximum effect

Many outdoor LED display boards are solar powered and run off a battery charged by these solar panels. For this reason, you’ll need to set up your trailer in an area where it gets maximum sunshine on the solar array panel. This will ensure the battery is fully charged and the LED lights perform at maximum brightness at all times.

What kind of LED display do I need – simple or full colour?

These outdoor advertising LED signs come in different styles, from simple to complex. The simplest signs have a single colour display in amber or yellow. You can program simple text and symbols using the control panel.

At the other end of the scale, full colour high resolution video boards enable all kind of animations, graphics, transitions and a full array of colours. Some of these more elaborate advertising screens run off 240V power so you may need to consider proximity to a power supply for these units.

Regulations for outdoor advertising LED signs

It’s important to check with your local council for guidance on regulations in your area. If you are considering advertising in the transport corridor ie: along a main road, there are probably a lot of restrictions you may need to address, however on private land you are likely to have more freedom. Common sense applies – don’t position your trailer over a footpath or walkway, and ensure that it isn’t in a position that will cause bad reflection and glare from the LED screen. Your council and local road authority can provide more detailed advice.

Do LED display boards need maintenance?

Trailer mounted LED displays don’t need a great deal of maintenance. The LED screen is covered by a shatterproof Perspex cover which protects the light bulb panels from most damage. It’s good practice to check the tyres every now and then, as well as performing a brief clean and lubrication of the axle, pivot points and wheel jacks every 3 months or so.

Although trailer mounted LED display boards run on solar power, the battery is charged by the sun and therefore the battery itself still needs to be operable. It’s a good idea to check the condition of the batteries every month if you are using the sign trailer day in day out. The control panel inside the trailer’s control box will show you the battery status.

How much does it cost to buy a VMS?

A LED sign trailer is an investment that quickly pays for itself. It allows you to advertise in a highly targeted area making it ideal for local area marketing. If you are regularly hosting sales and events, it can be much more economical to buy a VMS trailer rather than rent one over and over. You have a depreciable business asset with a long warranty and full service and support from a national distributor.

As there are a range of LED sign trailers available, we’d like to supply a detailed quote for you with all the options you need for your specific situation. Call our friendly team any time on 1300 885 364 or use the request a quote form below.