Light boxes serve as advertising signs, product list boards, POP displays, directional merchandise and more. With back lit and also edge lit technology, light boxes are rapidly becoming widely used advertising display systems in today’s market. As compared to traditional poster frames and sign holders, illuminated signs grab more interest and can even be seen in dark and darkened places. Applying any of these illumination systems, your posters, commercials, menus, and promotions will be noticed in the environment of your choice.

There are some styles of light boxes out there and it is essential to consider your choices. To assist you in this process, below are some fundamental differences between three well known bulbs that are common in most present day light box models. These three lighting systems include LED, T5, and CC FL bulb screens.

For an aesthetically pleasing look, all three light box displays have merchandise to suit every location. For a very slim illuminated panel, most would select a LED light box display. LED light take up a very small foot print, which allows you to have a light box that appears more like a light panel. A LED lights panel can be minimized down to 0.83 inches, which is actually less than an inch thick. Now that the newest milestone in light box technology is the development of light emitting diodes, or LEDs, most do provide a very streamlined, elegant, “newer” look to them.

If the long lifespan of your lighting system is your highest priority, LED bulbs last longer than all other light box bulbs.

LEDs normally last on an average 100,000 hours, which is over 11 years of steady use. The primary cost of a LED light box, sometimes, is much considerably higher; however, if you factor in financial savings from time, labor, and bulb replacement through the years with the other screens, you could basically save money in the end.

T5 light bulbs last about 1.5 years if continually left on, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The good thing is, bulb replacement is a simple procedure. However, if only one bulb burns out before the others, your display will be vividly unappealing to the eye. The burned out bulb leaves a cold area or shadow on your light box display.

CC FL light bulbs last 4 to 5 years if left on consistently, twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week. Although they work for a bit longer than T5 bulbs, bulb replacement is much more complex. Typically, these displays has to be returned to the manufacturing plant for bulb replacement. They are very thin and are installed directly into the light box frame in an intricate technique. Therefore, it is suggested that this be taken care of by a professional so as not to ruin your display.

When you are in a business where “going green” is an important concern, CC FL or LED light boxes are essentially the most environmentally conscious screens. In researching the electricity consumption of a standard T5 light box compared to either CC FL or LED light boxes, one can find that the CC FL and LED screens will have enormous electrical savings. With today’s push to be more environmentally aware, many businesses are now thinking about these less consuming lighting systems. Some industries are even replacing their entire T5 light boxes with the less economically consuming CC FL and LED bulbs.