The Impact of Seasonal Changes on Outdoor Digital Signage Maintenance and Performance

Fall is arriving fast! At least in the Northern Hemisphere. Days are shortening, mornings are getting colder, and leaves are changing color and falling. How is this impacting outdoor digital signage?

As we all know, the primary challenge with outdoor digital totems is thermal management. Each degree increase above room temperature significantly shortens the electronics' lifespan. For every 10-degree Celsius rise, the lifespan is halved. Furthermore, 55% of electronic failures result from inadequate temperature control. In brief, effective thermal management ensures prolonged operation and minimizes maintenance requirements.

Alright, so the primary issue is overheating, but what does that have to do with autumn, when the temperature drops? Low temperatures pose a lesser problem for LCD digital signs due to two factors. First, electronic components are less prone to failure when the temperature is low. Second, LCD panels are significant heat sources. Nevertheless, regulated heaters are necessary for ensuring long-term operation.

Why autumn can be a unique period for outdoor digital kiosks?

To comprehend the above question, we need to first understand how the majority of LCD totems manage enclosure temperature. The majority of outdoor LCD systems employ direct air-cooling thermal management technology. This technology utilizes fans to draw ambient air into the signage enclosure, ensuring a cooling airflow. Direct air cooling stands out as one of the most efficient and cost-effective cooling methods available. However, it necessitates the intake of air. Air must be clean and requires the use of special filters. These filters must not only clean the air from dust, smog, moisture, and other debris but also do so efficiently.

High-efficiency filters provide significant protection without disrupting the airflow. If the airflow is disrupted, the fan frequency must be increased, leading to higher electricity consumption and louder fans. These fans constitute the primary noise source for outdoor systems. As we all know, loud outdoor digital signs are not desirable, as they can lead to dissatisfaction among passersby, which is contrary to their intended purpose.

The quality of outdoor signage filters is tested in the summer and especially in the fall when leaves fall from the trees. Digital signage manufacturers highly recommend checking and cleaning filters during the fall. Through this maintenance process, the system administrator can prevent future major failures. It's crucial for manufacturers to consider this and ensure a simple and quick cleaning/replacement process. It's worth emphasizing that any thermal management approach, such as heat exchange technology, requires at least annual cleaning of air vents.

Some outdoor systems are intelligent enough to automatically determine when filters need cleaning or replacement. For instance, imotion FLOW systems feature an integrated pressure difference switch. This device measures the pressure difference before and after the air filter. When the difference exceeds the standard value, it indicates that the filter no longer has the required permeability and needs cleaning or replacement. The outdoor unit automatically notifies the system administrator about this issue in real time through email alerts. To facilitate swift maintenance, imotion FLOW systems use industrial air-filter cassettes that can be replaced with ease.

Consequently, the frequency of on-site visits will not be 'administrative,' but rather based on the actual demand or need of each kiosk in its specific location.

Thermal Management

Cold and heat can significantly impact LCD screens. Effective thermal management mitigates these effects, minimizing environmental temperature's influence and ensuring superior image quality, energy efficiency, and reduced component wear.

Controlmotion

When issues occur that threaten business continuity, system administrator are under intense pressure to swiftly resolve them. Controlmotion facilitates resolution of critical display issues through automatic email notifications, advanced display monitoring and expert technical assistance.