Considerations when Specifying an LED Videowall
As is often the case, if you look in the internet you will find many opinions on how to specify a video wall, and in most cases that advice will include a bewildering array of ‘considerations’ to be taken into account. In reality, there are only a few key considerations; the rest are secondary or dependant considerations and are therefore defined by the primary choices you make. The following table is not an exhaustive list, but rather cuts through industry jargon to give you an essential guide to Considerations when Specifying an LED Videowall.
The final consideration is regarding the budget allocated to the installation and the expected longevity of the wall. Within the wall there are two options for the cabling, copper or gold. Although gold is considerably more expensive, it does offer demonstrable advantages over copper in terms of performance and the life expectancy of the wall. Especially for walls mounted outside, gold may actually offer a more cost effective alternative over time, when compared to copper.
Primary Considerations
Minimum Viewing Distance
This is the shortest distance at which the screen’s image can be viewed without pixelation being seen.
Location
LED walls can be installed inside (including in direct sunlight) or outside (although planning permission is often required for external walls).
Power Consumption
The power consumption of an LED video wall is measured in watts and is dependent on-screen size, brightness, and any peripheral devices attached. Two figures should be calculated, the average and maximum consumption.
Secondary Considerations
Pixel Pitch
The pixel pitch is the distance in mm between the individual pixels. The smaller the pixel pitch, the higher the resolution of the screen. As a rule of thumb, the pixel pitch in mm will give the minimum viewing distance in metres.
Brightness
The brightness of an LED wall is measured in nits or candelas per square meter (cd/m²) and is specified according to the ambient lighting conditions.
It is worth mentioning that many modern screens are dimmable and can be fitted with a light sensor so they will react to the ambient lighting level.
Electrical Requirements
Although, when assessing running costs, the average power consumption can be used, there is also a maximum consumption level which must be calculated; for instance, when the wall first boots up.
The electrical requirements of the wall should always be matched to the maximum consumption figure.
Further Considerations
Resolution
The resolution of an LED wall is the number of pixels in the display. However, as an LED wall can be made to virtually any size, scaling processors are often used to fill the screen with the correct resolution image.
IP Ratings
IP ratings indicate the level of protection against ambient environmental conditions. A high IP rating should be specified for installations where the wall needs to withstand water, such as outdoors. For such an installation an IP rating of 68 would be normal.
Heat
The BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating is the measures used to calculate the amount of heat generated by a video wall. Cooling and/or ventilation requirements will be defined by the BTU rating of the wall.