Plasma, LED, or LCD for Outdoor – Advantages and Disadvantages

Outdoor digital signage is growing industry with over ten percent of all outdoor advertisements now a digital screen of some shape or another. The screens used for digital advertising are, in essence, the same sort of devices that we use in our homes, although commonly they are of a more durable commercial variety.

There essentially three flavours of modern flat screen TV devices: the plasma, LED and the LCD.  LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) uses a crystal fluid between two plates that when electrified produces and image. This is then illuminated by a backlight to create the TV image. LED TVs work in a similar way using liquid crystal except that the backlight is generated by the tiny light emitting diodes.

Plasma on the other hand uses completely different technology, rather than using liquid crystal it has a sheet of plasma (a state of matter beyond to solid, liquid, or gas) which, when electrified, is activated to create the image.

There are advantages and disadvantages to all three systems. Plasmas are bright and require no backlight, LCDs are cheaper to produce and last a long time; LEDs have similar properties but are slightly more expensive but use less power while plasmas tend to be brighter and have a better picture quality.

But which is best for outdoor digital signage?

Well there are advantages and disadvantages to all systems. Strictly speaking plasma screens are good for outdoor locations because of the wider contrast range; however, they also generate a lot of heat that can cause problems but the viewing range is better.

LCD screens are more commonly used now as they are more reliable and with the advent of high brightness screens they are now more common than plasmas, especially with LED backlit screens that have better contrast and brightness.

Whatever option people decide to use, protection for outdoor digital signage is readily available in the from of an outdoor LCD enclosure which will contain either type of television and will protect it from the weather, vandalism and temperature.