Outdoor Screens – Aspects of Protection

Using modern flat screen TVs outdoors is increasingly becoming common. Outdoor digital signage, advertising screens, information screens and outdoor entertainment are just some of the reasons people deploy LCD or plasma screens in an outdoor location. Whatever the reason for the outdoor screen, protection is essential if the display is going to operate without failure.

LCD enclosures play a crucial role in using screens outdoors, providing several crucial aspects to protection, which are all essential if the screen is to function in an outdoor environment:

Weather protection for Outdoor Screens

Weatherization is the most obvious form of protection required for an outdoor screen. Keeping the rain and other weather elements away from the screen is essential. Even a few droplets of water can disable an LCD or plasma screen; furthermore, if water is allowed to penetrate the screen it can lead to safety issues, causing possible electrocution.

Outdoor LCD enclosures provide a waterproof barrier designed to keep rainfall and other elements away from the screen. They also ensure dust and other airborne debris cannot penetrate inside the display, which can be just as disabling.

Temperature Control for Outdoor Screens

With temperatures varying from one extreme to the other during the different seasons, ensuring the enclosed display are always at the correct operating temperature is another crucial aspect in using an outdoor display.

Again, LCD enclosures have a solution for variable temperatures by using cooling fans, heaters, insulation and even air-conditioning—depending on what the ambient conditions ask for, ensuring the enclosed display is always within its optimum range.

Sun Defense for Outdoor Screens

Coping with sunlight is another factor that needs considering with an outdoor display. Sunlight can cause three problems: Firstly, the glare from the sun can cause reflection issues making the screen unreadable; secondly, sunlight can overpower the brightness of the screen also causing viewing issues, and thirdly, sunlight beaming directly on to a screen face can lead to permanent burn marks, disfiguring the screen.

Many LCD enclosures are fitted with anti-reflective layers to cope with reflection; however, when it comes to coping with the sun’s brightness, a high brightness device is highly recommended, which should provide enough contrast to make the screen visible in bright sunlight.

When it comes to protecting the screen from burn, several different methods are used, including a steady filter of cool air blown across the screen face to carry the heat away.

Impact Protection for Outdoor Screens

Preventing accidental damage and the device from falling foul of vandalism is another crucial aspect to outdoor protection. LCD enclosures are manufactured from tough steel, utilizing shatterproof screens and tamper-proof locks to provide a tough and vandal-proof solution to outdoor TV use.