LED technology is becoming affordable and new applications are being discovered for utilizing LED in the sign industry. Did you know those little green or red lights on your desktop computer are LED's? They are not the super bright LED technology of today's generation used in the sign industry though.
随着科技的发展，使用LED技术的成本越来低，而且在标识行业中使用LED的新应用正在不断被开发。你知道台式计算机显示屏上的那些小绿灯或小红灯就是LED的吗？尽管如此，它们并不是目前这一代用于标识行业中最高级的LED技术。
Look around; LED illumination is just about everywhere. The technology known as LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode. Commercial vehicle taillights, some auto taillights, in your mouse, on key rings, in flashlights, alarm systems, emergency exit signs, toys, underwater pool lighting, wall washer lighting, video displays, POP illumination and yes, signs.
环视四周：LED照明几乎无处不在。LED是发光二极管的缩写，可用于商用车尾灯、自行车尾灯、鼠标、钥匙环、手电筒、报警系统、紧急出口标识、玩具、水下泳池照明、投影灯照明、电子显示屏、POP照明和各种标识制作中。
For the last two years the LED application arena has taken great strides. The good news is that this greater usage will result in even lower prices and more options. Several companies offer LED "cluster" lighting fixtures that can generate millions of color changes randomly and/or are controlled to create various colored lighting effects. Think of it as a video display used to create color effects instead of images, and you’ll get the idea.
在过去的两年里，LED在各大应用领域都取得了长足的进步，而这种应用涉及范围越广，则购买的成本就会越低，选择也会更多。一些公司可以提供LED灯束式的照明灯具，这种灯具可以随机生成数百万种颜色变化或是根据后台控制来创建各种色彩的照明效果。如果你不太理解我的意思，你可以把这种灯具看作是用来创建色彩效果而不是图像的视频显示器，你就能明白。

Accepting LED
迎接LED的未来
As with all new technology, the "current" status quo gets offended and either totally puts its head in the sand or strikes out with innuendos. We sign people only have to remember the Gerber 4 to draw a parallel to the future. LED technology will be used more and more in the sign industry because it offers so many advantages. It is affordable, and there are so many technology companies doing research and finding new markets and applications to replace the status quo, not just in the sign industry, but all markets.
正如所有的新技术初次出现一样，当现有的氛围被打破，人们要么将“自己的头埋进沙子里”拒绝接受，要么就对此项新技术持怀疑的态度，而我们告诉人们要向Gerber公司学习，对未来充满希望。LED技术将越来越多地应用于标识行业，因为它具备很多优点。大部分公司都是有能力负担得起的，不仅是标识行业，现在几乎所有行业的科技公司都在进行研究和寻找新的市场和应用来改变现状。

LED technology brings so many benefits to the table that many traditions will change, just as it did with the Gerber type equipment. Another easy to understand parallel, are cell phones and computers. Just look at the options today and remember that just about 15 years ago you were fussing because you had to get a new phone line for your business facsimile machine to keep up with competitors and your customer’s needs.
LED技术为现代社会带来了诸多好处，许多传统习惯将会被改变，就像Gerber公司的设备不断更新换代一样。你可以类比手机和电脑的发展轨迹，对比今天的各种选择，在大约15年前，你很容易陷入困扰之中，为了与商业对手进行竞争和满足客户的需求，你必须为你的商业传真机购买一条新的电话线。
Today, we have at least six companies offering their version of an LED system to light your illuminated letters and even border tube options with LED. Rest assured, there will be more. Like all new technologies, not all versions will develop to maturity, so keep that in mind when you are looking at new options.
而今天，我们至少拥有六家公司可以提供各种版本的LED系统来点亮照明标识，甚至可以为你提供LED的灯管。随着时代的发展，会源源不断地出现新技术，但并非所有的技术都能发展发到一个成熟的阶段，因此你在做出选择时应该记住这一点。

Technology Awareness
技术意识
Not all LED systems are equal in their presentation or mounting recommendations. Take special note of the differences in the applications of each product specifically for each application. This is not to say there is a bad system in this lot. It is just to say that each vendor solution has a different approach and biases to what the sign industry needs. For instance, if you were to bid one system for any given project as your choice, but are then called on to bid a new job that specifies another system, you will need to take precautions to know the differences.
并非所有的LED系统在展示或是安装设置方面都是相同的步骤，我们需要特别注意每种产品在不同应用中的使用差异。这并不是说每个系统都存在问题，而是说每个供应商提供的解决方案都不尽相同，但都偏向于标识行业的需要。例如，如果你原本已经根据你的需要选择好了投标的系统项目，但随后又被要求进行另外一个系统的投标任务，此时，你就需要采取预防措施以了解不同项目之间的差异。
Let's look at some differences in LED's as used for the sign industry and what you might need to know to make a proper buying decision. Right now between the six dominant companies, they have warranties anywhere from one to five years. There are also four distinct product differences:
让我们看看用于标识行业的LED系统的差异，以及你可能需要知道的如何做出正确购买决定的方法。目前在六家主流标识公司之间，他们均可以提供1~5年的保修期。以下是四种不同的产品差异：

a rigid multiple LED array
坚固的复合型LED阵列
individual LED's
单个的LED系统
arrays of five LED's
五个LED的阵列
a flexible twelve-inch strip that can be bent to shape and cut to length.
柔性的12英寸长条，可弯曲成型或切割成需要的长度。
One vendor uses the "return" or side of the letter for mounting the LED’s as an indirect light source. The others are typically mounted for direct beam illumination on the back or for halo applications on the backside of the face. For voltage regulation, some use resistors on their PCB (Printed Circuit Board) while another requires a separate amplifier to guarantee the proper voltage to each LED. When it comes to connecting the LED's, some have plug-in connectors for multiple connections and others require a solid core wire.
其中一家供应商将LED作为间接光源安装在发光字的反射通道或是侧面，而别的供应商通常会将LED作为定向照明光束或是光晕照明安装在发光字的背部面板上。针对电压调节方面，一些供应商会将电阻器安装在他们的PCB（印刷电路板）上，而另一些则需要安装单独的放大器来保证适合每个LED系统的正确电压。当连接LED时，有些连接器可以进行多向连接，而有些连接器则需要实心的芯线才能相互连接。
Just as the vendors offer various warranties, the same is true of the prices of the different systems. Even though I know the price points, it would not be my position to offer that information. Just be aware that there is a broad range of prices and materials for any one of these systems.
正如供应商提供各种担保一样，不同的系统价格也不尽相同。尽管我知道零售价位，但提供这些信息并不是我的责任。请注意，这些系统中的任何一个系统都有各种各样的价格和材料选择。

Seek Out The Answers
找出解决方案
As is my usual position, it is your job to do the research and determine the differences of these systems. It is also your responsibility to ask your potential vendor questions about their recommendations on how to illuminate any given application. Ask the right questions and make sure that you know the following, relative to each system:
根据我的日常工作，我的任务就是进行研究并确定LED不同系统之间的差异。我也有责任向潜在供应商询问关于如何照亮任意特定应用程序的建议。提出正确的问题，并确保你知道与每个系统相关的以下内容：
1.Know and understand the necessary materials.
1.认识并了解必要的材料。
2.Know and understand the vendors specs for the quantities recommended.
2.认识并了解供应商在规格数量方面的建议。
3.Know and understand the voltage requirements at the illuminated LED's.
3.认识并了解LED照明光源的电压要求。
4.Know and understand the code requirements.
4.认识并了解LED系统的适用标准。
5.Know and understand the power consumption of not only each system, but of the different colors, as they have different consumption needs.
5.不仅要了解每个系统的功耗，还要了解不同颜色的功耗，因为颜色的功耗也有不同的需求。
6.Ask the vendor if they will provide pricing support and what happens if you need more or less materials?
6.询问供应商是否会提供价格方面的支持，以及如果你需要更多或是更少的材料会发生什么情况？
7.Ask the vendor if they will provide industry and application specific detailed drawings?
7.询问供应商是否会提供行业和特定应用产品的详细图示？
8.Ask for and get in some form of a hard copy, the warranty information and when the warranty starts.
8.寻求并获得一些系统的复件、保修信息以及保修的起止日期。
9.Ask for some form of illumination data, especially if you have not seen the system, and be sure to check for the different colors.
9.问清每种款式的照明数据，特别是如果你没有看到该系统，一定要对不同的照明颜色进行检查。
You may have more or less questions, but make sure you have the proper information not only to make the right buying decision, but also to support your customer’s needs.
你可能还有更多或更少的问题，但要确保你所获取的信息都是正确的，这不仅能够帮你做出正确的购买决定，还能够保障你的客户需求。

Power Supply
电源
An issue that has reared its ugly head as related to the power supplies is "need-to-know" information that has not been freely offered by some of the vendors, specifically the UL48 rating and guidelines. The UL rating for LED low voltage systems is based on using a Class Two power supply. A Class Two power supply is a plug-in wall unit like the type you might use for your cell phone charger. Now think about this for a minute: This means that to technically meet the UL inspector's guidelines in your shop during fabrication, you have to use the plug-in type, Class Two power supply. The end user and their electrician must provide an array of multiple plug-in receptacles according to where you will need them. This can sometimes be a costly challenge. On the other hand, the more commercial AC/DC power supplies that have to be hard-wired are not acceptable at the sign shop fabrication level for UL inspector approval. So again, "Buyer Beware” and/or “Fabricator Beware" of this needed specification in your planning.
与电源相关的一个问题是，一些“需要了解”的信息，供应商们有没有及时免费提供，特别是在UL48评级方面可参考的信息。LED低电压系统的UL评级以二级电源为标准。二级电源是一种插入式墙壁装置，类似于你用于手机充电器的类型。这就意味着，在生产制作的过程中，为了在技术上满足UL检查员的参考标准，你必须使用插入式二级电源。终端用户和电工必须根据你的需要提供一个多插件的插座阵列，这将会成为一个成本高昂的尝试。另一方面，在UL检查员对标识商店规定的制造标准中，更商业化的交流/直流电源必须使用硬连线控制器。因此，在你的生产计划中，需要“买方注意”或“制造商注意”这一必备需求。
The larger more commercial hard-wired units are beneficial as they can illuminate more LED's, but it is only the Class Two units that are acceptable for in-shop fabrication and the UL inspector. On the other hand, if your LED vendor has ETL certification, here is how it works: At the job site, if the inspector shows up, and you are using the larger commercial power supplies (hard-wired units), they have to accept them, as ETL has to be accepted, if UL is required. Not knowing this could cause a lot of headache and name-calling. It is your choice as to how you want to handle this, but just be aware of the code differences and the way they affect you, especially if you are a UL shop.
大型的商用硬连线控制器是非常有用的，因为它们可以帮助照亮更多的LED，但它只可用于车间制造和UL检查员的二级电源应用中。另一方面，如果你的LED供应商拥有ETL认证，那么它的作用就体现在：如果检查员出现在工作现场，并且你正在使用大型的商用电源（硬连线控制器），在UL被承认的前提下，那么检查员必须接受他们，因为你拥有ETL认证。不了解这些情况，可能会给你招致很多的麻烦。如何解决这些事情是你的选择，但是你需要了解每种系统不同的适用标准以及对你的影响，尤其是当你作为一个持有UL认证的商店时。

Power savings are a real advantage to the end user when looking at LED vs. neon. As usual there is a lot of misinformation about power consumption between these two illumination sources. Regardless, for the red spectrum of LED vs. red neon there is a savings anywhere from 40 to 70% average and up to 90% in the white spectrum (vs. mercury based neon colors). If you are using 60ma transformers, it could be an even greater savings. At least one of the LED vendors offers a factual power consumption chart that you can adjust for hours of operation and the kWh rate. You can also plug in the neon transformer information and have factual numbers to use as a selling tool.
在对比LED与霓虹灯时，节能对于终端用户来说是一个真正的优势选择。通常，这两个照明源之间存在很多关于功耗的错误信息。无论如何，在光谱中LED选择的红色与霓虹灯的红色相比，可以达到40-70％的节能功效；甚至在光谱中LED选择的白色与银白色的霓虹灯相比可以达到高达90％的节能功效。如果你使用60ma变压器，则可能会节省更多。你可以根据现有提供的实际功耗图表来调整运行小时数和kWh率。你还可以插入霓虹灯变压器信息，并将实际数据用作销售时的参考。
In closing, you will see more and more LED usage in the sign industry and all industries for that matter. It is only a matter of time before choice or demand will involve you. Good luck in your endeavors to keep your customers happy, because if you don’t, someone else will.
在未来，你将看到标识行业和所有行业的LED使用量越来越多，因为选择和需求而涉足这个行业只是时间问题。你需要做的就是尽力让你的客户满意，祝你好运。