The decision of what type of light box to buy can be somewhat confusing if you do not analyze the unique properties that each light box has, and weight these properties against a list of prioritized reasons for which you are purchasing a light box. The following is a list of things to consider when purchasing your light box.

1. Aesthetics: Does the look of the light box weigh heavy on your purchasing decision? If it does, then the first choice would be that of color - "black" or "satin silver". Displays2go offers the convenience of stocking all three models [LED, CCFL, T5] in both options. Then, beyond choosing color, you should look at the profile of the frame. The newest breakthrough in light box technology is the emergence of LED's. By utilizing very small footprint LED lamps, the frame of the light box can be reduced down to .83 inches thick. This is less than 1" thick! This LED light box is not even a box: It is a panel! It has a very sleek and thin look when mounted to your wall. If I were purchasing for a high-end department store, this is elegant look I would want to portray. See profile differences below:
   
   

Electrical Consumption: This is not a consideration one usually puts at the top of the priority list when purchasing light box panels, but believe it or not, it is a very important factor. It is a fact that in Israel, there has been a mandate for airports to replace all existing, previously installed T5 and T8 light box panels with LED based light boxes. Because of this, light box manufacturers and suppliers are scrambling to source and bid on over 1500 new LED light boxes that need to be installed. The premise of this directive is primarily based on electrical savings. If you look at the power consumption of a traditional T5 light box, and compare it to either CCFL or LED light boxes, you will quickly see that there is "payoff" to be had over the years due to electrical savings. See this comparison chart of electrical savings for a typical, 24" x 36" sized light box. Some institutions may even have several light boxes installed throughout their facility or retail environment. Multiply these savings by many installed light boxes and the math becomes easy: CCFL is best, closely followed by LED. T5 lamps burn the money. See chart below.

3. Who is Going to Change the Bulb? This is a very important consideration that most purchasers don't even think about up front. Do you have a full-time, reliable janitorial or facilities management staff? Will you be shutting down each light box at the end of each business day, and turning them back on in the morning? Don't kid yourself, this virtually never happens! Traditional T5 light boxes have bulbs that last about 1.5 years if you are leaving the light box on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When just one of two bulbs dies, a huge cold spot [shadow] appears on your light box. Will a janitorial person quickly take notice, have extra T5 bulbs on hand, and come quick for a bulb change-out? Will the box sit idle for days on end, half lit up and half in shadows? The maintenance and bulb change-out is simple, but like mowing your lawn or cleaning your gutters, it can be an annoying and often procrastinated chore. So, if bulb changing is not your thing, don't choose T5 technology.

CCFL have a more difficult symptom: Their bulbs are very difficult to change because they are very thin and installed into the light box frame in an integrate manner. Unless you have a knack for tinkering, or some craftsman-type ability, these light boxes usually need to be returned to the factory for bulb replacement. The good point is that CCFL bulbs will last 4 to 5 years [if leaving the light box on 24 hours per day, 7 days per week]. Believe it or not, for smaller light panels - less than 27" x 41" - many customers can justify the cost/benefit after about 5 years; they will just reorder a new light box when their old CCFL light box starts to deteriorate. This is one reason why we only offer CCFL light boxes in smaller footprints [sizes up to 27" x 41"]. Larger footprints tend to become more permanent fixtures, installed into walls at airports and so-forth. Un-mounting the light box to change the bulb, or to return the entire light box back to the factory, can be a huge burden. We personally are willing to change the light bulb if it is returned to our factory, but then your have to deal with UN-mounting the fixture, looking at an eyesore on the wall during shipping time, and trying to find packaging necessary to return the light box to the factory unharmed. For smaller sized menu board and display stand applications, however, the CCFL lamp can be a good choice - especially when you can justify replacing the light box after 5 years. Also, the price of the light box 5 years from now will probably be a fraction of today's cost.

LED light boxes have a life of about 100,000 hours of life! For all practical purposes, this light box is going to last and last 100,000 hours divided by 8760 hours per year= 11.41 years]. You will spend a bit more on the upfront purchase, but you will get payback in both convenience and cost-savings from bulb replacement [labor and materials].

Brightness: We have designed and specified all of our light boxes to be of good quality brightness. This means that they will all have an above average LUX, which is the measurement for brightness. We see many competitors selling "sub-par" light boxes, which when turned on have minimal LUX or brightness. In very general terms, a light box should have the following LUX measurements:

1. Excellent, Very Bright: above 2000 LUX
2. Very Good, Good Brightness: between 1750 and 2000 LUX
3. Basic Brightness: between 1600 and 1750 LUX
4. Unacceptable Brightness: below 1600 LUX
   
   

We are talking about average brightness throughout the light panel. Our light boxes have technology designed to transfer the brightest light, which initially occurs next to the light bulb located at the edge of the panel, to the center of the light box. This is opposite of logic! How can a light box be brighter in the middle, away from the light bulbs that are positioned on the edge? It is through specially engraved or printed patterns in the sub-acrylic back panel that channel the light in this desired manner.

1. If you want brightness, if you want the ultimate impression, than T5 light boxes are the best. They are, without a doubt, the strongest in brightness, often measuring in excess of 3500 LUX! You do, however, pay for this brightness in additional wattage and electrical consumption. But these T5's are bright!
2. Both CCFL and LED have similar LUX readings at applicable sizes. The CCFL often measures a bit better than the LED, but to the naked eye, this would not be noticeable. Only when measured with a light meter.
   
   
5. Budget: A very tricky question to answer: "apparent budget" or "true budget"? "Apparent budget" refers to the initial purchase price, while "true budget" reflects the true cost after factoring in electrical consumption and the cost of bulb replacements.
   
   
   1. T5 light boxes are the cheapest; they have the lowest "apparent budget", but can easily cost more then the most expensive LED light box after 4 to 5 years of use.
   2. CCFL light boxes are in the range of the T5 with "apparent budget", only costing slightly more than T5's. Electrical consumption savings, however, will soon pay for this difference. After just one year, the electrical savings with a CCFL box will be more than the initial cost difference between the T5 and CCFL box
   3. LED light boxes are by far the most expensive for "apparent budget", but this premium can quickly be justified [money saved from operating] over a few years. Adding together the combination of electrical efficiency [very good], bulbs that last forever [11 years], and sleek profile, it often benefits to "pay-up" and invest more today on the initial purchase.
      
      
6. Environment: All fluorescent bulbs (CCFL & T5), from tubes to compacts, contain a small amount of mercury vapor to create the light. Intact bulbs are not considered hazardous, but when thrown away, the bulbs get crushed and the mercury is released. Though it is a small amount of mercury that would not harm you on an occasional basis many countries have deemed the bulbs hazardous waste. Agencies such as the European Waste Catalogue (EWC), Environment Agency in the UK, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US have guidelines for disposing of these lamps. The EWC for example, requires that hazardous and non-hazardous waste be disposed of in separate landfills. Most agencies advocate that fluorescent lamps should be sent for recycling as a way of better managing the waste. Companies such as SustainaLite (www.sustainalie.co.uk) list organizations on their website that provide recycling services and in the US most state or city websites provide information. The once acceptable practice of throwing them away is no longer acceptable and users of fluorescent lamps have "Duty of Care" to dispose of lamps properly. While rules and regulations for disposal vary, during the life of the bulb practicing energy conservation techniques is always encouraged. Fluorescent bulbs offer great environmental advantages in that they convert electricity into illumination three to five times as efficiently as incandescent lights thus using less energy and lamp life is longer.