What You Need to Know about Outdoor LED Video Walls

Video walls are a popular way to convey information, tell a story, and engage an audience with a multimedia presentation. Not only can they be used indoors in office lobbies, retail stores, or large meeting spaces, but they can also go outdoors on an even bigger canvas.

Whenever you take electronic technology outdoors, you have some different things to consider. Naturally, weather resistance is the first thing that will come to mind. But there are quite a few other questions you should consider as well. Keep reading below to learn more about what you should think about as you plan your outdoor LED video wall project in Phoenix, AZ.

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Outdoor Considerations

Of course, an outdoor LED video wall needs to be weather resistant. You should consider its location – will it get full sun for many hours, be subject to heavy rain, etc. Outdoor panels have ratings, usually expressed in standard IPX nomenclature, regarding how resistant they are to dirt, dust, water intrusion, and moisture. A prime consideration in the Phoenix area is the sun – the desert sun and its high heat can quickly wear anything down.

The other critical consideration is brightness. Typically, outdoor panels need to be up to three times brighter than indoor ones, and that number is usually denoted in nits, as in 1000 nits.

Viewing Distance

Just as seating distance is a prime consideration when you choose the size of a TV or projector screen for a media room, the viewing distance of your outdoor video wall is important too. You will need higher resolution panels and tighter pixel pitch the closer your wall will be viewed. As a very general guideline, you want a distance of about 3 feet per 1mm of resolution. For a massive video wall on the side of the building, you can use lower resolution panels that will also be less costly.

Installation Considerations

How will your outdoor video wall be mounted? There are a couple of basic methods for outdoor installations. A ground-supported installation is a relatively simple solution. While panel manufacturers tend to have custom-designed brackets for mounting, these can be used to mount on standard trusses.

Some panels can be wall-mounted directly to a wall. This type of panel may be more expensive but allows for a flush and clean installation. These panels will also feature a way to service them from the front as the rear will not be easily accessible without removal.

Other Features

Depending on what you'll show on your video wall, the panel refresh rate is also essential. You need a high refresh rate for broadcast video to avoid moiré lines, the kind you see when you take a video of a TV screen due to refresh rate mismatches. Higher refresh panels, as in consumer TVs, are also more expensive.

Maintenance, ease of servicing, and warranty support are also crucial considerations. Look for software that can monitor panel health and report malfunctions. Some panels are also designed with simplified access and additional modularity to simplify servicing and repairs without unmounting the panel for some issues.

Level 3 Audiovisual is Arizona’s leading expert in both indoor and outdoor LED video walls. Let us help you imagine, design, and build your video wall solution. To get started, reach out to us here or click the chatbox below to connect instantly. We look forward to working with you.