Coping with Sunlight – Using Outdoor LCD Systems

There has been a growing trend for outdoorbe considered when installing an outdoor TV
entertainment in recent years. This is partly duesystem – even in an LCD enclosure.
to the recent smoking ban but also there seemsOne of the most overlooked aspects of using
to be a cultural shift with more and more peopleLCD TVs outdoors is the effect direct sunlight
opting to sit outside restaurants, bars and pubs.can have on the screen. Not only can sunlight
Keeping clientele entertained in thesecause hotspots, areas of high temperature that
environments is becoming big business too andcan lead to permanent scarring of the LCD or
there is a growing demand for outdoor LCD TVplasma screen but also direct sunlight can mean a
systems. There are specific outdoor LCDTV system in the sun can be near impossible to
TV’s available but these are relativelysee.
expensive in comparison to standard TV systems.Obviously for pubs, bars and restaurants that
However, a standard off-the-shelf TV can’tmainly cater for customers in the evening this is
cope with the elements of having to operatenot much of a concern however, more and more
outdoors but they can be housed in outdoor LCDpeople these days are using LCD enclosures for
enclosures.outdoor digital signage purposes.
LCD enclosures are fantastic for allowing standardTo prevent the direct sunlight from preventing
TV systems to operate outdoors. They areyour images from being seen then it is possible to
waterproof and most often dustproof too so thatprovide anti-glare glass on the LCD enclosure
any airborne debris and dust does not penetrateensuring the screen can be seen even when the
the enclosure. They are also manufactured in solidsun is directly reflected on it.
steel with shatterproof glass to prevent accidentalHotspots can also be dealt with by passing an
of deliberate damage.airflow over the screen to carry away any build
However, there are other aspects that need toup of heat.