LEDs, the power supplies and give you the correct spacing." He added that some LED vendors will do an on-site lunch-and-learn for signage manufacturers and installers. This prevents problems like overloading the power supply or not having the right distance between letters and power supply in the field. Other practical tips include the avoidance of crimp connectors. "We've found many failures here, and a well-sized wired nut installed correctly has a far lower percentage rate," Brown said. I talked about reliability and the data behind a 50,000 hour lifetime (12 years at 12 hours/day, for instance). Rated lumen maintenance life reflects the time during which LEDs will retain 70% of their original output (i.e., an LED's practical life). But signage life- The Goodwill sign in green and blue stands apart from the red, yellow and white channels we see most often. time can be limited by the power supply or other components. Fiveyear warranties were recommended by all veterans. Brown went further to advocate for warranties covering complete signage installation, all components and labor for repairs, if they can be found. johnnystm@stamm-mfg.com * glenn@stamm-mfg.com signsofthetimes.com 27http://www.stamm-mfg.com http://www.signsofthetimes.com