LED Lights Box

How much electricity does the lighting in neon consume? In this era of increasing the cost of energy, this question is becoming increasingly crucial.

Illuminated logos and letters are frequently the mainstays of branding identity and ideas for interior design. It’s not feasible to turn off the lights to save electricity. Illuminated advertisements serve a crucial purpose and can’t be evaluated based on cost-benefit analysis.

It is nonetheless sensible to be aware of the power consumption of LED-based products and neon tubes. We will employ concrete examples to help find the root of the issue and then compare our findings with typical household appliances.

LED neons consume power

Advertising with LED neon signs is extremely efficient in energy use. The majority of electricity is utilized to generate light. This is contrary to traditional light bulbs that generate a great deal of heat.

LED neon Flex is available in the range between 12 and 24 volts, with a lifespan of more than 50 years. LED-based products usually require only one transformer (power supply units).

It is simple to determine the amount of power used by the LED neon sign. The following parameters are needed to be considered: power in watts the length of LED tubes in meters (m) and operating time in hours, and time (h).

It is sensible to estimate the energy consumption per hour to be able to extrapolate to longer durations later. The typical power consumption of LED neon is around 9 Watts per square meter (W/m). A logo or lettering which is 5m long will use 45 watts per hour. 9W/mx5mx1h equals 45 W/h or 0.045 Kilowatt Hours.

You can now extrapolate power consumption for months and years. It’s also related to the length of time that the LED neon sign remains up during the night. Let’s suppose that the illuminated logo is on for 8 hours per day.

Example 1: LED Neon “Ick bin een Berliner Original”

Adidas Flagship Store Berlin

Let’s demonstrate how to perform this mathematical calculation using an example that is concrete that is this LED neon mounted on a dibond plate we designed to be used in the Berlin Adidas flagship store in 2020.

The sign that is illuminated measures 200x50cm in total. The neon LED tubes measure 6 meters in length.

Let’s say the neon sign is in use for ten hours, six days per week.

This LED neon uses approximately around 168 kW per year in energy. The more exact you can be to estimate the cost and the demand, the more straightforward it is.

Glass Neon’s power consumption

The energy usage of traditional neon tubes (i.e. It is harder to estimate the energy consumption of neon tubes made from bent glass tubes than it is for LED neon. The length of the tubes isn’t the only element. Also, we have to take into consideration the thickness of the tube (between 8 to 18mm) and the strength of the transformer model, the number of transformers required as well as the quantity and types of systems (individual components of the neon). The issue of the amount of power used by neon tubes is a difficult one to answer.

Example 2. Glass Neon Credit Card

N26 Office Berlin

Let’s take a look at a different example of the neon color Classic Blue that has been in the Berlin office of N26 since 2021.

To control the neon (which is approximate. 100x 64cm and is comprised of seven glass structures.

We won’t list the complete solution path at this point. It is crucial to take into consideration an accurate estimate of the length and quantity of cables connecting the two systems. Also, be aware that there exists a “voltage curve” that is made of glass neon. The voltage is settled at around 60% of its maximum output after a time because neon transformers self-regulate. In this instance, the energy amount is 0.29 kWh. If the neon is on for 8 hours every weekday this would translate into an annual average consumption of 603 kWh.

The result is not generalizable. The design and size of every neon sign determine its precise power consumption.

A comparison of power consumption for neon

Which devices consume the most power?

In the next section, we’ll take a look at some of the household appliances that can help you comprehend your energy needs.

All numbers are estimates. The actual power consumption will be contingent on the size of the model and efficiency in energy use and the frequency at which you wash the laundry. Three times washing laundry every week will be more effective than a single cycle of washing.

• Notebooks: A notebook consumes between 15 to 22 kWh per year.
• Dishwasher: A dishwasher that measures around 60 centimeters in width (multi-person household) can use 70-80 kWh per year.
• Refrigerator: A refrigerator of medium size within the top energy efficiency class could consume up to the equivalent of 125 kWh per year.
• Washing machine Most commercially-available washing machines need 200 kWh annually.
• Television: A flatscreen TV with a 55-inch diagonal screen consumes 225 kWh each year.

With 129.6kWh The LED neon above is located in the middle of the range. Take into consideration that many of the appliances in this article are only used occasionally and neon signs are typically used for longer durations of time, which is why you could certainly consider it an energy-efficient product.

Bonus question: Do dim (LED) neons use less power?

The simple answer is yes. The answer is simple: yes. It is important to know that control and dimming systems may be integrated into the illuminated signs, and require electricity to run. It is important to know this before you decide to commission the sign. In addition, dimmed (LED) neons use less energy.

Our LED neon lights can be dimmed using the use of a remote or controller. The option to choose this is available within the Neon Configurator.

The manual dimming of glass-based neon is done by switching the rotary switch on the power source. You can also choose the dimmable transformer within the Neoconfiguration.

We hope that you find this article useful.

Find more details about our products on our Neon product page and in our Catalogue of Products. If you have any questions about the product, please get in touch with us.