LED FAQs

Get the facts, then prepare to be enlightened. 

1.  How long do LEDs last and what is the degradation/failure?
When operated properly, LEDs do not burn out like existing products, but rather dim over time. The current standard for rating the “lifetime” of an LED is the point at which the light produced is only 70% of the initial value. Under proper operating conditions, LEDs can have a lifetime exceeding 50,000 hrs (> 6 years of continuous operation.)

2. Why are LEDs so energy efficient?
Light-emitting diodes are a special type of transistor that uses the electricity to create an electric field inside the tiny chip. This electric field enables the very highly efficient creation of light inside the chip. Unfortunately, due to tiny defects at an atomic level and optics of packaging surrounding the chip, some of this light never escapes to the outside world where we can see it. Today, the best chips are producing about 30% of their theoretically expected efficiency, but many industry experts are confident that this value could be increased to 60% or greater in the years ahead.

3. Cost/payback?
Currently, LEDs are more expensive than traditional light sources, but the performance of the LED chips themselves continuously improve at about 30% per year at a fixed price point. While many factors contribute to the payback of this additional up-front investment, LED lighting uses 50% to 80% less electricity than conventional sources and enjoys a greatly enhanced interval between replacements by a factor of up to 20x.

4. What Voltage do your LED modules run at and can I mix colors/modules?
All of Permlight for signs LED modules run at 12VDC no matter the module series or color. This enables the user to mix all products in one application. You can also wire in our current modules with the very first system we developed nearly 10 years ago making repairs to a sign simple.

5. How far can I remotely mount your power supply from an LED?
The following chart shows the maximum bus wire length depending on the LED driver load and wire gauge:



6. Can voltage drop occur in a long run of modules?
Yes, Permlight factors voltage drop into the design of each module however it can still occur. To help illuminate this problem, Permlight recommends using a 14 gauge minimum bus wire to connect the letters to the power supply. Daisy chaining letters especially in large applications uses extra wire which contributes to this problem.

7. Is there a right way to wire your LED’s?
Yes, All our modules are polarity sensitive. The gray wire must be connected to the negative and the white to the positive. Hooking up in reverse polarity does not affect the modules.

8. How do I mount/install your LED’s?
Simply peal and stick our modules to the channel letter using the provided VHB tape. A plastic or metal tech screw or rivet may be used depending on the module type. Use of other adhesives such as silicon under the module or foam type tape voids warranty.

9. Can I install your modules in any channel letter?
Yes, Permlight LED modules use the metal channel letter as part of our patented thermal process to evacuate heat away from the LED enabling the module to have a long life. This also allows us to have a low profile module style. If you choose to put our modules in a plastic letter it is required they be mounted on a metal baffle. For further information or details please consult a Permlight representative.

10. How do I choose the right system for my design?
Our product data sheets recommend what products to use for various standard applications but many times it can come down to end user preference. If you have any questions on what product to use or recommend to your customer please feel free to contact a Permlight representative anytime for assistance.

11. What is your warranty?
Permlight has a limited 5 year parts warranty on our modules and power supplies. Please consult warranty page for terms and conditions details.

12. Are your products UL Classified for Retrofit application?
Yes, all of our modules and power supplies are UL registered products for new and retrofit applications.

13. Why are LEDs so cool?
Light-emitting diodes produce only visible light. Most conventional lights such as filament bulbs produce the vast amount of their light in the infrared region of light, which humans cannot see but is readily absorbed by most objects, thus producing a “warming” effect. Light-emitting diodes do produce heat, but with proper engineering and design, this heat is easily dissipated in a manner that is unnoticed by the user of a light.

14. Are all LEDs the same?
While all LEDs operate under the same general principle, they can vary greatly in their performance and lifetime based upon the design, quality of materials used in their manufacture and know-how of the manufacturer. Leading companies manufacturing chips for Permlight for Signs have extensive experience stretching more than a decade to a time when relatively few companies were investing in LED technology.