Which Screen for Inside an LCD Enclosure – Part One

An LCD enclosure is a protective cabinet that allows the use of screens in hazardous and hostile areas – such as outdoors – are used for all sorts of reasons from outdoor digital signage to information screens in transport hubs.

These protective enclosures can house virtually any type of flat screen display as the universal mounting system VESA (Video Electronics Standard Association) is commonly used in these. But what are the best types of display to house inside?

There are, essentially four choices of screen type that can be used inside an LCD enclosure and each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages:

Commercial Grade

Most digital signage screens utilise commercial grade screens. These are very similar to the types of devices we have in our homes, but unlike these consumer grade devices they are designed with permanent use in mind. They are far more resistant to continual use and while they are more expensive, the price isn’t prohibitively so.

Commercial grade screens have a longer life span than consumer grade screens and if you use them inside an LCD enclosure, they can be taken outdoors or placed in hazardous areas such as factory floors but for some areas you may need to go a step further. The LCD enclosure will also lengthen their lifespan.

High Brightness Screens

For outdoor areas, especially when direct sunlight is a factor, commercial grades screens can be washed out due to the brightness of the sun. The problem increases the brighter the sun and where the sun is directly facing the screen. While using a hood or shroud is one solution it is not always practical or aesthetically pleasing.

High brightness LCD TVs are designed for exactly this sort of area and can generate up to three times the brightness of a standard TV device. TV luminance is measured in nits (or candela). Most commercial and consumer grade LCD screens generate around 500 nits while a high brightness screen can top 1500.

Read part two