Power Consumption

Understanding LED Power Consumption

Proper power planning is essential for LED installations. Undersized electrical infrastructure causes failures; oversized infrastructure wastes money. Understanding consumption patterns enables accurate planning.

Power Specifications

**Maximum Power:** Full white at 100% brightness:

• Indoor panels: 300-600W/m²
• Outdoor panels: 600-1200W/m²
• This is the design specification

**Average Power:** Typical content display:

• Usually 30-50% of maximum
• Varies by content type
• Used for operating cost estimation

**Idle Power:** Display on, black content:

• 10-20% of maximum
• Electronics and fans only
• Baseline consumption

Factors Affecting Power Draw

**Brightness Level:** Direct relationship:

• 100% brightness = 100% power
• 50% brightness ≈ 50% power
• Lower brightness saves energy

**Content Type:** Varies significantly:

• White/bright content: 80-100%
• Typical video: 30-50%
• Dark content: 10-20%

**Color:** Different LED colors have different efficiency:

• White (RGB combined): Maximum power
• Red only: ~30% of max
• Blue/Green: Varies by LED type

Calculating Requirements

**For Electrical Sizing:** Use maximum power: 1. Calculate wall area (m²) 2. Multiply by max W/m² 3. Add 20% safety margin 4. Add ancillary equipment (processor, cooling) 5. Size circuits accordingly

**Example:**

• Wall: 4m × 2.5m = 10m²
• Panel spec: 400W/m² max
• Wall maximum: 4,000W
• With margin: 4,800W
• Plus processor: 5,200W total
• Circuit needed: 30A @ 208V minimum

Electrical Infrastructure

**Circuit Types:**

• Single phase: Smaller installations
• Three phase: Larger installations, better load balance
• Generator: Mobile/outdoor events

**Connector Standards:**

• PowerCON: Common for LED panels
• Cam-Lok: High-power connections
• L6-20/30: Standard outlets
• Pin and sleeve: Industrial

Power Distribution

**From Source to Panels:** 1. Utility/generator power 2. Distribution panel/distro 3. Sub-distros (if needed) 4. Individual panel connections

**Load Balancing:** Distribute panels across phases to avoid imbalance.

Operating Costs

**Annual Energy Cost:** Average power × operating hours × electricity rate

**Example:**

• 10m² wall, 200W/m² average
• 2,000W × 8 hours × 365 days
• 5,840 kWh/year
• At $0.12/kWh = $700/year

Best Practices

**Design Phase:**

• Get accurate max power specs
• Plan for full capacity
• Include all equipment
• Consider future expansion

**Operation:**

• Run at minimum needed brightness
• Use scheduling/dimming
• Monitor actual consumption
• Plan maintenance around power