If you look closely, there are a lot of different colorful mobile advertising around. It is installed on buildings, billboards, windows of offices and cafes, and some mount it directly on the windows of cars. It all depends on the direction of advertising. Its dimensions also differ significantly from each other. But at the heart of them all is a running line of LEDs.
Thanks to movable letters, constantly moving one after another, a large amount of information can be conveyed to the consumer or attracted to a particular institution.
The manufacture of LED running lines is attributed to residents and craftsmen of the Celestial Empire, but it turned out that almost everyone can make it at home. The main thing is to have all the necessary and irresistible desire to create.
To make it work
If you put together the following devices, you get a running line LED. Doing it yourself is not so difficult. The main thing is to carefully follow the assembly instructions. What we need?
- The motherboard, or, in other words, the controller.
- LED modules for running lines.
- Several power supplies.
- Wires and power cables.
- Magnets.
- Aluminum profile.
- Aluminum corner.
- Wires 2–1.5 mm.
- Screws, screws and sealant.
From the tools should be at hand:
- Edged saw.
- Electric drill.
- Screwdriver.
What is it for?
- LED modules for running lines - directly carry information. They come in several types in different colors: white, red, blue, green and multicolor. They are also distinguished by the steps between the pixels. And the type of security: moisture resistant and interior.
- Power supplies - designed to convert voltage from 220 V to 5 volts.
- Wires - are needed to connect power supplies and modules to each other.
- The loops are designed to transmit a signal from the motherboard (controller) to the LEDs.
- The wires 2–1.5 mm are designed to transmit electric transformed current from the unit to the module and from the module to the module.
- Magnets are needed for various assembly of running lines.
- Aluminum profiles and corners after their assembly and connection are the body of the LED display.
Size matters
Considering what the LED running line is intended for, its size is important. It depends on the aluminum profile from which the body will be made. It happens in three types:
- Narrow aluminum profile - ideal for car advertising.
- Medium aluminum profile - designed for assembling displays up to 6 meters in size.
- Wide aluminum profile - designed for enclosures over 6 meters, their size can last indefinitely.
Step-by-step line assembly
- Put the modules in a horizontal position on a flat surface (table), strictly from left to right - as indicated on the modules themselves.
- After laying out the required number of modules, they must be connected by wires and power cables to each other. For this, the module has the necessary sockets for wires and loops (always a red stripe up). Then connect the module with the guides. They can be single-row, two, three and four-row. Place the guides on the modules in accordance with the holes for the screws on the back of the LEDs and tighten the bolts.
- Connect the power supply to the controller with 2–1.5 mm wires. It also has a hole for attaching the cable and wires. Connect the motherboard to the module using a loop. One 40-ampere power supply is enough for 7-8 modules, but in order to avoid overheating and breakdowns, it is best to take one unit for 6 modules.
- If there are several power supplies, they need to be connected together in series.
- Next, you need to carefully seal everything. To do this, use sealant to lubricate all the joints of the modules. This must be done carefully enough. The result should be a sealed mosaic of LED modules interconnected by wires, power supplies and rails.
- Now you can start assembling the case. Due to the different sizes of the profile, you can assemble almost any shape of the case, and you will get exactly your LED running light. With your own hands and diligence, you will achieve that it will find the design and size you need. It all depends on its purpose. To do this, cut the aluminum profile according to the specified dimensions, but reduce the length by 2-3 mm. Use the corners to assemble the frame.
- Insert the prepared mosaic of LEDs into the frame of the aluminum profile. In one side of the case, drill a hole for the output of the power cord and USB output.
- Cut a suitable back wall from a thin sheet of any metal. And with the help of screws and a screwdriver attach to the main body. And with sealant to cover all joints.
- The last step is programming the finished scoreboard. The program for the LED ticker can be of varying complexity. This operation can be performed using any creeping line software.
If all the instructions and requirements have been followed, a working running line LED should be obtained. With your own hands to assemble it, as it turned out, is not so difficult!
Types of programming and purpose of appointment
Due to the ability to program a running line, it can carry almost any information.
- In buses and stops show the route, time of arrival and departure.
- In cafes and restaurants advertise the menu or dish of the day.
- In banks and exchange kiosks for public display exhibit exchange rates.
- In any public places, gently and unobtrusively advertise various things and services.
- They are also ideal for indicating the current time and ambient temperature. But for this, you need to integrate a clock and an electronic thermometer (temperature sensor) into it.
Programs can also differ from each other in the speed of playing a given text, in the way letters appear, and much more. When programming LED displays, 30 kinds of various effects can be used.
And in conclusion
As one of the great said: “Everything ingenious is simple!”
And from the above material and equipment, an excellent LED running line is obtained. It’s not so difficult to create it yourself, almost anyone can cope with this task. The main thing is to follow the instructions and not rush.
And the fact that it is made independently, has a number of its advantages and benefits:
- you can choose your own color;
- select the optimal size;
- program as you wish;
- and prove to yourself that anything is possible.