Transparent Micro LED screens can be waterproof, depending on their IP rating. For example, an IP65 screen resists rain and dust, suitable for outdoor use, while an IP20 screen is for indoor use only. For heavy rain or immersion, choose IP67-rated screens, which endure up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
IP Rating Determines Waterproof Capability
It is a two-digit classification where the first digit protects against solids, dust, and the second digit denotes resistance to liquids. For example, an IP65-rated transparent screen is fully dustproof and resistant to low-pressure water jets, making it perfect for semi-outdoor areas such as shopping mall atriums or airport terminals. Further protection reaches with an IP67 rating that protects the screen operating underwater up to 30 minutes at 1 meter of depth.
Outdoor displays for cities like Singapore, with an average annual humidity of 84% and rainfall of over 2,300 millimeters per year, need to have at least an IP65 rating. In areas with low rainfall, such as Los Angeles, which averages about 380 millimeters annually, an IP54-rated screen would suffice for some outdoor applications but would be at risk in sustained heavy rain.
The more the rating of an IP, the more materials and techniques for sealing would be used, making a transparent screen more expensive. An example could be that an IP67-rated transparent screen costs about $2,500 per square meter, whereas a less robust IP54-rated screen may cost around $1,500 per square meter. One study into outdoor installations estimated that, in areas of high rainfall, less than 5% of IP67-rated screens had failed after five years, compared with a 20% failure rate for similarly sited IP54-rated screens.
An IP65-rated screen installed in a high-traffic outdoor environment may save approximately $500 a year in maintenance costs compared to an IP20-rated screen that is housed in an external protective case.
Outdoor vs. Indoor Applications
Outdoor Micro LED displays are thus of very different construction and character: much more resistance to rain, dust, and UV should be allowed on the screens outside. This could easily be translated as an example where a screen with an IP65 rating works without a hitch in a city like Tokyo, with a rainfall of nearly 1,500 millimeters each year. Indoor screens generally have ratings such as IP20, best fitted for controlled environments like retail or conference rooms where one is not worried about water or dust.
While those without UV protection may degrade in less than 12 months in cities like Dubai, where the mercury often soars above 40°C and annual UV indexes are always very high, UV-coated screens can last up to five years in similar conditions. These outdoors-specific features also increase the price, with UV-protected transparent Micro LED screens at about $2,800 per square meter compared to the indoor variety at $1,200 per square meter.
This often makes outdoor screens more power-hungry at 600 watts per square meter, due to the higher brightness required-up to 5,000 nits-to overcome sunlight. Indoor models usually run at a lower brightness of around 1,000 nits and consume only 250 watts per square meter. Stated differently, for a one-year period, an outdoor screen operating 10 hours per day in a high sunlight area like Miami would be in the range of US$400 per square meter for its electricity; indoors and under the same operating conditions, it would cost less than US$150 per square meter.
Protective Coatings and Sealing
A waterproof coating along with silicone sealing protects the screens from water ingression during heavy rainfall, recording up to 50 millimeters of rain per hour during a monsoon in cities like Mumbai, where sandstorms can lead to particulate levels as high as 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter.
Without UV protection, screens develop extreme discoloration and reduced brightness in less than one year. UV-resistant coatings extend that by up to five years-even in the most intense sunlight. with UV-coated screens typically priced 20-30% higher than uncoated models, an outdoor screen measuring 5 square meters with anti-UV protection might cost $12,500, compared with $9,500 for a similar screen without such features.
The ratings for IP65 and IP67 in Transparent Micro LED , in cities that are normally flooded during the rainy season, such as Bangkok, IP67-sealed screens can even operate when their fronts are submerged under 1 meter of water for as long as 30 minutes. If the screens are not well sealed, can be over $1,000 every time there is an incident.
Material Durability
Toughened glass can resist up to 10,000 psi impact force, which means the displays can be installed in an area with high wind velocity, such as in seaside cities where wind velocity often exceeds 120 kilometers an hour during storms. The framing is made of aluminum alloy and is resistant to rust through the flow of moist air, which is very common in regions like Singapore, where the yearly average of relative humidity is at 84%.
In applications with very salt-saturated environments, the failure rate of screens that have been treated with anti-corrosion coatings is only 2% after five years, whereas for untreated screens the failure rates are more than 15%. These treatments add approximately 10% to the cost of materials; they save upwards of $5,000 a screen in reduced maintenance and replacements over any given five-year period.
In extreme temperature zones, such as Toronto or Abu Dhabi, outdoor screens can range from -20°C to 50°C, so using materials that possess a low coefficient of thermal expansion is important. Polycarbonate can retain its shape at a wide temperature range of -40°C up to 120°C with consistent performance. This high-tech material costs within the range of an extra $500 to $1,000 per square meter.
Installation Environment
In cities like New York, where the yearly average of rainfall is 1,270 millimeters and the temperatures vary between -10°C during winter and 30°C in summer, the minimum for this installation would be an IP65-rated or more screen with anti-UV coatings.
In cities like Beijing, with PM2.5 often over 50 µg/m³, outdoor transparent Micro LED screens will need anti-dust coatings and filters for performance. Without such, screens may need cleaning every 2-3 weeks at $200 to $300 a session for a 10-square-meter installation.
Outdoor screens installed in Miami need to be designed using reinforced aluminum frames with a specification for the glass to handle the impacts from debris as winds from hurricanes can surpass 250 km/h. Reinforced 5m² screens are about $15 000 versus the standard outdoor $10 000 investment in outdoor screens.
In a high-traffic mall operating for 24 hours, it is recommended that screens should maintain brightness levels of between 1,000 to 1,500 nits for them to be visible under artificial lighting. Good ventilation is necessary as the enclosed areas where temperatures may go up about 5°C to 10°C above ambient owing to heat caused by equipment surrounding the equipment. It also increases the installation cost from $500 to $1,000.
