Do LED Projected Signs and Floor Markings work in a power cut?

One of the questions we sometimes get asked is “what happens the warning signs when they have a power failure?”. If you’re looking at getting projected signage walkways or floor markings, then this may be a question that bothers you, especially when the Health & Safety department get involved in the buying decision, as employees need to be kept safe in every situation. A warning sign is great when it’s on and working, but not so great if it disappears at the vital moment that it is needed.

If you are concerned that your projected signage will disappear in the event of a power cut, then this article is for you, as we will explain the simple way this can be solved.

Contents:

1. The main purpose of LED Projected Floor Markings
2. What components do the projectors have?
3. So, what happens to the projectors in a power cut?
4. 2 Ways to keep your projectors shining in a power cut

So, what is the main purpose of LED Projected Floor Markings?

Some factories are really prone to power cuts and actually get used to them. However, this can cause a lot of disruption especially with machinery and other electric equipment. The main purpose of LED projected signage is to create an interactive solution, that eliminates confusion and decreases disruption by avoiding pedestrian/FLT accidents etc. This is why LED projected signage is sometimes used for signposting or way finding, and as you can imagine, without them there would be a lot of confusion!

What components do the projectors have?

LED projected signs are used for many applications, including PPE signposting, walkways and hazard warning signs. These projectors usually always consist of a control unit, a lamp, a lens (Or Gobo as it is called in the industry) and often either a motion sensor or some other form of movement detector. The sensor is the element that makes the projector interactive.

So, what happens to the projectors in a power cut?

In a normal set up, these projectors will not illuminate in the event of a power cut. Without a backup power source or system in place, these projectors will be unable to provide illumination or perform any of its usual functions until the power is restored. For signage, such as PPE guidance, Logo projectors or other notices, this may not be a concern, as these signs are not needed in an emergency. However, walkways, STOP signs and Warning FLT signs may be critical in an emergency.

You could argue that traditional ways of signage also pose a risk, as paint, floor tape, and signage also become unreadable in the event of a power cut. However, as this is a concern for a lot of our clients, we will give you some ways in the next paragraph to avoid your warehouse going completely black in the event of a black out.

2 Ways to keep your projectors shining in a power cut.

If this is a real concern to you then you’ll be interested to know that we have developed a backup system.

The 1^st way that can be used to keep your projectors working in a power cut, is to have them programmed into a battery backup that automatically kicks in when the power fails. This is the most common method used, as it is very easy to program, and is usually quite a fail-safe option.

In addition, some projectors may be designed to operate at lower power levels or have energy-saving features that extend their battery life during power outages. This helps is to last as long as possible before the normal power is restored.

The 2^nd way that can be used to keep projectors working in a power cut, is to connect the projectors to the electrical system in a generator. This also acts as a temporary power source for your most vital projectors.

So, now you know how to keep your projectors shining in a power outage, you can decide which projectors are most important for you in an emergency. Obviously, not all of your projectors will need to shine at all times, so it may be more cost effective to just choose your most useful projectors to wire into a battery backup system.

If you are ready to get in touch to request a quote for these projectors, get in touch here. Or if you want to find out how much LED projectors cost, read more here.