An Ultimate Guide to Jumbotron Screen

For large display projects, Jumbotron screens are often an effective solution. Do you need to evaluate whether your project requires a Jumbotron and want to know how to customize one? This article will give you a complete answer and provide suggestions to help you make an appropriate decision.

What is a Jumbotron Screen?

Jumbotron is an extremely large outdoor display screen launched by Sony in the 1980s. Gradually, LED technology became more mature, and Jumbotron was used more widely, becoming a common name for ultra-large outdoor displays.

Currently, Jumbotron specifically refers to those outdoor LED systems with a very large size and very high brightness. Typically, its size is about 100 m² to over 1000 m², and its brightness is usually more than 6,000 nits, or even over 100,00 nits. Besides, it has a high protection level and can operate stably in extreme weather.

Advantages of Jumbotron Displays

Wide Visual Coverage

Due to its large size, which can reach hundreds to thousands of square meters, and the extremely high brightness, the Jumbotron screen has a very wide viewing range. Even if you look at the screen from a distance of over 100 meters, you can still clearly see its content.

High Visual Impact

Because of the size, the Jumbotron displays will take up a large part of your field of view. And, it usually has superior high brightness and rich colors; this allows more people to notice it and remember the content it displays. Through this, its content conversion rate and your brand image will be greatly improved.

24/7 Operation Capability

High-quality Jumbotron screens usually use LED chips and driver ICs with high stability. If the size is large, it can also use air conditioning to assist in heat dissipation. So, even if it works 24 hours per day, the screen will not overheat or malfunction.

Flexible Content Display

The Jumbotron typically supports multiple types of signal input methods, including HDMI and SDI, etc. You can use it to play various types of content. Also, it supports various control methods. You can choose loop playback or real-time signal input.

Disadvantages of Jumbotron Screens

High Initial Investment

When you need to customize a Jumbotron screen for your project, the total cost you need to pay includes:

• The screen body
• Control system
• Steel structure
• Installation and setup
• Operating costs, including electricity costs and maintenance costs

The cost of a Jumbotron can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of US dollars. So, when you decide to customize a Jumbotron, you need to prepare a relatively large budget.

High Heat Dissipation Pressure

The power consumption of a screen generally depends on its brightness and size. Jumbotron displays often operate at very high brightness, so their power consumption is very high. And, if you choose a small pixel pitch, the power consumption of the screen and the heat dissipation pressure will increase, resulting in higher costs.

Strict Installation Requirements

Jumbotrons are large in both weight and size, and they also have complex wiring. Moreover, outdoor environments are very complex, so you need to ensure they are protected from rain and dust and can resist strong winds. More than this, if the seams are not properly aligned, the display quality may be affected.

Therefore, the installation of a Jumbotron is very complex and has very low tolerance for errors.

High Content Production Requirements

Due to its massive size, a Jumbotron screen usually has a very large number of pixels. Therefore, when it shows low-resolution videos or images, the visual quality may even be worse than on smaller screens. Therefore, the content displayed on a Jumbotron usually needs to be remade to bring out better conversion results.

High Impact of Failure

Any failures in the display or structure of the Jumbotron may potentially cause financial losses for you. In terms of display performance, screen glitches, lag, or black screens may affect the visual effect and therefore damage your brand image or advertising revenue.

More importantly, if there are issues with the installation structure, it may cause structural loosening and create safety risks.

Applications of Jumbotron Screens

Stadium Screen

Stadiums usually have a large audience, and the viewing distance is very far. Jumbotron screens have high brightness and a large display area, and allow you to clearly see the content even if you are sitting in the back rows of a stadium.

Outdoor Advertising LED Screen

Jumbotrons have very high brightness and can operate all day and night. When they are used as outdoor advertising screens, they are very eye-catching and have good visibility. Therefore, Jumbotrons are well-suited for this type of application.

Concert and Events

At large events like concerts, the viewing distance is usually very long, often 30 to 50 meters or even more. Due to its large size and high brightness, the Jumbotron screen has a long viewing distance. It also supports high refresh rates, like 3840Hz and 7680Hz. When you are filming, there is no flicker or black lines.

Media Facade

In high-traffic city centers, the large size of a Jumbotron screen can cover a wide field of view and maximize your content’s exposure. Installing it in the right location will greatly increase your advertising revenue. Moreover, it has the capability to operate 24/7. You can safely install it outdoors.

Jumborton VS. LED Video Wall

Manufacturer Technology

Jumbotron used CRT technology in the 1980s. Under this technology, the screens consume more power, have poor heat dissipation, and are heavier. With the development of LED technology, Jumbotron now fully uses LEDs.

In comparison, most LED video walls use more precise LED technology. They can achieve a smaller pixel pitch and nearly invisible seams.

Scalability

In general, the size of a Jumbotron is decided during the design stage. Once it is in use, its size will not be changed. If you need to change the size, the structure may need to be redesigned.

In contrast, most LED video walls can be adjusted in size even after installation. It always uses a modular design, so you can add or remove modules to adjust the size.

Clarity

Due to different purposes, Jumbotron and LED video walls often have different clarity. Jumbotron usually has a larger pixel pitch and a more sparse pixel arrangement. When viewed closely, you will notice that some details are blurry.

While LED video walls are usually viewed from a closer distance, they always have a smaller pixel pitch, which is about 0.9 mm to 4 mm, or even smaller.

Applications

Jumbotron is generally used in outdoor places with large audiences, long viewing distances, and complex environments, like stadium screens, concert screens, and media facades.

In contrast, LED video walls are mostly used for indoor displays with close viewing distance, dense information, and higher detail requirements, such as meeting rooms, control centers, and shopping malls.

Key Parameters When Customising Jumbotron Screens

Screen Size

A bigger screen size is not always better, and it is usually determined by the viewing distance. First, you need to confirm the Jumbotron screen’s maximum viewing distance, and then decide the screen’s height based on this value.

Besides the screen size, you also need to choose the aspect ratio based on the expected content. You can also choose the aspect ratio based on the site size or building structure.

Pixel Pitch

Pixel pitch affects the image clarity, the overall cost, and the power consumption of a Jumbotron. When the pixel pitch becomes smaller, the heat dissipation load, power consumption, and cost per unit area all increase.

It is generally determined by the viewing distance. As the viewing distance increases, the suitable pixel pitch becomes larger, and you should choose the appropriate one.

IP Rating

Jumbotrons are usually installed outdoors, which may face rain, dust, humidity, and extreme temperatures. If the protection level is not enough, failures may occur, and the maintenance costs you need to pay may also increase. The appropriate protection level for a Jumbotron is generally IP65.

Brightness

Brightness affects whether you can clearly see the content of a Jumbotron display under sunlight. Screen brightness is usually measured in nits. Outdoor Jumbotrons typically need at least 6,000 nits. If the screen will be exposed to strong sunlight, you can choose a higher brightness.

Technical Specifications

FAQs

How are Jumbotron Screens Maintained? Do they Support Front or Rear Maintenance?

Generally, the maintenance of a Jumbotron mainly consists of three aspects: module maintenance, power supply maintenance, and control system maintenance. When a fault occurs, you need to carry out the corresponding maintenance.

Jumbotrons support both front maintenance and rear maintenance. For large display projects, the rear maintenance is more common because it is more efficient and safer.

What is the Typical Lifespan of a Jumbotron Screen?

Under normal maintenance, the lifespan of a Jumbotron screen is about 80,000 to 100,000 hours. That is to say, if it runs 24/7, the screen can last about 10 years or even longer.

However, it is worth noting that the lifespan of a Jumbotron will be affected by many usage factors. You need to carry out regular maintenance and repair the faulty and aging parts in time; only this can make its actual lifespan closer to the rated lifespan.

What is the Power Consumption of a Jumbotron screen, and How Can It Be Reduced?

The power consumption per unit area of a Jumbotron screen is determined by its brightness and the content. Because it often displays high-brightness content, a Jumbotron consumes much more power than a standard indoor display. Generally, its average power consumption ranges from 400 to 1200 W/㎡.

However, there are still some ways to reduce its power consumption, such as:

• Adjust brightness according to ambient light
• Use low-power driver ICs
• Use high-efficiency LEDs
• Improve screen heat dissipation efficiency

Do Jumbotron Screens Require Additional Cooling Systems?

Yes. The power density of a Jumbotron is very high, and its size is usually very large. In this case, natural airflow alone is not enough to dissipate heat quickly. In general, Jumbotrons need the following supporting cooling methods:

• Use high thermal conductivity materials: use copper or aluminum alloy for the PCB and cabinet.
• Air cooling: built-in fans and air duct design inside the display.
• Air conditioning: controls the temperature of the entire cabinet.

Final Thoughts

If you are planning to customize an outdoor display with a strong visual impact, Jumbotron screens will be a good option. But before customization, you need to fully understand its pros and cons. If you are unsure how to make a decision, feel free to contact JINGYLED for professional advice.