LED Display and Signage Cooling Cooling Solutions -- DC Fans | Herays
Application Solution

LED Display and Signage Cooling

Cooling airflow for LED modules, power supplies, and display cabinets

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Problem Space

Industry Challenges

Understanding the specific thermal and environmental demands of LED Display and Signage Cooling environments is the foundation of every Herays solution.

LED display systems — indoor fine-pitch panels, outdoor advertising boards, stadium scoreboards, and retail digital signage — generate significant heat from two distinct sources: the LED modules themselves and the switching power supplies that drive them. The power supply is typically the component most sensitive to temperature; LED driver ICs and electrolytic capacitors degrade rapidly above 60°C, shortening display life from years to months in poorly ventilated enclosures. Effective cooling extends service life and protects the significant capital investment in LED display infrastructure.

Cooling requirements for LED display and signage installations:

  • Power supply compartment ventilation — switching power supplies for LED panels can reach 85–95% efficiency, dissipating 5–15% of input power as heat in a compact module. This is the highest heat density in the cabinet and the primary cooling target.
  • IP65 or higher for outdoor installations — outdoor LED billboards and building facade displays are exposed to rain, dust, insects, and UV radiation. Fans in these enclosures must be IP65-rated with gasket-sealed housings; ingress protection applies to the fan assembly itself, not just the enclosure.
  • 24V DC for cabinet integration — most LED display control systems operate auxiliary circuits at 24V. Matching fan voltage to the auxiliary bus eliminates an additional converter and simplifies the cabinet power architecture.
  • Low noise for indoor digital signage — retail stores, lobbies, and conference rooms require silent or near-silent operation. Fan noise above 35 dBA at 1 m is noticeable and unacceptable in most indoor signage deployments.
  • Wide ambient temperature range — outdoor LED displays face direct solar radiation that raises cabinet temperature well above ambient. Internal temperatures can exceed 60°C on summer afternoons even before accounting for electronics heat dissipation.
  • Long maintenance-free service — large outdoor LED installations may be located at height or in access-restricted locations. Fan replacement requires a service call; MTBF at operating temperature should be specified with a minimum 5-year service interval as the design target.

Herays DC axial fans in 120 mm format are used in LED display power supply modules, control board compartments, and cabinet exhaust positions across both indoor and outdoor LED signage systems.

  • HR1225 24V — 120×120×25 mm, 134 CFM, CE/RoHS, ball bearing. Standard selection for indoor LED display power supply cooling. Quiet profile for noise-sensitive retail and corporate signage environments.
  • HR1238 24V — 120×120×38 mm, 186 CFM. Higher airflow for outdoor display cabinets with multiple power supply modules or high-brightness (10,000+ nit) panels with elevated power density.

For outdoor applications requiring IP65 protection, contact Herays to discuss sealed fan variants with gasket-sealed motor housings. UV-stabilized housing materials are available for long-term outdoor exposure.

Why does the power supply fail before the LEDs in a display system? LED chips are solid-state with lifetimes measured in tens of thousands of hours. The electrolytic capacitors and driver ICs in the switching power supply degrade much faster at high temperature — every 10°C above rated temperature roughly halves capacitor life. Keeping the power supply below 50°C is the single most effective measure for extending total display system life.

What airflow arrangement works best for an LED display cabinet? Force air from the bottom of the cabinet upward, exhausting through the top. This aligns with natural convection, minimizes pressure drop, and keeps the coolest incoming air in contact with the power supplies at the bottom of the cabinet. Avoid drawing ambient air across the LED panel face — this creates a negative pressure zone that pulls in dust and moisture through panel gaps.

Can a PWM-controlled fan reduce display noise in indoor signage? Yes. PWM control allows the fan to run at minimum speed (typically 30–40% of rated speed) during low-ambient-temperature conditions or partial LED load, reducing noise by 6–10 dBA compared to full-speed operation. For installations where noise is a primary concern, specify PWM-compatible fans with a low minimum speed rating.

Contact Herays for fan selection support for LED display enclosures, including IP-rated options, custom cable lengths, and OEM volume pricing for display manufacturing programs.

Herays Approach

Our Solution

Precision-engineered DC fan technologies tailored to the performance and reliability requirements of LED Display and Signage Cooling applications.

Why Herays

Key Features for LED Display and Signage Cooling

Display cabinet airflow

Cooling for LED modules, power supplies, and control boards.

Slim layout options

Compact frame sizes for thin signage and display enclosures.

Outdoor-ready choices

Protection options for dust, humidity, and public installation sites.

Application Engineering

Ready to find the right cooling solution for LED Display and Signage Cooling?

Our application engineers are available to help you select the right product for your system requirements.

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