A Comprehensive Comparison of Durability, Manufacturing, and Performance

Introduction

In the world of neon signage, technological advancements are key to creating products that excel in brightness, efficiency, and durability. LUMINEX™ LED Neon Technology and SPLICE™ LED Neon are two standout offerings from Kings of Neon, each designed to meet different performance needs. While LUMINEX™ focuses on superior brightness and precision for high-profile indoor applications, SPLICE™ offers robust durability for both indoor and outdoor environments. In this article, we will explore the unique features of LUMINEX™ LED Neon and SPLICE™ LED Neon, highlighting their manufacturing processes and why they stand out in the neon signage market.

What Is LUMINEX™ LED Neon Technology?

LUMINEX™ LED Neon Technology is designed for businesses that prioritise brightness, colour accuracy, and visual impact. Unlike traditional neon signs or standard LED products, LUMINEX™ uses premium materials like 100% pure extruded silicone tubing and the Sanan 2835 LED Chipset, ensuring a brighter, more energy-efficient, and longer-lasting sign.

What Is SPLICE™ LED Neon Technology?

SPLICE™ LED Neon is designed for both indoor and outdoor applications, offering exceptional durability at a cost-effective price point. It features a layered manufacturing process that combines the Sanan 2835 LED Chipset with IP67-rated LED strips (ideal for outdoor use), embedded into a CNC-machined acrylic backboard and sealed with waterproof glue and silicone tubing. This construction ensures superior weather resistance and makes SPLICE™ the perfect choice for outdoor signage, as well as budget-conscious buyers seeking a reliable, sleek solution for various environments.

Key Differences Between LUMINEX™ and SPLICE™ LED Neon

1. Brightness and Visual Quality

LUMINEX™ LED Neon:

• Equipped with the Sanan 2835 LED Chipset, LUMINEX™ provides 20% more brightness than SPLICE™ LED neon. The LEDs in LUMINEX™ are embedded vertically within the silicone tubing, allowing for optimal light dispersion. The tubing itself uses 156% more silicone than SPLICE™, enhancing light control. Light is evenly refracted within the silicone due to the opaque side panels, which are designed to create a smooth, consistent glow without hotspots. This unique structure, along with 120 LEDs per meter, makes LUMINEX™ ideal for high-precision commercial indoor settings where visual quality is critical.

SPLICE™ LED Neon:

• While SPLICE™ offers high brightness, its focus is on durability rather than maximizing light output. The IP67 LED strip ensures reliable performance in harsh conditions but doesn't prioritize the ultra-bright intensity that LUMINEX™ offers, making it perfect for outdoor environments.

2. Durability and Application

LUMINEX™ LED Neon:

• Designed primarily for indoor commercial use, LUMINEX™ offers flexibility and durability, but it truly excels in high-profile applications where brightness and color consistency are critical. The silicone tubing withstands temperature extremes from -50°C to 150°C, making it durable but best suited for indoor environments.

SPLICE™ LED Neon:

• SPLICE™ is ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications, with an IP67 rating that guarantees protection against water, dust, and UV exposure. The CNC-machined acrylic backboard makes SPLICE™ heavier but more robust, enabling it to thrive in outdoor signage applications where long-term exposure to the elements is inevitable. This level of durability ensures SPLICE™ performs flawlessly in high-traffic outdoor areas and challenging environments like coastal regions.

3. Manufacturing Process

LUMINEX™ LED Neon:

• The production of LUMINEX™ is highly skill-intensive, involving precise cutting, soldering, and meticulous assembly of each LED strip, which can extend production time by up to 70%. The use of additional silicone tubing enhances durability and protection but also increases material costs, making LUMINEX™ approximately 20% more expensive than SPLICE™.
• Furthermore, LUMINEX™ has strict minimum cut and bend criteria, which must be carefully followed to achieve intricate, custom designs with maximum precision.

SPLICE™ LED Neon:

• The layered assembly process of SPLICE™ is more straightforward, using CNC-cut acrylic to precisely set the LED strip into the backboard. This makes the hand-crafting process faster and easier, allowing SPLICE™ to be manufactured more quickly. The heavier acrylic backboard adds robustness but increases weight, making it ideal for outdoor applications where stability is key.
• The simplicity of embedding the LED strip and then overlaying it with waterproof glue and silicone tubing ensures reliable IP67 rated waterproofing for outdoor signs.

4. Energy Efficiency and Lifespan

LUMINEX™ LED Neon:

• LUMINEX™ uses the Sanan 2835 LED Chipset, known for its energy efficiency. It draws less power while delivering brighter light than standard chipsets, which not only reduces energy consumption but extends the lifespan of the sign of up to 100,000 hours.

SPLICE™ LED Neon:

• SPLICE™ also utilises the same energy-efficient LED strips and offers a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours. However, the layered construction of the LED strip within the sign adds an extra level of protection, making it better suited to withstand severe environmental stresses

5. Price Difference

While both LUMINEX™ and SPLICE™ offer excellent value, there is a noticeable price difference between the two. LUMINEX™ uses 156% more silicone compared to SPLICE™, along with a more intricate manufacturing process. This includes precise cutting, vertical LED embedding, and additional labor costs to ensure a superior finish. As a result, LUMINEX™ typically costs about 20% more than SPLICE™, making it the premium choice for businesses that require exceptional brightness, flexibility, and precision. Meanwhile, SPLICE™ offers a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing performance, making it ideal for buyers seeking a cost-effective, sleek solution.

Why Choose LUMINEX™ LED Neon?

LUMINEX™ is the premium choice for indoor commercial applications that require maximum brightness, vibrant colour, and aesthetic precision. Its use of the Sanan 2835 LED Chipset ensures superior light output and energy efficiency, while the flexible silicone tubing makes it ideal for intricate, custom designs. Unit Cut technology allows for precise, hand-crafted signs, making LUMINEX™ a standout for high-end retail stores, offices, and creative indoor spaces where visual impact is critical.

Why Choose SPLICE™ LED Neon?

If you're looking for a sign that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions, SPLICE™ LED Neon is your go-to choice. Its CNC-machined acrylic backboard, waterproof glue, and silicone overlay provide unmatched durability for outdoor signage, ensuring protection against rain, UV exposure, and temperature fluctuations. SPLICE™ is easier and faster to produce, making it an ideal solution for projects that require weatherproofing and heavy-duty performance at a competitive price point.

Comparing LUMINEX™ Chipset to the Rest of the Neon Sign Market

When it comes to LED neon signs, the choice of chipset is crucial in determining the overall performance, durability, and quality of the sign. While many Chinese suppliers and lower-end manufacturers use the cheaper non-branded chipsets, LUMINEX™ technology exclusively utilises the superior Sanan 2835 LED Chipset. This decision is not just about offering a better product, but about ensuring that our customers receive the highest quality, most reliable neon signs available.

Market Overview: Inferior Chipsets in the Industry

In the neon sign market, there are numerous suppliers, particularly from China, that use lower-quality chipsets. These chipsets, while cheaper, often fall short in terms of efficiency, brightness, and longevity. They are favoured by budget-conscious manufacturers aiming to reduce costs, but they come with significant trade-offs in quality and reliability. These issues can lead to signs that are dimmer, more prone to failure, and less durable over time.

Why LUMINEX™ Chooses the Sanan 2835 LED Chipset

The Sanan 2835 LED Chipset offers several key advantages over the more commonly used 3.0-3.2V chipset:

Efficiency and Brightness: The Sanan 2835 Chipset is known for its high efficiency and brightness. It produces 20% more light while drawing less wattage compared to the 5050 SMD, a common alternative. This efficiency is crucial for applications where power consumption and light output are critical factors.

Power Consumption: The 2835 SMD pulls only 0.2W per chip, which is less than the 0.24W pulled by the 5050 SMD. This lower power consumption can lead to significant energy savings, especially in large-scale installations.

Flexibility and Versatility: The 2835 Chipset can be mounted with up to 120 LEDs per meter, offering higher luminosity options (up to 2600 lumens per meter) without a significant increase in power consumption. This flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from ambient lighting to task lighting.

Heat Management: The smaller size of the 2835 SMD means it doesn’t get as hot as larger chips, which can improve its lifespan and reliability. Lower operating temperatures are beneficial for maintaining the longevity and performance of LED lights.

Lifespan: The Sanan 2835 Chipset has a longer lifespan, ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 hours, significantly outlasting the 10,000-hour lifespan of the Sanan 3.0-3.2V Chipset.

The Risks of Inferior Chipsets

Using inferior chipsets can result in several issues, including:

Lower Brightness: Signs using these chipsets often appear dimmer, which can reduce visibility and impact, especially in outdoor settings.

Shorter Lifespan: These chipsets are more prone to overheating and failure, leading to a shorter overall lifespan for the sign.

Inconsistent Performance: Lower-quality chipsets can lead to inconsistent light output, with hotspots and uneven brightness that detract from the sign’s appearance.

Higher Maintenance Costs: Signs that fail prematurely or require frequent repairs can end up costing more in the long run, negating any initial savings from choosing a cheaper product.

Conclusion

Both LUMINEX™ and SPLICE™ LED Neon offer advanced solutions for neon signage, tailored to different applications. LUMINEX™ excels in indoor commercial environments, delivering exceptional brightness, precision, and flexibility for high-profile spaces. Meanwhile, SPLICE™ is the ideal choice for domestic and small business applications, providing a sleek, minimalist finish with the durability needed for both indoor and outdoor use. Additionally, SPLICE™ offers a cost-effective option for budget-conscious buyers, without compromising on performance or style. Whether you're prioritising indoor brilliance or seeking a stylish, resilient, and budget-friendly solution for smaller spaces, Kings of Neon provides high-quality, custom neon signage designed to meet your unique needs.