Neon signs have decorated shops, highways, street corners and window sills for many years. LEDs are a relatively new invention, but they have already started over shadowing the neon signs. There have to be certain advantages in the use of LED, for it to be able to eat into the market share of the ever popular neon signs.

A LED or Light Emitting Diodes is a solid state semi-conductor device which can convert electrical energy directly in to light energy. To get a glowing sign from LED, they are placed adjacent to each other in a polymer jacket, just so far apart as to permit glow overlap and give a constant regular light. This makes LED signs very flexible and easy to handle.

Neon signs on the other hand are made from real glass in the form of tubing and are filled with neon gas. They are fragile in handling and transportation and have high maintenance costs. Besides the difference in the method of construction and handling, there are a large number of differences which go to make LED the chosen alternative to neon signs.

Some of the major differences are as follows:

• LED being at least a third to a quarter the thickness of neon tubing occupies a lot less space height wise as well as in depth.

• LED does not heat up the way a neon sign does so it can be hinged to the base where as neon sign has to be extended at least an inch or so away from the base thus requiring more depth in spacing.

• It is easier to transport and ship LED signs as compared to neon signs as they can withstand a lot rougher handling being less fragile and also being less bulky they occupy less space.

• LED signs are bright and clear to read from any distance while neon signs tend to get blurred if viewed from a distance. Even during the day time with the sun shining bright, LED signs can be seen to glow clearly, while you can't make out if a neon sign is on or off.

• LED signs have a lifetime of 100,000 hours where as neon sign are plagued by constant gas leakage and need to be refilled.

• LED signs are more eco-friendly as compared to neon signs, as they do not emit any gases while neon signs leak out toxic gases such as argon and mercury.

• LED signs use just 10 watts of power as against 8-10 times higher wattage used by neon signs thus they have much lower running costs.

• LED signs are extremely malleable and can be twisted in any direction with ease, neon signs, being made of glass need specialized processes to turn and twist.

• LED signs being made of a number of LEDs put together can use animation, flashing and flickering with ease, while neon signs do not offer such options.

It seems as though the new technology of LED signs will be around for quite some time.