Ins and Outs of Installation

Editor’s Note: The November 2004 column (see page 68) explored the topic of installation with regard to advance planning and meeting the sign’s technical needs. This column offers more detail on logistical considerations and electronic-digital sign (EDS) placement.

The likelihood of a successful EDS installation hinges on the amount of previous success your team has with such installations. Not only is each installation different, each display manufacturer builds, crates, ships and provides installation assistance differently. I will assume that this is a first installation and offer relevant tips.

Pre-installation considerations

Make certain the EDC manufacturer provides onsite technical assistance. If not, choose another manufacturer. Some manufacturers don’t charge for onsite help, while others do. In advance, check how much will be charged, how long the technician will be onsite and the type of direction the technician will offer.

Ask if some direction will be available, either by phone or online, prior to the display’s arrival. It’s best to arrange these technicalities before contracting the display’s purchase. A good technical assistant can make the installation flawless, on time and cost effective. The best installations are choreographed well in advance of the installation date. Immediately upon the display contract’s completion and acceptance, call the manufacturer’s technical assistant and ask:

• What are the exact display power requirements?

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• Where will the power distribution panel be placed?

• What is the display’s weight?

• How many pieces of the display will be shipped?

• Where will the connection points be? (Ask for a scaled drawing.)

• Will the display be crated, draped or shrink-wrapped?

• How will the display cabinet attach to the sign structure?

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• What data distribution — modem, cable, fiberoptic, DSL or other — will be used?

• Who will train the display operator?

• How much time will be allotted during installation for service training? $image1

Accountable parties

Once preliminary information is determined, assemble a list of contractors for the work distribution and schedule. Your shop’s size will determine which tasks, if any, are to be performed inhouse or subcontracted.

At minimum, each sign installation requires the following accountable parties:

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• Licensed electrical contractor;

• Licensed sign installer;

• Freight company;

• Display operator trainer; and

• Phone company for modem or DSL service, or a cable company for cable data transmission.

Once each accountable party is assigned, whether inhouse or otherwise, schedule each task with the other contractors in mind. Timing is crucial in a successful installation. All the work, except the display’s delivery and hanging, must be completed before the installation date.

Essentials

The most essential considerations are:

• The display’s electrical power requirements, adjusted to meet local code requirements, should be brought to the display location and installed in a distribution panel prior to the display’s arrival.

• For a pole-mounted display, the properly engineered pole should be installed in its cured concrete footing before the display arrives.

• If possible, the display controller should be shipped, before the sign, to the display operator. Operator training should be conducted prior to installation, to acquaint the operator with the sign-operating system and allow time to create appropriate messages to display when the system is activated.

• The communications medium should be brought to the sign location, ready for activation upon installation completion.

If all of this work is completed prior to the display’s delivery, the shipment possibly can go directly to the sign location. Ask the freight company for the truck driver’s cell-phone number. By monitoring his or her schedule, you can arrive at the site with the installation equipment and set it up prior to the delivery.

Choreograph where the delivery vehicle should park, being mindful of its size and the access to the property. Set your crane so it can lift the display from the truck to the pylon or building attachment point, if possible, without moving.

Once the truck is positioned, it should be possible to remove the crate or wrapping on the truck bed. If not, lift the crate from the truck to a spot adjacent to the display location. Once the display is removed from its shipping container, ask the onsite technical assistant to examine it to ensure there’s no breakage and all parts are in place. Once you are satisfied with the display’s condition, dismiss the truck.

Now comes the final assembly of the display. Assuming the preliminary work is complete, it’s a fairly straightforward task.

• Attach the sign cabinet to the sign structure.

• Affix the display’s electrical components, under the supervision of the manufacturer’s technician.

• Connect the communication media, under the supervision of the manufacturer’s technician.

• Allow the technician to turn on the display and correct equipment failures that may have arisen during shipment or as a manufacturing defect.

Consider maintenance at the time of installation. If your firm will maintain the display, obtain training now from the factory technician. Most manufacturers supply spare parts with each display. Inventory these parts to ensure that you have received everything. Have the technician demonstrate each component’s replacement, how to determine the cause of each common failure, and the solution for each. Be sure to obtain the telephone number for 24-hour technical-service assistance.

Appropriate scheduling for each work component can save dollars and stress. I’ve enjoyed the benefits of a well-planned installation. When everything falls into place, your customer perceives you as a competent professional. Unfortunately, I learned most of these lessons through the school of hard knocks. I’ve also found myself at a sign installation waiting for an electrician or the phone company, or arguing with the manufacturer’s technician over responsibilities.

When those things happen, you’re dropping money into a hole. Poor planning can yield lost profits and an angry customer.

This has been a rather general approach to a complex subject. Larger and more complex signs entail greater complexity. The most important consideration is to have a single, accountable source on your team who coordinates every detail with a technical assistant from the manufacturer. If those two individuals work together, the installation should be trouble-free and cost-effective.