Ballasts - Custom UV-C Fluorescent Ballasts

  Taxi Signs - Redundant systems keep signs illuminated

Challenge: Lighted roof top taxi signs are a valuable advertising medium. Unfortunately they also need regular service to keep the lights on and the signs legible. This maintenance is done by the sign company not the taxicab company.

The challenge is how to do maintenance on a vehicle that is on the road 18 hours a day. Ideally the sign company would like to do this service when they change the signage but how do you predict when a lamp will go out?

Analysis: Intellicon, being specialists in low lamps and ballasts, recognized that a cab is one of the harshest environments for fluorescent lights. Besides the vibrations and moisture, the signs must also work in extreme temperatures or else the advertisers would be owed rebates. Current lamps failed frequently and the sign company was spending too much money on maintenance and lost revenues.

Results: Initially Intellicon looked at upgrading the current design to make it more rugged, but that idea was quickly scrapped for a fail-safe redundant system that would ensure the signs would always be lit. If one lamp failed or burned out then the second lamp will turn on and a warning lamp will be lit.

The rugged dual-ballast design exceeded the customers' expectation. The system delivered 30% more light, making the signs brighter and showed better colors. This brightness was also immune to the wide range of car voltage levels, providing maximum lighting from 8 to 18 VDC. The intelligent ballasts also lit a warning light whenever a lamp burns out or stops functioning. This lamp is visible whenever the technician comes to change the sign, eliminating service non-scheduled calls.

The client was extremely pleased with the design and installed them in every sign, immediately paying back the cost of the new fixtures through lower maintenance.

The Proof:

Well-lit advertising signs are an important revenue source for cab companies. Intellicon designs keep the lights on and the dollars coming in.