Yesterday we had our ribbon cutting ceremony with the Red Carpet Committee in Cheyenne, WY. Amy Bennett of the United Way of Laramie County hosted us at the Cheyenne Chamber. Thank you to Christine Kronz for taking the photos. We are exited about all the work we’ve been doing in Cheyenne and Wyoming. If you or anyone you know of needs sign work in Wyoming please give us a call at 970-593-1334 or 307-635-1949.

Carla Schlosser, CEO and secretary/treasurer of Schlosser Signs, has been a member of the Downtown Loveland Association since 2007, and is one of DLA’s newest board members. She was appointed to a three-year term in our March 2010 elections.

She has extensive experience in small business, and is responsible for sales and marketing and a variety of HR and other tasks at her company. A long-time local resident, she combines her skills and experience as an entrepreneur with her passion for the local community and an understanding of the political and economic issues that impact Loveland, both downtown and across the city.

Carla started Schlosser Signs, Loveland’s only full-service custom sign company, in 1999 with her husband. She’s worked to steadily grow the company since then, for more than 10 years as secretary/treasurer, and as CEO since 2007. With her skills and guidance, Schlosser Signs has succeeded in winning industry awards and numerous high profile jobs throughout Colorado and Wyoming. The company currently employs 17, and celebrated its 10th anniversary late in 2009 by purchasing its own building.

Carla has four children, and loves the outdoors, reading and education.

Here is a photo of a sign we are currently manufacturing in our shop. This is a freestanding monument sign that is illuminated with exposed neon and will include an electronic message display. View the link below to see the EMC display it’s pre-programed display.

Phone: 970-593-1334
Cell: 970-619-0968
Fax: 970-593-0443
Email: kevin@schlossersigns.com

Today we begin by examining the site/location for a solar power electric sign.

There are a few initial steps to take in order to establish that your site will be compatible with a solar PV (Photovoltaic) lighting system.

Lets start with the following - Determine the average hours (annually) of solar insolation (full sun hours) for your geographical area. As we all know the summer hours and the winter hours vary quite a bit, so the average you want is an annual insolation amount. (Example: Boulder, CO   High hours in summer = 5.72,  Low in winter =4.44,  The approx. average for Boulder is 4.9ish) You can get on the web and find a Solar Insolation Map without much trouble or you could call me.

Next thing to analyze is sign location at the site, and more importantly the location of the solar collector/panel. To make a long story short the sign needs to be in view of the public and the solar panel needs to be facing the sun. It may be that the panel will be several feet away from the actual sign. This can be done… up to a limit. We will discuss the wiring in another article. The very basic idea concerning the solar panel is that you want it to be in full sunlight at all times. That means shadows that shift during the day and especially winter shadows compared to summer shadows are to be scrutinized. Again you can get on the web and find some very cool Sun Path Chart sites. 

Be aware that the site analysis can become a bit more technical. At times a “Clinometer” may be needed to measure the height of trouble making trees. This may be the only way to get the true shadow picture about your site.  

I can be consulted if there are some real issues when attempting to determine the height of objects that are to the south of the panel location. 

Next article will be PV lighting system components. Stay tuned “off grid” wanna be’s.    

Jim Hanson
Sales Consultant
Schlosser Signs, Inc. | 3597 Draft Horse Court | Loveland, CO 80538
970-593-1334 P | 970-593-0443 F | 970-217-3995 M
jim@schlossersigns.com | www.schlossersigns.com

On March 8th we installed a new sign that we donated to the House of Neighborly Service. The sign is located in Loveland, CO on the corner of 6th and Cleveland. We are happy we were able to help our community by donating this sign.

“Our gratitude goes so much beyond your financial contribution, from a heart of compassion you have served your community.  Thank you!  The dollars you have saved us will allow us to help hundreds of people with emergency services.” - Glorie Magrum, Executive Director House of Neighborly Service

But why consider pan channel letters? Pan channel letters are fast becoming one of the most popular options for electric sign advertising. These lighted signs provide a powerful and highly visible means of attracting the attention of casual passersby as well as potential customers who are actively seeking your products or services.

Here some important points to consider about pan channel letters:

1.      LED-illuminated letters are more and more often replacing neon signs, most specifically because neon contains mercury. For this reason, a lot of states have curtailed or banned the use of neon tubing for environmental reasons.

2.      LEDs also use less energy, as much as 40% less, thus making monthly operational costs lower than with neon lights.

3.      For LED signs, the letters don’t need to be individually hand made like neon-lit letters.

4.      LED lights are more hard-wearing than neon lights, which break more easily. Repair costs would be lower than with neon signs.

5.      LED signs remain shining brightly in colder temperatures, whereas neon lights tend to become dimmer when temperatures drop to wintry levels.

6.      LEDs are easy to install, and replacement is easily and speedily accomplished. 

Pan channel letters can be mounted in several different ways. One is to mount the individual letters and other design elements directly to the surface of the building. Each letter-shaped “pan” holds its own electrical components. The mounting hardware and electrical wiring are installed behind the wall.

Another installation method is to mount the various letters and design components onto a raceway which is then installed onto the building’s fascia. The raceway holds the wiring and installation hardware for the letters.

Whichever method of installation you opt for, the letter pan can be covered with a plastic face or cover. Or it can be left exposed, a method called open-faced.

Open-faced pan channel letters can also be reversed and installed so that the letter pans appear to be backlit. These types of signs are called halo-illuminated channel letters.

Another thing to be considered is the fact that laws governing business signage differ from state to state. These laws speak to such things as a sign’s size, materials used, illumination, energy usage, placement and installation requirements. Local communities, too, may have additional zoning laws regarding signs. Be sure to check the state and local laws in your area before you make your final decision on your signage system.

Every business needs some type of outdoor advertising signs for attracting the attention of both passersby and customers looking for your specific product or services. Why consider pan channel letters for your outdoor signage system? The points listed above will help you decide.