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When I was a kid Mom and Dad both were always saying “Don’t sit so close to the TV, you’ll go blind!” Well, I mostly listened to them and thankfully I’m not blind. Back in the day when televisions were all CRTs (Cathode Ray Tube) there were certainly cause for concern about being too close. CRTs emitted a dose a radiation and when you stared at them for a while they didn’t do your eyes any favors either. Fortunately, CRTs are on their last leg and the superior LCDs have pretty much taken over. So unless you’re going for the retro look, CRTs are out and LCDs are now the way to go even for the needs of security.
Just about any type of display is better than a CRT, however the security industry has developed its own type of LCD monitor to meet the specific needs of people that use CCTV and below are some of the key benefits.
- Easier on the Eyes- Unlike CRTs, LCDs don’t emit harsh amounts of light which is very important considering sometimes you must be close to the monitor and staring is regularly required so that important details are seen. As a side benefit LCD monitors are also easier on the ears, they don’t have the faint but piercing whine of a CRT.
- No Burn In- A unique aspect of security is that a video monitor is typically showing a scene that seldom changes. This was a big problem for CRTs which, after just a year of use the scene was permanently etched into the screen. With LCDs you don’t have the same concern, they won’t burn in.
- Life Expectancy- With CRTs, the average lifespan was about 5 years with moderate use. LCDs have a 60,000 hour life expectancy and that means even if you left them on 24/7 that’s almost 7 years. In a more typical use, it’s plausible that LCDs can last for 10 plus years…no problem.
- Shipping Cost- LCDs weigh about a third less than CRTs and consequently you’ll pay a third less or more for delivery. In some cases this savings in shipping cost makes the cost between LCD and CRT the same. An added benefit to the light weight aspect of LCD display is that they are easier to mount to a wall. If you need to mount your LCD on a wall, be sure to get a wall mount bracket, power extension cable and a video extension cable.
- Space Saving- LCDs don’t just look better, they free up work space. A typical LCD is just a few inches in depth whereas a CRT can be twelve to eighteen inches… that’s a huge difference.
- Better for the Environment- LCDs need very little power and a result the cost of operation is approximately a quarter of the cost of operation for a CRT. When comparing a 19” LCD to a 19” CRT, you can expect to roughly save around $20 to $30 per year in energy cost. Like CRTs, LCD monitors contain elements that are harmful to the environment. Thankfully due to their longer life, they will help reduce harmful waste in comparison with CRT monitors.
- Multi-Role Capability- Unlike most LCD displays, security LCD monitors can be used in a multi-role scenario. Security LCD monitors will typically have both a composite video input (NTSC) and a VGA input which allows both a CCTV system and a PC to be displayed on one monitor. Some of the latest security type LCD monitors are also equipped with multiple composite inputs along with S-video and HDMI.
- Audio- Audio is a very important dimension of security that can make all the difference in solving the crime and more importantly intervening before it happens. Catering to this need, security LCDs typically come equipped with built-in speakers and line-level inputs that interface with DVRs.
I hope this outline of security LCD benefits has helped you in your purchasing decision. If you have any additional questions, feedback, or would like to recommend a future blog topic, please feel free to contact me at jake@supercircuits.com
Thanks,
Jake
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