LED TVs And Temperature (13 Questions Answered)
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LED TVs work just fine in a nice warm house, but what happens if the TV is exposed to extremes of temperatures, like in a cold garage or a hot conservatory?
In this article, we answer these questions and more.
Let’s get to it.
Do LED TVs need to warm up?
LED TVs do not need to warm up.
Old fashioned Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TVs that fired electrons at a phosphorous screen had to warm because the electrons were only released when the cathode emitter heated up.
But LED TVs, which are basically LCD TVs with an LED backlight, emit light almost instantly when the TV is turned on.
How long should I wait to turn on a cold LED TV?
A cold LED TV can be turned on immediately and it will work. But you may have issues with condensation.
If your TV has been stored in a place where the temperature is lower than where you plan to put it, the warm air can cause condensation to form on the electronic components inside your TV.
To prevent damage to your TV, it’s a good idea to wait at least 24 hours after the TV has come up to room temperature.
This will allow any condensation to evaporate from the internal components.
If the TV is turned on too early when condensation has formed, the water can cause short circuits which can permanently destroy your TV.
Can LED TVs work in cold weather?
LED TVs can work in cold weather but the cold can affect them.
Manufacturers recommend LED TVs operate within certain temperature limits. Usually this is between 50° F to 104° F.
According to Samsung, their LCD TVs will be negatively affected when used outside this range.
In cold weather you may notice that the display becomes sluggish causing the gradual slowing and lagging of response times.
This is because the molecules in liquid crystal displays slow down as the temperature drops.
Can cold temperatures damage an LED TV?
If the temperature is cold enough, the medium in the LCD display, which is in between a liquid and a solid, can freeze and cause permanent damage to the pixels.
Can LED TVs be stored in cold weather?
LED TVs can be stored in cold weather as long as it’s not in use.
Samsung recommends that their LCD TVs are stored at temperatures ranging from -4° to 113° Fahrenheit.
Sony says that their televisions can be placed in storage between -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and between 20-90% Relative Humidity (RH).
Can LED TVs freeze in cold weather?
The liquid crystal layer is a medium which is in between a liquid and a solid.
Therefore, if the weather is cold enough, the liquid crystals in the LCD display are susceptible to freezing.
If the LCD display does freeze, then they won’t be able to do the phase transition that enables the screen to work.
Is there such a thing as an outdoor LED TV?
Outdoor LED TVs are a thing.
Most TVs are not designed to be exposed to the elements.
But outdoor TVs are engineered specifically to withstand the elements including harsher temperatures and wet conditions.
As a result, they are typically expensive.
Alternatively, you can buy an indoor TV and install it in an enclosure to protect it from the elements.
You should also keep it out of the way of direct sunlight.
Any LED TV that you buy for outdoor use should have good reflection handling and a high peak brightness to help combat glare.
Does heat affect an LED TV?
A little heat won’t negatively affect an LED TV.
Samsung says that their TVs can operate normally up to 113° Fahrenheit.
Sony says that their TVs can operate normally up to 140° Fahrenheit.
But too much heat can damage your TV. Or at the very least disrupt the pixel’s ability to work correctly.
In order to produce images on an LCD screen, the liquid crystals are manipulated by altering their orientation and alignment.
Heat can disrupt this process and randomize the orientation and alignment of the pixels.
When the backlight attempts to pass light through, some of the liquid crystals may be blocking the light when they should be allowing it through.
This can lead to dark spots or a completely dark image.
In addition to permanent damage to the liquid crystals, hardware may also crack or melt.
What’s the ideal temperature for an LED TV?
The ideal temperature range for an LED TV varies depending on the manufacturer.
As a guide, Samsung LED TVs have a range between 50° F to 104°. Sony recommends to use their TVs within 32 °F to 104 °F.
Most other LED TVs will have similar temperature ranges.
Can direct sunlight affect an LED TV?
Prolonged and direct sunlight can damage an LCD display by interfering with orientation and alignment of the liquid crystals.
This can cause dark spots to appear over time.
But under normal conditions where the sun is shining on the TV, it’s unlikely to cause any lasting damage.
Do LED TVs get hot?
LED TVs do not get hot, but they can get warm in normal operation.
The LED backlight is the part on the TV that is responsible for producing the most heat.
Although LEDs don’t emit any infrared in the light beam that they produce, the LED fixture itself produces heat due to the inefficiencies in the semiconductor processes that generate the light.
If your TV is an edge lit display, then you will feel heat coming from the sides or the top and bottom of the TV.
This heat can be especially noticeable now that TVs are getting thinner.
The bottom line is that if you’re watching the TV for a while, then it may get a little hotter, but it should never be too hot to touch.
Can an LED TV heat a room?
Any TV including LED TVs should not get hot enough to heat a room.
Do LED TVs need ventilation?
LED TVs should be placed in areas that are well ventilated to prevent them from overheating.
This applies to all electronic products, not just televisions.
You can reduce the power consumption and the amount of heat that the TV generates by decreasing the brightness of LED backlight in the TVs settings.
Sources
Why don’t plasma & LCD TVs need to warm up like conventional tellies?
Will Very Cold Or Very Warm Temperatures Affect My LCD TV?
The 6 Best Outdoor TVs – Fall 2021: Reviews
What is the recommended storage temperature for a television?
LCD Temperature Range. Operating Limits for the Heat & Cold
Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson, the founder of Tech Parasol, had a keen interest in tech from a very young age. He studied Electronic Engineering at University and then went on to become a Software Developer. He launched Tech Parasol in 2021 to share his knowledge with the aim of making tech easier to understand for everyone.
