Signage, Displays & Architectural Graphics worked example

Power Supply Sizing with connected led and lighting load of 30 kW: a worked example

This scenario runs the power supply sizing calculation on the strong side: connected led and lighting load of 30 kW, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it when power supply sizing in signage, displays and architectural graphics is being quoted and energy is a real chunk of the signage, displays and architectural graphics cost stack.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Connected LED/lighting load: 30 kW (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 12)
  • Daily illuminated runtime: 8 hr (unchanged)
  • Electricity rate: 0.12 $ / kWh (unchanged)
  • Units illuminated by the supply: 1,000 units (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Energy cost = connected load × runtime × energy rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 28.8 $ / unit for energy cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 240 kWh for energy used.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.03 $ / piece for cost per piece.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3.6 $ / hr for hourly cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where connected led and lighting load sits at 12 kW and the headline result is 11.52 $ / unit, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 28.8 $ / unit.
  • Use it when specifying power supplies or estimating the operating electricity cost of an illuminated sign, channel-letter set or display wall. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Energy cost: 28.8 $ / unit (headline result)
  • Energy used: 240 kWh
  • Cost per piece: 0.03 $ / piece
  • Hourly cost: 3.6 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Power Supply Sizing calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.