Keeping your screen on when the grid isn't.
Load-shedding doesn't have to mean a dark screen. Here's what backup power costs, how to size it, and what to protect first.
An LED screen keeps running through load-shedding when it's paired with backup power — a UPS or battery inverter sized to the screen's power draw and the length of the outage. The screen, media player and content controller are kept on the backup supply so the display stays live and the controller never reboots. Backup is sized in watt-hours: the screen's draw multiplied by the hours of outage you want to cover, so a small indoor screen needs far less than a large outdoor one.
Why a screen going dark costs more than power
For an advertising or revenue screen, every hour of load-shedding is an hour of lost advertising delivery — and on a revenue-share deal, lost income for both the venue and the operator. For a wayfinding or event screen it's worse: the screen is dark exactly when people need it. The question isn't whether to plan for outages, it's how much of each outage you need to cover.
The two things that set the cost
Backup power for a screen is sized on two numbers, and nothing else really matters until you have them.
| Number | What it is | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Power draw (watts) | How much the screen pulls when it's running | Screen size and brightness — a big, bright outdoor screen draws far more than a small indoor one |
| Runtime (hours) | How long you need it to stay on without grid power | Your local load-shedding stage and slot length — covering a 2-hour slot needs more than covering 30 minutes |
Multiply the two and you have the watt-hours of battery you need. That's why there's no single price: a small lobby screen riding out a short outage is an inexpensive UPS, while keeping a large outdoor billboard live for a full stage-6 slot is a serious battery and inverter bank.
UPS vs inverter vs generator
UPS (uninterruptible power supply)
A battery that takes over instantly with no flicker. Best for small-to-mid screens and for protecting the media player and controller so they never reboot. Silent, indoor-friendly, limited runtime.
Battery inverter
A larger battery-and-inverter system for longer runtimes and bigger screens. The mainstream choice for keeping a commercial screen live across full load-shedding slots, and it can be paired with solar to offset running cost.
Generator
For the largest installations or where very long runtime is essential. Higher running cost and noise, but effectively unlimited runtime while fuelled. Usually overkill for a single screen unless it's part of a wider site backup.
What to protect first, on any budget
If you can't afford to keep the whole screen lit through every outage, protect the brain before the brawn. The LED panels can go dark and come straight back; the media player and controller should never lose power, because a clean restart and re-sync wastes minutes of every outage. The priority order:
- Media player & controllerA small UPS here means the moment grid or main backup returns, the screen resumes instantly with no reboot.
- The screen itselfAdd inverter capacity to keep the panels lit for as much of the outage as the budget covers.
- Extend runtimeScale the battery bank — and consider solar — to cover longer or higher-stage slots.
BrightSpot sizes the backup as part of the install, so the screen's power draw, your local load-shedding pattern and your runtime target are matched to the right UPS or inverter from day one — not bolted on after the first dark slot.
Frequently asked
Can an LED screen keep running during load-shedding?
Yes — paired with backup power (a UPS or battery inverter) sized to the screen's draw and the outage length. The screen and media player stay protected so the display stays live and the controller never reboots.
How much backup power does an LED screen need?
It depends on the screen's power draw (which scales with size and brightness) and how long you need it on. Backup is sized in watt-hours: screen draw multiplied by the hours of outage you want to cover.
Spec a screen that survives the schedule.
Tell us the site and your local load-shedding stage; we'll size the screen and its backup together.
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