South Florida integrator leans on Digital Projection to deliver a videowall fit for finicky outdoor conditions at a luxury estate.

Historically, outdoor videowalls have been designed and engineered primarily for commercial applications. However, recent developments in size and clarity along with price reductions have allowed homeowners to start to take advantage of this technology. Utilizing this large-format imaging option in the backyard of a luxury residence makes a lot of sense. A high-end residential project recently completed by AudioTec Designs in Boca Raton proves it.

“This ‘pinnacle project’ marked our first time installing a residential videowall outside and our first time working with DP,” says AudioTec Designs owner David Holiday. Crucial to the successful implementation of the 130-inch Digital Projection Radiance Outdoor LED videowall was Digital Projection’s diligent assistance from initial design to completion. “We were able to learn from DP’s project coordinators the small yet important details to consider when implementing a videowall. Even the processes of moving the videowall panels from the curb to the lanai without damaging the lawn was a huge deal that DP helped us plan and execute,” Holiday says.

Together, AudioTec Designs and Digital Projection customized the display to combat common outdoor obstacles—sunshine, moisture, weather, etc. For example, they integrated a light sensor with the videowall to enable automatic adjustments of image brightness based on the measure of sunlight. Then, to ensure the image would look crisp and pin-sharp no matter how close or far away viewers would be watching, the team requested the videowall be configured with pixel pitch of 1.5mm. Also implemented was technology to protect the videowall from lightning strikes, electrical spikes and surges. The equipment racks are isolated and connected to dedicated surge protection, power conditioner, and battery backup. Additionally, AudioTec Designs isolated the videowall and video processor via fiber optic cable instead of using highly conductive copper cabling. “This was of major importance, as any major electrical disturbance, whether from the environment or from the power utility could travel over copper to the videowall and potentially cause catastrophic damage to any equipment,” Holiday explains.