Dear friends who have just entered the industry, please pay attention! Recently, many engineering providers asked me: "Where should this LED large-screen control host be placed? Why are some stuffed behind the screen and some hanging in the computer room?" To be honest, this question seems simple, but many people will be confused in actual operation. Today we will talk about it and teach you step by step to find the right position of this "brain".

1. Control the three golden positions of the host

​​Let’s talk about the most common installation methods——Embedded structure. According to industry statistics, 75% of outdoor large screens adopt this solution. You circle around the screen, pay attention to the metal control box at the bottom or side, where the host is usually hidden. Last year, an engineer embedded the host in a 1.2-meter-high waterproof tank at the bottom of the screen, which not only facilitates maintenance but also avoids rain.

​The second common location​It is a separate computer room. Especially for large-scale projects such as stadiums, the hosts are often placed separately in equipment rooms 20-50 meters away. There is an advantage of doing this: it was calculated when a gymnasium in Guangzhou was upgraded last year that an independent computer room can reduce the failure rate of the host by 42%, after all, there is no need to follow the screen to get sun and rain.

​The third special solution​is a distributed layout. Nowadays, the new modular large screens are popular to scatter the control unit into each box, like building blocks. This design has a unique skill - the floor tiles screen at a certain brand concert last year, and the 32 modules each have microcontrollers, and even if two of them are broken, it will not affect the overall display.

2. Four practical tips for positioning the host

Don’t panic when encountering unfamiliar projects! Remember this formula: "ask, look, touch, and test". When I was helping customers with acceptance last month, I found that the host was installed in the fire escape in violation of regulations, which is a fatal problem.

1. ​Don't be lazy when looking up the drawings​：
   Regular projects have equipment positioning diagrams, focusing on elevation symbols and annotations. Once I saw a project with the drawing marked "EL+3.5m", but it was installed on the site at 2 meters - it was obviously a construction team that was doing it.

2. ​​Listen to distinguish position​：
   When powering on, listen carefully close to the screen. There will be a clear sound of relay sucking and closing when the host is started. Last year, the large screen in a shopping mall was accepted, and it was determined that the host was mistakenly installed on the back of the billboard.

3. ​Temperature tracking​：
   Prepare an infrared thermometer and scan the back of the screen after turning on for half an hour. The temperature in the area where the host is located will be 8-12℃ higher than the perimeter. This method is very useful in complex structures.

4. ​​Cable reverse tracking​：
   Looking back along the signal line (usually a thick black line), you will most likely be able to touch the host. Pay attention to the cable label. Regular projects will be marked with "Ctrl-Main".

3. Three major pit avoidance guide for installation location

Now some engineering teams install hosts randomly in order to save trouble. Last year's industry survey showed that 23% of screen failures were caused by improper installation location. Here are the key points for you:

​Don't choose these death positions​：
① Exposed directly to the edge of the canopy (no matter how waterproof it is, it cannot withstand the typhoon)
② Closely close to the air conditioner external unit (vibration + high temperature = host killer)
③ It is less than 1 meter away from the strong electric cabinet (electromagnetic interference makes you doubt your life)

​​The gold installation parameters are recorded​：

• Waterproof grade ≥IP54 (must be outdoors)
• Ambient temperature -10℃~40℃ (lifetime is cut in half after this range)
• The maintenance passage is ≥80cm wide (don't let the maintenance master scold you)

To give a real case: a large screen at a certain airport was originally going to install the mainframe under the bridge, but fortunately the designer insisted on changing it to the VIP room mezzanine, and the three-year zero failure rate verified the correctness of this choice.

4. Exclusive insights into future trends

After working in the project for fifteen years, I found that the choice of host location is undergoing two major changes:

1. ​Invisible design​: The new distributed control system reduces the size of the host by 60%, and can now be directly embedded in the screen border
2. ​​Intelligent operation and maintenance​: Remote control is realized through 5G modules. Last year, a certain brand launched a cloud control system, engineers can debug host parameters 2,000 kilometers away at the headquarters.

Another important discovery: choosing a host with smart cooling can reduce maintenance costs by 35%. Just like some high-end models nowadays, they can automatically adjust the fan speed according to the ambient temperature, which is much more reliable than traditional mechanical temperature control.

The last nagging sentence is heart-wrenching: Don’t settle the host position! I would rather spend 2,000 yuan on the waterproof compartment than save this little money to repair the machine every day. Remember, a good screen is used for seven points and three points. If you choose the right position, you can travel eight fewer trips to the scene!

for more product information and pricing, please contact us .