When installing a TV outside, we recommend that your TV be installed in a location that is best suited for your viewing comfort. Once you make that selection, it will be important to evaluate how much shade and/or how much sun will fall on the front of the TV. Let’s compare partial sun and full sun.
Partial sun or indirect sun TV Installations Are Defined by Three Main Factors
Any areas of comfortable viewing; such as shade from trees, pergolas, umbrellas or overhangs.
High ambient light void of any direct exposure of the sun on the TV screen
Areas of shorter periods of sunlight on the TV screen (1 hour or less) sheltered from long periods of direct sun hitting the TV screen.
Full Sun or Direct Sun installations are also defined by three elements
Placement where the TV screen can get more than 6 hours of direct sun from morning or afternoon exposure.
Any installation where the direct sun hits the front of the TV.
Installation where there is no overhead coverage of the TV.
Why does it matter?
For entertainment and enjoyment installations, TVs placed in partial sun have a crisper, brighter picture image and are most comfortable to view over longer periods of time. Moreover, there is no risk of isotropic behavior (black spots) when TV’s are out of the direct rays of the sun. There is no risk of damage to the TV from overheating.
In full or direct sun, Apollo’s DS “direct sun” line builds in more protection for the TV with IR film to shield the TV from harmful UV and IR rays and additional airflow in the front cover to stream air in between the glass and the TV further protects it from overheating.
Selecting the right TV to optimize brightness and picture quality
In either case, it is important to source a TV with the best HDR peak brightness to deliver a good picture image in the presence of high ambient light or direct sun on the TV screen. Digital signage displays are the best technology for the brightest images, but these are mostly used in commercial applications for easy reading of signage and information.
For consumer backyards or commercial restaurant patios, check the make, model specifications with budget you have in mind and select a model that will best fit your needs in the installation location.
A great source of information for the brightest TVs on the market can be found here. You should be able to find HDR Peak brightness ratings for most models on the market today.
Bottom Line
The right installation location, enclosure type, and TV model all contribute to your outdoor TV experience. Knowing the difference between partial and full sun, will help you achieve the ideal outdoor TV installation and the optimum protection of your TV.