How to plan an SMD LED screen
An LED screen is built from parts: LED modules or cabinets, receiving cards, 5 V power supplies, an LED controller, a frame and cabling. This guide takes you through each choice with Hikvision figures, so you know what to ask for. Our engineers then size it for your wall and send a free BOQ.
What an LED screen is made of
The picture travels from your video source to the LED controller, then over network cable to the receiving cards behind the screen, which drive the LED modules. The modules run on 5 V power from LED power supplies.
PC, media player or camera system over HDMI, DVI, SDI or DisplayPort. Controllers with built-in Android play programs from a USB drive without a PC.
Sends the picture to the screen over network cable. Each network port drives up to 0.65 MP (Hikvision).
LED controllers ›Sit behind the modules and drive them through HUB ports. The card must match the module's interface (HUB75E or HUB320).
Receiving cards ›The screen itself. Modules join edge to edge on a frame; cabinets have modules, receiving card and power supply built into one aluminium box (Hikvision).
LED modules › LED cabinets ›Power cable, breakers and a power strip (PDU) for the screen.
Turn mains power into the 5 V DC the modules run on. Built into cabinets; fitted on the frame for module screens.
Power supplies ›A steel (MS) frame made to the screen size with magnetic screws, or Hikvision wall brackets for cabinets.
LED parts ›Frame, modules, cabling, receiving card setup, testing and commissioning by our engineers.
Modules or cabinets?
Both make the same kind of seamless screen. The difference is what comes in the box and how the screen is built.
LED modules on a frame
- 320 × 160 mm modules, P1.2 to P8, indoor and outdoor
- Fixed with magnetic screws to a steel (MS) frame made to your wall
- Any size in steps of 320 × 160 mm (about 1.05 × 0.52 ft)
- Needs receiving cards, 5 V power supplies and an LED controller
- Flexible (soft) modules for curved screens
Outdoor uses Hikvision lists: billboards, building walls and roofs, advertising and sports live streaming.
LED modulesLED cabinets
- Ready-made units: 600 × 337.5, 640 × 480, 500 × 500 and 960 × 960 mm
- Modules, receiving card and power supply inside one aluminium box
- Fine pitch from P0.7 (D40 series) and front maintenance on most indoor models
- Needs an LED controller, wall brackets or a frame, and cabling
- Outdoor cabinets: IP65 front / IP66
Hikvision lists them for: monitoring and command centres, conference rooms, report halls and exhibition halls.
LED cabinetsPixel pitch: how close people stand
Pixel pitch is the distance between the centres of two pixels: P2.5 means 2.5 mm (Hikvision). A smaller pitch packs more pixels into the same wall, so the picture stays sharp up close, at a higher cost. People who watch from far away do not need a fine pitch.
Optimal viewing distance (Hikvision soft module datasheets, feet approx.)
| Pitch | Pixels per m² (Hikvision) | What we stock |
|---|---|---|
| P0.7Indoor | 1,638,400 | D40 COB module, 4 per 600 × 337.5 mm structure See P0.7 › |
| P0.9Indoor | 1,137,777 | D40 MIP module, 4 per 600 × 337.5 mm structure See P0.9 › |
| P1.2Indoor | 640,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules (also soft); D40 COB module, 4 per 600 × 337.5 mm structure; 600 × 337.5 mm cabinet See P1.2 › |
| P1.5Indoor | 409,600 / 422,500 | 320 × 160 mm modules; 600 × 337.5 mm and 640 × 480 mm cabinets See P1.5 › |
| P1.8Indoor | 284,444 / 288,906 | 320 × 160 mm modules; 600 × 337.5 mm and 640 × 480 mm cabinets See P1.8 › |
| P2.0Indoor | 250,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules (soft) See P2.0 › |
| P2.5Indoor OutdoorMost ordered | 160,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules (also soft); outdoor: 500 × 500 mm cabinet See P2.5 › |
| P3Outdoor | 105,625 | 320 × 160 mm modules See P3 › |
| P4Outdoor | 62,500 | 320 × 160 mm modules See P4 › |
| P5OutdoorMost ordered | 40,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules; 960 × 960 mm cabinet See P5 › |
| P8Outdoor | 15,625 | 320 × 160 mm modules See P8 › |
Most ordered: P2.5 indoor and P5 outdoor (ESCO orders, last 12 months). Use the filters on each category to narrow by pitch, size, interface and more.
How many modules or cabinets?
Divide the wall width by the module or cabinet width, and the height by its height. The screen grows in whole units, so the finished size is the nearest fit to your wall. Try it with any model we stock:
Quantities are a first estimate. Receiving cards, power supplies, frame and cabling come in the engineers' BOQ.
Controller: count the pixels
Hikvision rates each network port of an LED controller at 0.65 MP (650,000 pixels). Add up the screen's pixels and divide.
Example: a P2.5 indoor screen of 10.5 × 6.3 ft (3.2 × 1.92 m) has 1280 × 768 pixels = 0.98 MP, so it needs 2 ports.
| Controller size | P2.5 indoor screen up to | P5 outdoor screen up to | See |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 ports up to 1.3 MP | about 87 sq ft (8 m²) | about 350 sq ft (32 m²) | Controllers › |
| 4 to 6 ports up to 3.9 MP | about 262 sq ft (24 m²) | about 1,049 sq ft (98 m²) | Controllers › |
| 12 to 20 ports up to 13 MP | about 875 sq ft (81 m²) | about 3,498 sq ft (325 m²) | Controllers › |
| 24 to 40 ports up to 26 MP | about 1,749 sq ft (162 m²) | about 6,997 sq ft (650 m²) | Controllers › |
Inputs
Pick a controller with the inputs you use: HDMI, 4K (HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort), DVI or SDI. Each controller page lists them.
Content without a PC
Models with built-in Android play programs from a USB drive on their own. See them.
What holds and feeds the screen
These parts are made or cut for each site, so they are part of every LED quote we send.
Steel (MS) frame
Made to the screen size; modules fix to it with M4 magnetic screws. Hikvision asks for a wall and fixings that hold four times the screen's weight.
Cabinet brackets
For 640 × 480 mm cabinets Hikvision lists the DS-DL116448W (1 × 1) and DS-DL226448W (2 × 2) wall brackets.
Power
1.5 mm² 3-core power cable, breakers and a power strip; 5 V power supplies on the frame. The calculator above shows the screen's power from Hikvision's W/m² figures.
Network cabling
CAT6 cable from the controller to the first receiving card, then card to card. A long run from the control room is planned with the site.
From site visit to first picture
- Site checkWall size and strength, power point, cable route, indoor or outdoor. Hikvision: install after the decoration work is finished.
- Frame or bracketsFixed, levelled and checked for flatness.
- Modules or cabinetsFitted from the bottom row up and from the middle outward (Hikvision's sequence), then power and network cabling.
- Setup, testing and commissioningReceiving cards set to the screen size, brightness and picture checked, and your video sources connected to the controller.
What an ESCO LED quote includes
One list from screen to cabling, so nothing is missing on installation day.
Questions we often get
Indoor or outdoor: what changes?
Outdoor models are sealed and much brighter: our outdoor modules are 4500 cd/m² with an IP65 front, against about 550 to 600 cd/m² for the indoor ones (Hikvision). Indoor models are made for close viewing and finer pitches.
Can I replace a module in an existing screen?
Yes. Match the pitch, the module size and the HUB interface (HUB75E or HUB320). The filters on LED Modules do this, or send us a photo of the label on the back of a module on WhatsApp.
Which receiving card do I need?
The one that matches the module's interface: HUB75E modules use the DS-DR32H and DS-DR31H cards, the P1.2 HUB320 modules use the DS-DR32C-08. See Receiving Cards & Power Supplies.
Can the screen play content without a PC?
Yes, with a controller that has built-in Android: it plays programs from a USB drive. Other controllers take a PC, media player or camera system over HDMI, DVI, SDI or DisplayPort.
Do you install?
Yes. Installation, testing and commissioning are part of our LED quotes. Offices in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Planning an LED screen?
Tell us the wall size, indoor or outdoor, the viewing distance and what you want to show. We send the full list and a free quote.
Figures from Hikvision datasheets and installation guides for the models we stock. Final quantities, receiving cards, power supplies and frame come from our engineers' BOQ for your site.
How to plan an SMD LED screen
An LED screen is built from parts: LED modules or cabinets, receiving cards, 5 V power supplies, an LED controller, a frame and cabling. This guide takes you through each choice with Hikvision figures, so you know what to ask for. Our engineers then size it for your wall and send a free BOQ.
What an LED screen is made of
The picture travels from your video source to the LED controller, then over network cable to the receiving cards behind the screen, which drive the LED modules. The modules run on 5 V power from LED power supplies.
PC, media player or camera system over HDMI, DVI, SDI or DisplayPort. Controllers with built-in Android play programs from a USB drive without a PC.
Sends the picture to the screen over network cable. Each network port drives up to 0.65 MP (Hikvision).
LED controllers ›Sit behind the modules and drive them through HUB ports. The card must match the module's interface (HUB75E or HUB320).
Receiving cards ›The screen itself. Modules join edge to edge on a frame; cabinets have modules, receiving card and power supply built into one aluminium box (Hikvision).
LED modules › LED cabinets ›Power cable, breakers and a power strip (PDU) for the screen.
Turn mains power into the 5 V DC the modules run on. Built into cabinets; fitted on the frame for module screens.
Power supplies ›A steel (MS) frame made to the screen size with magnetic screws, or Hikvision wall brackets for cabinets.
LED parts ›Frame, modules, cabling, receiving card setup, testing and commissioning by our engineers.
Modules or cabinets?
Both make the same kind of seamless screen. The difference is what comes in the box and how the screen is built.
LED modules on a frame
- 320 × 160 mm modules, P1.2 to P8, indoor and outdoor
- Fixed with magnetic screws to a steel (MS) frame made to your wall
- Any size in steps of 320 × 160 mm (about 1.05 × 0.52 ft)
- Needs receiving cards, 5 V power supplies and an LED controller
- Flexible (soft) modules for curved screens
Outdoor uses Hikvision lists: billboards, building walls and roofs, advertising and sports live streaming.
LED modulesLED cabinets
- Ready-made units: 600 × 337.5, 640 × 480, 500 × 500 and 960 × 960 mm
- Modules, receiving card and power supply inside one aluminium box
- Fine pitch from P0.7 (D40 series) and front maintenance on most indoor models
- Needs an LED controller, wall brackets or a frame, and cabling
- Outdoor cabinets: IP65 front / IP66
Hikvision lists them for: monitoring and command centres, conference rooms, report halls and exhibition halls.
LED cabinetsPixel pitch: how close people stand
Pixel pitch is the distance between the centres of two pixels: P2.5 means 2.5 mm (Hikvision). A smaller pitch packs more pixels into the same wall, so the picture stays sharp up close, at a higher cost. People who watch from far away do not need a fine pitch.
Optimal viewing distance (Hikvision soft module datasheets, feet approx.)
| Pitch | Pixels per m² (Hikvision) | What we stock |
|---|---|---|
| P0.7Indoor | 1,638,400 | D40 COB module, 4 per 600 × 337.5 mm structure See P0.7 › |
| P0.9Indoor | 1,137,777 | D40 MIP module, 4 per 600 × 337.5 mm structure See P0.9 › |
| P1.2Indoor | 640,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules (also soft); D40 COB module, 4 per 600 × 337.5 mm structure; 600 × 337.5 mm cabinet See P1.2 › |
| P1.5Indoor | 409,600 / 422,500 | 320 × 160 mm modules; 600 × 337.5 mm and 640 × 480 mm cabinets See P1.5 › |
| P1.8Indoor | 284,444 / 288,906 | 320 × 160 mm modules; 600 × 337.5 mm and 640 × 480 mm cabinets See P1.8 › |
| P2.0Indoor | 250,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules (soft) See P2.0 › |
| P2.5Indoor OutdoorMost ordered | 160,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules (also soft); outdoor: 500 × 500 mm cabinet See P2.5 › |
| P3Outdoor | 105,625 | 320 × 160 mm modules See P3 › |
| P4Outdoor | 62,500 | 320 × 160 mm modules See P4 › |
| P5OutdoorMost ordered | 40,000 | 320 × 160 mm modules; 960 × 960 mm cabinet See P5 › |
| P8Outdoor | 15,625 | 320 × 160 mm modules See P8 › |
Most ordered: P2.5 indoor and P5 outdoor (ESCO orders, last 12 months). Use the filters on each category to narrow by pitch, size, interface and more.
How many modules or cabinets?
Divide the wall width by the module or cabinet width, and the height by its height. The screen grows in whole units, so the finished size is the nearest fit to your wall. Try it with any model we stock:
Quantities are a first estimate. Receiving cards, power supplies, frame and cabling come in the engineers' BOQ.
Controller: count the pixels
Hikvision rates each network port of an LED controller at 0.65 MP (650,000 pixels). Add up the screen's pixels and divide.
Example: a P2.5 indoor screen of 10.5 × 6.3 ft (3.2 × 1.92 m) has 1280 × 768 pixels = 0.98 MP, so it needs 2 ports.
| Controller size | P2.5 indoor screen up to | P5 outdoor screen up to | See |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 ports up to 1.3 MP | about 87 sq ft (8 m²) | about 350 sq ft (32 m²) | Controllers › |
| 4 to 6 ports up to 3.9 MP | about 262 sq ft (24 m²) | about 1,049 sq ft (98 m²) | Controllers › |
| 12 to 20 ports up to 13 MP | about 875 sq ft (81 m²) | about 3,498 sq ft (325 m²) | Controllers › |
| 24 to 40 ports up to 26 MP | about 1,749 sq ft (162 m²) | about 6,997 sq ft (650 m²) | Controllers › |
Inputs
Pick a controller with the inputs you use: HDMI, 4K (HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort), DVI or SDI. Each controller page lists them.
Content without a PC
Models with built-in Android play programs from a USB drive on their own. See them.
What holds and feeds the screen
These parts are made or cut for each site, so they are part of every LED quote we send.
Steel (MS) frame
Made to the screen size; modules fix to it with M4 magnetic screws. Hikvision asks for a wall and fixings that hold four times the screen's weight.
Cabinet brackets
For 640 × 480 mm cabinets Hikvision lists the DS-DL116448W (1 × 1) and DS-DL226448W (2 × 2) wall brackets.
Power
1.5 mm² 3-core power cable, breakers and a power strip; 5 V power supplies on the frame. The calculator above shows the screen's power from Hikvision's W/m² figures.
Network cabling
CAT6 cable from the controller to the first receiving card, then card to card. A long run from the control room is planned with the site.
From site visit to first picture
- Site checkWall size and strength, power point, cable route, indoor or outdoor. Hikvision: install after the decoration work is finished.
- Frame or bracketsFixed, levelled and checked for flatness.
- Modules or cabinetsFitted from the bottom row up and from the middle outward (Hikvision's sequence), then power and network cabling.
- Setup, testing and commissioningReceiving cards set to the screen size, brightness and picture checked, and your video sources connected to the controller.
What an ESCO LED quote includes
One list from screen to cabling, so nothing is missing on installation day.
Questions we often get
Indoor or outdoor: what changes?
Outdoor models are sealed and much brighter: our outdoor modules are 4500 cd/m² with an IP65 front, against about 550 to 600 cd/m² for the indoor ones (Hikvision). Indoor models are made for close viewing and finer pitches.
Can I replace a module in an existing screen?
Yes. Match the pitch, the module size and the HUB interface (HUB75E or HUB320). The filters on LED Modules do this, or send us a photo of the label on the back of a module on WhatsApp.
Which receiving card do I need?
The one that matches the module's interface: HUB75E modules use the DS-DR32H and DS-DR31H cards, the P1.2 HUB320 modules use the DS-DR32C-08. See Receiving Cards & Power Supplies.
Can the screen play content without a PC?
Yes, with a controller that has built-in Android: it plays programs from a USB drive. Other controllers take a PC, media player or camera system over HDMI, DVI, SDI or DisplayPort.
Do you install?
Yes. Installation, testing and commissioning are part of our LED quotes. Offices in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Planning an LED screen?
Tell us the wall size, indoor or outdoor, the viewing distance and what you want to show. We send the full list and a free quote.
Figures from Hikvision datasheets and installation guides for the models we stock. Final quantities, receiving cards, power supplies and frame come from our engineers' BOQ for your site.