Timer or Photocell? Meet The Eye of Texas™

For lighted signs, a timer and an automatic lighting control serve different purposes. A timer determines when the sign is allowed to operate. A lighting control determines when conditions are dark enough for illumination to improve visibility. Using both lets your sign respond to changing light while remaining off during scheduled hours.

At Signs Manufacturing, our Eye of Texas™ automatic electronic lighting controls are calibrated for the individual sign to help keep your business visible in building shadows, on dark or rainy days, and at dusk. Available installation options depend on the sign's size and construction.

What Does The Eye of Texas™ Do?

Illustration of a building in afternoon shadow: Standard Photocell letters are unlit while Eye of Texas letters are illuminated.

The Eye of Texas automatically turns your sign's internal lighting on when illumination can improve its visibility, then turns it off when it is no longer needed. Its settings account for the conditions affecting your particular sign.

A sign can sit in the shadow of a building while the surrounding area is still bright. In that situation, a conventional photocell may leave the sign off even though illuminated letters would be easier to see. The comparison illustration shows the visibility difference this can make.

Our controls respond to light conditions at the sign, including building shadows. We customize the settings based on:

Whether the sign faces north, south, east, or west.
The sign's construction and lighting system.
Whether the sign uses LEDs, neon, or other lighting options.
The light levels at which illumination improves legibility.

The goal is simple: make your sign easier to notice and read when your business needs that visibility, automatically.

Why Sign Lighting Matters During the Day

Close-up of a man with a surprised, impressed expression in our channel letter sign showroom.

Sign lighting is useful beyond nighttime hours. Cloud cover, rain, and building shadows can make an unlit sign harder to read during the day. Tinted storefront windows can also make it difficult for passing customers to tell whether a business is open.

Our founder first recognized this while managing a supermarket. He observed that turning on the store's signs during gloomy weather helped the business attract attention. The challenge was remembering to switch them on whenever conditions changed.

That experience helped shape our approach to automatic sign lighting: your sign should respond to changing conditions without relying on someone to notice the weather and operate a switch.

With modern LED channel letters, you can improve daytime visibility while keeping energy use low. Actual operating costs depend on the sign's size, lighting system, operating hours, and electricity rate.

Timer vs. Standard Photocell vs. Eye of Texas™

A Timer Controls Operating Hours

A timer switches power on and off according to a schedule. It is useful for keeping your sign off during hours when you do not want it illuminated. A basic fixed-schedule timer does not respond to cloud cover, rain, or building shadows, and its schedule may need seasonal adjustment.

A Standard Photocell Responds to Ambient Light

A standard photocell switches lighting according to the light level at its sensor. Its location and switching threshold affect when the sign turns on. A sensor exposed to bright daylight may not reflect the conditions on a shaded sign.

The Eye of Texas™ Is Calibrated for Your Sign

The Eye of Texas is our automatic electronic lighting control system. Rather than relying on a standard photocell or photo eye, we calibrate its settings for the sign's orientation, construction, and lighting. This helps the sign illuminate when changing light conditions affect its visibility.

Should Your Electrician Install a Timer?

Yes, a timer can complement the Eye of Texas™. Have your electrician coordinate the power supply and timer arrangement with our sign installation team.

For example, a business might choose to keep its sign off from 2:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. During the remaining hours, the Eye of Texas can determine whether illumination is needed based on light conditions. Choose operating hours that fit your business and applicable local requirements.

Timer: establishes the hours when the sign may operate.
Eye of Texas™: controls illumination within those hours as light conditions change.

Improve Visibility While Managing Energy Use

Effective sign lighting balances visibility with sensible operating hours. Automatic controls help your sign respond to changing conditions, while a timer can prevent unnecessary overnight operation.

Learn more about energy use and savings with SolarBrite™ LED sign lighting, or review our channel letter electrical information when planning power for your sign.

See The Eye of Texas™ in Our Sign Lighting Showroom

Visit the Signs Manufacturing Sign Lighting Laboratory and Showroom in Dallas to see our control system operating and review the testing behind our approach. Compare illuminated and unlit signs to see how lighting affects visibility under different conditions.

Ask our team about including the Eye of Texas™ in your next sign.