Rugby scoreboard FAQ
Find answers to common questions about installing, maintaining and troubleshooting your electronic rugby scoreboard.
Rugby Scoreboards: Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your rugby scoreboard from being weathertight to batteries and mounting options.
Weathertight – does it matter if it gets rained on?
Our scoreboards are designed to be weathertight and can be left outside all year round. However, you can prolong the intervals between services by taking a little extra care of your rugby scoreboard.
When your scoreboard is damp for prolonged periods, it encourages corrosion of the internal electronics. To reduce the effects of this, give consideration to where you install your scoreboard.
Our scoreboards are vented to allow a good volume of air flow, significantly reducing condensation and damp. If you are mounting your scoreboard to a flat surface, we will provide brackets that leave an air gap of about 25mm between the rear of the scoreboard and the flat surface, again to allow good airflow.
But, if your scoreboard is kept behind a shutter that has little to no ventilation, or is always in the shade, then the scoreboard may be permanently damp.
Don’t forget the controller too. Keeping it in damp locations, especially during the off season, is not a good idea. If it’s possible to put your scoreboard somewhere dry out of season, that’s recommended too.
Are the scoreboards maintenance free?
Over time, our scoreboards will require maintenance. They come with a 12 month warranty, but we expect them to last much longer than that.
We manufacture everything, so all parts of our scoreboards are either repairable or replaceable. The service interval between individual scoreboards is very variable, largely depending on the conditions they are kept in (see above).
If you have a fault, it’s best to get someone to call who has seen it. We are fairly good at diagnosing problems over the phone, and it’s often a matter of sending the correct parts so the club can fix the scoreboard themselves.
If the problem is more complex, or the club don’t want to do it themselves, we are able to come and service the scoreboard.
The most common fault is the + button on the controller wearing out. We’ve had them lab tested in the past for 1,500,000 presses, but in the real world, that’s optimistic.
Somewhere between 3 and 8 years we’d expect some to need replacing. We can do this on site if we’re there, or send the controller back to us.
We’ll test every button and replace those that aren’t 100%, update the controller software where appropriate, check the battery life and adjust the radio signal on wireless controllers.
The current cost for this is just £50 + delivery and VAT, (excluding batteries (but it’s rare to replace them).
How long do the batteries last on a charge?
Fully charged, the wireless handheld controller battery should last around 18 hours. The scoreboard operational time will vary greatly depending on the size and quantity of digits.
Larger digits use more power than smaller digits, but as a guide, a scoreboard using 6 and 9 inch digits (powered from an 80Ah leisure battery) will last around 22 hours. A scoreboard using 13 and 16 inch digits will last around 7.5 hours.
The scoreboard operating instructions and how to charge the batteries can be downloaded.
What happens if I connect the cables the wrong way around?
In general, you can’t get them the wrong way around as the cables are fitted with male and female XLR connectors. The exception is the power lead at the battery/power supply end. Here, we use a Red 4mm plug for +12V and a black 4mm plug for 0V. These can be connected back to front, but apart from the scoreboard/controller not working, it won’t cause any damage.
The other exception is the leisure battery charging lead that connects between your power supply and the leisure battery. This uses 4mm plugs, but on both ends and has a built in 20A small blade fuse. There are a couple of things that you could get wrong here and blow the fuse.
Firstly, if you have plugged one end of the charging cable into the battery or the switched on power supply, you could then touch the other ends of the cable together. This would allow a high current to flow through the cable and blow the fuse.
Secondly, you connect the power supply and the battery together but get the cables the wrong way around at one end. This would also allow a high current to flow and blow the fuse.
What are the options for mounting the scoreboard?
If you buy your scoreboard in an aluminium case there are various options available for mounting your scoreboard.
Wall mounting brackets
Used for mounting your scoreboard up against a flat(ish) surface. We typically supply these with a bracket on the left and right hand side and 2 or 3 brackets along the bottom depending on the size. But if that doesn’t suit, we can move them to somewhere that fits. Wall mounting brackets are better if you are wanting a permanent / season long installation.
Inserts and brackets
Threaded inserts
If you are thinking of mounting the scoreboard between posts (either wood or metal), then the threaded inserts work well. We can provide accurate dimensions of where the holes will be if you are getting somebody to fabricate metal posts for you.
Handles and handle brackets
If you intend to move your scoreboard in and out for each match, then you’ll probably want handles. You can also use the handles for mounting the scoreboard. We opt for machine brackets (very much like the wall mounting brackets) for attaching to a wall or posts that you can drop the handles into to keep the scoreboard secure during the match.
A variation of this we have used at one club is to use gate clasps and ‘U’ shaped bar. They had an 8′ by 4′ scoreboard weighing 80kg that they needed to bring in and out every match. We made 2 brackets that the scoreboard sat on before tilting the scoreboard up and into the clasps.
Rugby scoreboard products
Tripod
For our small scoreboards, we can provide a tripod and tripod mount to attach your scoreboard to. There is a link to the tripod mounting instructions.
Existing space
If you are wanting to fit your scoreboard into an existing space, we can provide the electronics mounted to our Latvian birch plywood to fit the size you have.
Need some advice?
We’re happy to help with any rugby scoreboard enquiries that you might have.
If you’re tight for space, need a portable option or have a certain budget in mind, just give us a call or drop us an email.
