How to Install an Illuminated Sign: Guide for Letters, Lightboxes and LED Neon

A good installation goes a long way towards how premium your sign looks in the end. The good news: with the right preparation, any experienced tradesperson can do it. This guide shows you what's in the box, how installation works and which mistakes to avoid.

In short

To install illuminated letters: switch off the power, tape the full-size drilling template to the wall with a spirit level, drill the fixing and cable holes, set the threaded studs with adhesive, fit the letters and have a qualified electrician make the connection. LED neon signs with a plug simply hang up and plug in.

What's in the box

  • Full-size (1:1) drilling template: shows every fixing hole and every cable entry.
  • Wiring diagram: shows how the letters, driver and mains supply connect.
  • Installation notes for your sign.
  • Fixings: threaded studs, washers and nuts for letters; stand-offs or a hanging kit for LED neon.

Your installer chooses wall plugs on site, because they depend on the surface: concrete, brick and plasterboard each need different ones.

Safety first

  • Mains work must be done by a qualified electrician, in line with BS 7671 and local rules.
  • Switch off the power before installation. After connecting, check every connection before switching back on.
  • Only use certified cable and connectors.
  • Put the driver somewhere dry and ventilated, never sealed airtight.
  • Don't open or modify the sign.

Tools

A drill with suitable bits, screwdriver, spirit level, tape measure, masking tape, construction adhesive or silicone and, for a facade, a safe ladder or scaffold.

Installing illuminated letters: step by step

  1. Set the position. Measure the area and mark the centre. Work out where the power supply is and where the driver will go.
  2. Fix the template. Tape the 1:1 drilling template to the wall and level it with a spirit level. Step back a few paces and check the position again from a distance.
  3. Mark and drill. Mark the fixing holes and cable entries through the template, remove it and drill. Fixing holes should be about 2 mm wider than the studs so the adhesive has room. Cable holes need to go right through the wall to the power supply.
  4. Screw in the studs. Screw the studs into the threads on the back of the letters.
  5. Feed the cables. Pass each letter's cable through the cable holes in the wall.
  6. Glue and fit. Put adhesive or silicone into the holes and on the studs, fit the letters and support them while the adhesive cures. On halo-lit letters, the stand-offs set a wall gap of about 2–4 cm.
  7. Connect. The electrician connects the letters to the driver and the mains following the wiring diagram, checks every connection and only then switches on.

If your letters sit on a mounting rail, the rail is fixed to the wall and the wiring runs inside it to a single connection point. That means fewer holes and is often the better option on insulated walls.

Installing a lightbox or projecting sign

Lightboxes are fixed to the wall with brackets or through the back panel; projecting signs with a wall bracket. Both are heavier than individual letters, so the fixings belong in solid brick or concrete. On externally insulated walls you need special fixings that carry the load through the insulation into the masonry. The mains connection is a job for the electrician here too.

Hanging an LED neon sign

LED neon signs are the easiest, because they come with a plug-in adapter. Depending on the build, you screw them to the wall on stand-offs, hang them on wires or fix them with adhesive mounting. Plan for the cable: it's 2 m long as standard, so a socket should be within reach. Longer cables are available on request.

The most common installation mistakes

  • Template not levelled. Even a few millimetres show on a long line of lettering.
  • Holes drilled too tight, leaving no room for adhesive.
  • Cable entries forgotten or not drilled all the way through.
  • Driver installed in a closed, damp or unventilated void.
  • Sign cleaned with solvents or harsh cleaners.

Care after installation

  • Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth, without solvents.
  • Keep indoor signs away from constant moisture.
  • If the sign isn't used for a while, switch it on for one to two hours every two to three weeks. That keeps the electronics in good condition.

No installer?

Our signs come with everything a tradesperson or sign fitter needs. If you don't have one, we can help you find an installer near you.

See which sign type suits your location in our overview of all sign types. Details on size and installation are on our illuminated letters, lightbox signs, projecting signs and LED neon signs pages.

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