Install – LED

With Fluorescents on their way out, LED Conversions are becoming the norm. Below are some general instructions on how to install LED lighting.

At Highway Man Signs we currently use 3 different types of LEDs for lighted signs:

  1. QwikMOD4s
    QwikMOD4

  2. Double Sided LED Tapout Stiks

    Tapout

  3. Streetfighter PODs (for smaller, thin signs that want a flat Lexan face instead of a Pan Face. This reduces shadow striping due to the lack of depth)

    POD

**How do we know how many LEDs we need?**

First we go to: https://ezlayout.principalsloan.com/

LED Instructions

 

1. Select Cabinet Tab

2. Enter Height in Inches

3. Enter Width in inches

4. Select Single or Double Sided

5. Enter 8″ as can depth (for QwikMODs single sided) or whatever the depth is for double sided.

6. Select QwikMOD4 in Module List for single sided, Tapout Stiks for double sided.

7. Click Populate

8. Select PDF Tab

9. on PDF page look for number of power supplies. This will be how many power supplies needed as well as how many bags of LEDs need to be ordered. _(1) 60W Power supply will run (1) bag of QwikMOD4 LEDs._

**How to replace fluorescents and replace with LED:**

1. Turn off the Power.

  • Always Turn off the electricity before working on the lighting components! Find the breaker or timer and turn it to OFF.

2. Remove all fluorescent lighting components,

  • Bulbs, and Ballast mainly. Sockets must stay if we are using Tapout Stiks.

3. If we are using QwikMODs and the sign is single sided, these have double sided tape on the back and you will arrange the QwikMODs in the order they are on the printout from PrincipleSloan. If we are using QwikMODs for a double sided sign, we should of already cut ACM to fit the sign and already stuck the LEDs to the ACM. We will just need to screw the brackets to the structure to screw the ACM to.

4. If we are using Tapouts, each tapout will simply replace the bulb in the original sockets already installed in the sign.

5. Once your LED lighting is installed it is now time to install the power supplies.

  • You will have your paper printed out from the website above or a pdf of it will be in nifty for you. You will distribute the total number of QwikMODs or Tapouts by the number of Power Supplies suggested.
  • DO NOT attach your LEDs directly to your electric from the pole or building. It will DESTROY the LEDs. The Black and Red wires are for 12V from the power supply. This where you hook your LEDs to.

6. Once the Power Supplies have been wired to the LEDs it is time to test your work.

  • Using an extension cord from the truck, plug in your power supply’s black and white wires into each side of the plug on the cord. If you are alone you may need to tape themto the cord so they don’t fall out.
  • Next, plug in your cord to the generator. If the lights come on and everything is working correctly, take a picture of the lights working. This proves our work has been done correctly.

7. Once the LEDs have been tested with the generator, it is time to hook to the power coming from the pole or building.

  • Make sure the power is still off using your meter.
  • Connect the black and white wires from your power supplies to the black and white from the source. ( match colors: Black to Black, white to white, and green to green or copper if available)
  • Once this has been done, turn the breaker back on to the source.
  • If the lights come on, you are done. If they do not come on, search for a timer and make sure it is on. If the timer is on and the lights still do not come on, turn the power back OFF and recheck your work to make sure there isn’t a problem. You may need to repeat this step several times, and possibly recheck using the generator.
  • If the lights only work with the generator and not the power from the building, prove this to the customer and let them know an electrician will need to be hired to find the issue.