Every sign we make includes an in line dimmer on the cable. No extra cost, nothing to set up, no app.
Dimming an LED sign does not shorten its life and does not change the color, which is a real difference from real glass neon and from household bulbs.
What is in the box
- ✓ An in line dimmer on the power cable, with a rotary or slide control.
- ✓ A UL listed 12V adapter.
- ✓ An on and off switch as part of the same control.
- ✓ An RGB remote as well, if you ordered the color changing option.
Why it matters more than it sounds
A neon sign at full brightness is designed for a room with the lights on. In a dark room at night it can be too much, particularly in a bedroom or a nursery. Turned down, the same sign becomes a light you can sleep beside.
Dimming costs you nothing
| Concern | Reality |
|---|---|
| Does dimming shorten the life? | No. If anything it runs cooler |
| Does the color shift when dimmed? | No, unlike a filament bulb |
| Does it flicker at low settings? | Not on the supplied dimmer |
| Does it use less power dimmed? | Yes, though the sign uses very little either way |
Smart plugs and timers
A standard smart plug works perfectly and is the easiest way to get scheduling, voice control or app control. It switches the whole sign on and off; it does not control the brightness, which stays on the in line dimmer. For a shop window on a timer, or a sign you want off automatically at midnight, this is the right answer and it costs a few pounds.
- ✗ Do not use a household wall dimmer. They are designed for mains voltage lamps and will not work correctly with a 12V adapter. At best nothing happens; at worst it buzzes and damages the adapter.
Most people never touch the dimmer after the first week, and then are very glad it is there the first night they try to sleep in the same room. Leave it accessible when you route the cable rather than tucking it behind furniture, because the one time you want it is the one time you will not want to move a bed to reach it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you dim an LED neon sign?
Yes. An in line dimmer is included with every sign we make, at no extra cost. It sits on the cable between the adapter and the sign and needs no setup, no app and no electrician.
Does dimming shorten the life of the sign?
No. It runs cooler dimmed, if anything, and uses slightly less power. Unlike a filament bulb the color also does not shift as you turn it down, so a Warm White sign stays Warm White at every setting.
Can I use a smart plug with a neon sign?
Yes, and it is the simplest way to add scheduling or voice control. It switches the sign on and off; brightness stays on the in line dimmer. This is the standard answer for shop windows that should come on and go off automatically.
Can I wire the sign into a wall dimmer switch?
No. Household wall dimmers are made for mains voltage lamps and do not work correctly with a 12V adapter. It may do nothing, or it may buzz and damage the adapter. Use the supplied in line dimmer instead.
Is the dimmer the same as the RGB remote?
No, they are separate. Every sign gets the in line dimmer for brightness. RGB signs additionally get a remote for changing color, which also has its own brightness control.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
