Neon sign power options: plug-in, battery and more

Every LED neon sign needs a little power, and there are a few ways to get it there. This guide explains the standard plug-in adapter, the battery box, extension cables, hardwiring, outdoor outlets and what to know about power banks, so you can plan where your sign goes before you order.

How the power works

The chain is short and simple:

1. Wall outlet, 100 to 240 V AC.
2. Plug-in adapter, which turns that into 12 V DC.
3. Dimmer, in-line knob or remote receiver, on the low-voltage cable.
4. The sign.

Everything after the adapter is 12 V DC, and the parts connect with DC barrel plugs. That makes it easy to add an extension cable, swap a dimmer or use the battery box instead of the adapter.

Option 1: the plug-in adapter

Every LED sign ships with a plug-in adapter at no charge.

• Input: 100 to 240 V AC.
• Output: 12 V DC.
• Certification: cULus Listed power supply (E466625), also CE, FCC, SAA and RoHS marks.
• Build: Class II double insulated, fully encapsulated, no fan, so there is no fan noise.
• Sized to the sign: a larger sign gets a higher-wattage adapter.
• Indoor use: keep it dry, also when the sign itself is an outdoor build.

If you lose or damage the adapter, order a replacement power adapter. Tell us your order number, the size of your sign, or send a photo of the old adapter’s label, and we will send the matching wattage.

Option 2: the 8 x AA battery box

For a sign on a table, a booth, a market stall or anywhere without an outlet, the battery box holds eight AA batteries to make 12 V. It has an on/off switch and the same DC barrel plug, so it plugs in where the adapter would.

• Run time: about 4 to 5 hours per set of 8 AA batteries.
• Batteries: not included.
• When ordering a sign: choose “plug-in + battery box” as your power option at no extra charge, and you get both.
• Rechargeables: a rechargeable AA cell is 1.2 V instead of 1.5 V, so eight of them give less than 12 V. Ask us before using them.

Plan batteries by the length of your event, counting on the low end of the run time:

Hours the sign must stay on	Sets of 8 AA batteries
Up to 4	1
Up to 8	2
Up to 12	3

Turn the sign off between uses, for example during dinner service at a wedding, to stretch each set further.

Option 3: extension cables

Sometimes the outlet is not where the sign looks best. You have two ways to add distance:

• On the low-voltage side: our DC extension cable goes between the adapter and the sign, in 6.5, 10 or 16 ft. Use one extension rather than chaining several. For long runs, ask us first. Indoor use.
• On the outlet side: an ordinary household extension cord or power strip between the wall outlet and the adapter. Use one rated for outdoor use if it runs outside.

A wall outlet controlled by a light switch is a handy option too: plug the adapter in there and the sign turns on with the room lights.

Hardwiring

Our LED neon signs are made to plug in. Our ON AIR light box and PICK UP light box can be ordered either plug-in, with the adapter included, or hardwired. A hardwired sign connects to the building’s wiring, which is a job for a licensed electrician.

If you want an LED neon sign on a wall switch without hardwiring, a switched outlet is the simplest route. If you want the adapter hidden inside a wall or ceiling, talk to your electrician and to us before you order.

Outdoor signs and outlets

An outdoor sign needs the outdoor build: an IP67 rated tube and sealed connections, with a test report. See the custom outdoor neon sign. The tube can handle the weather; the adapter cannot.

• Keep the adapter dry: indoors, or in a covered weatherproof outlet box.
• Use a protected outlet. In US homes, the electrical code calls for outdoor outlets to be GFCI protected, and in wet locations to have a weatherproof cover that stays closed with a plug in it, often called an “in-use” or bubble cover.
• Plan the cable route from the sign to a dry place for the adapter before you order, and tell us the distance.

Our guide to indoor vs outdoor neon signs covers placement, sun and rain.

Power banks

People often ask whether a phone power bank can run a neon sign. Here is what we know:

• Most USB power banks give 5 V. Our signs need 12 V.
• Some USB-C power banks can give 12 V, but 12 V is an optional level, many newer models skip it, and it takes a special trigger cable to ask for it.
• With the right 12 V output and cable, a power bank runs a sign about 4 to 5 hours, about the same as one set of AA batteries.

The simplest cordless choice is the battery box. If you have a specific power bank in mind, ask us which one suits your sign before you buy it.

Solar

We do not offer solar-powered signs. The battery box is our cordless option.

Which power option fits

Situation	Best option
A wall at home or in a shop, outlet nearby	Plug-in adapter
Outlet a few feet too far	DC extension cable, or a household extension cord to the adapter
Wedding table, booth or market stall	Battery box, with spare sets
Covered patio or storefront	Outdoor build, adapter in a dry, protected outlet
Studio door or hallway light box	ON AIR or PICK UP light box, plug-in or hardwired
Sign on a wall switch	Plug-in adapter in a switched outlet

All of our power parts are in the power and control collection, and our light boxes list their power options on each page. For what a sign costs to run, see neon sign energy use.