Masterclass - LED Halo Lighting

LED modules are a great product for creating illuminated signs and use much less power than traditional methods. Halo lighting is a popular method of illuminating individual letter and logos to provide subtle and decorative lighting effects.

Compared to traditional methods using neon light sources, LED halo lighting is cheaper, simpler and in a lot of cases does not require planning permission because it gives a subtle glow rather than harsh lighting. It will also keep your clients happy by creating a sign with maximum impact for their marketing message.

Spectron LED have a created a short tutorial to show you how you can achieve a two-tone halo effect.

Equipment List
Spectron WEE-3 Blue 
Spectron WEE-3 Red
UY2 Connectors
UB2A Connectors
PVC Foam Letters overlaid with silver vinyl
Silver Paint
Stand off locators
Matt vinyl applied fascia panel

STEP ONE

Design your letters with a channel at the back to accept the modules. In this example we have used 10mm thick PVC foam, which is relatively cheap. You may also consider using metal or acrylic built-up letters.

The width of the channel should be equal to the width of the modules. It is important not to channel the groove more than half the depth of the letter or you will risk being able to see the channel and spots of light ('hot spots') to the front of the letter.

Equally space the LEDs and fix in place. If possible, locate the power cable at the top of the letters so that it is not visible when looking up at the sign. It’s helpful to position the modules first using Adobe illustrator, both for fixing and cost estimates. If you need help with this, Spectron can supply you a layout and quotation free of charge.

STEP 2

To connect the modules, use UB2A connectors to connect module to module, and cap end modules using UY2. It is important to keep the wires and connectors neat and tight to the channel to prevent shadowing. Alternatively, solder the wires together and waterproof using heat shrink. This will give a much neater finish and virtually no shadowing.

Position the stand-off locators in between the modules with a mounting distance minimum of 25mm from the fitting surface to the LED module. If the letter is mounted too close, the halo will be too shallow and you will see the modules reflected off the surface mount. The larger the gap, the bigger the halo.

STEP 3
 


To achieve the best results, fix the letters to a matt vinyl applied fascia panel. We recommend Grafityp 100 matt vinyl range. For painted panels the ideal paint is zero percent matt. Do not use the matt side of an aluminium composite panel as this surface is satin and will reflect the LED diodes.

For further advice, quotations or orders, please email us or call us on 0161 236 8828.