How a sign is connected
Power travels in one line: from the wall socket, through the power supply, to the sign. If you added the dimmer, it sits between the power supply and the sign. If any link in that chain is loose or switched off, the sign stays dark. So the trick is to check the links in order, starting at the wall.
The checklist
Go through it one step at a time. Tap “That fixed it” the moment the sign lights, or “Yes, done” to move to the next check.
Is the socket on?
Check the switch on the wall socket, then plug a lamp or a phone charger into the same socket to prove it works. Extension leads and smart plugs have their own switches too.
Is the power supply plugged in all the way?
Push the UK plug firmly into the socket. If the power supply has a small indicator light, it should be lit. No light usually means no power reaching it.
Is the supply connected to the sign (or the dimmer)?
The cable from the power supply plugs into the sign’s cable, or into the dimmer if you added one. These connectors can look pushed in when they’re only half home. Unplug it, look inside for anything bent, then push it in firmly until it stops.
If you added the dimmer: is it connected to the sign?
Do the same with the connection between the dimmer and the sign’s own cable. If the connector screws or clips together, make sure it’s fully tightened.
If you added the dimmer: has the remote turned it off or right down?
Press the on button on the remote, then hold brightness up for a few seconds. Point it at the dimmer, not the sign, since that’s where the receiver is. Try a fresh battery if nothing happens.
If you added the dimmer: does it light without it?
If your dimmer can be bypassed, connect the power supply straight to the sign for a moment. If the sign lights, the dimmer is the problem, and that is covered by your warranty.
If it stopped after moving it
Signs that worked yesterday and don’t today have usually been moved, cleaned or bumped. Moving furniture can pull a connector half out, and cleaning behind a sideboard can unplug the power supply without anyone noticing. Work through the checklist again with that in mind, paying particular attention to the connector nearest the sign, which is the one most often disturbed.
If the sign has fallen, look along the tube for any visible crease or cut and check the acrylic for cracks near the fixings. Don’t switch on a sign with a damaged cable. Unplug it, take a photo and tell us, and we’ll work out the best way to put it right.
If it flickers
Flickering is almost always a connection that is nearly, but not quite, made. Unplug at the socket, reseat each connector along the chain, and check the cable isn’t pinched behind furniture or bent sharply near a connector. If you added the dimmer, very low settings can also cause a faint shimmer on some signs; turn it up a notch and see if it settles.
If only part of it lights
If one letter or one section stays dark while the rest glows, the fault is inside the sign rather than in the chain. Don’t try to open or cut the tube. Note which part is dark, take a photo with the sign switched on, and get in touch.
If anything gets very hot
LED neon runs cool and the power supply should only feel warm. If any part feels hot to the touch, smells of burning or makes a crackling sound, unplug it at the socket straight away and contact us before using it again.
What to send us
- Your order reference (it starts LN- and is in your confirmation email).
- A photo of the sign plugged in and switched on, showing which part is dark.
- A photo of the power supply showing whether its indicator light is on.
- Which steps of the checklist you’ve already tried.
For anything about how the sign was fitted, our installation guide covers each hanging method step by step.