What Is an LED Module? Sign LED Module Types and Selection Criteria

An LED module is a light unit holding several LEDs in a small housing, chained inside signs and channel letters and usually powered by 12 V DC.

An LED module is a light unit that holds several LEDs in a small enclosed housing, is fixed to the surface one by one and is connected in a chain by its cables; it is usually powered by 12 V direct current. It is used inside channel letters and illuminated signs, on billboards, for display windows and decorative backlighting, and in narrow, curved spaces where LED strip cannot be laid neatly. It is not the same as the LED boards or COB LEDs inside luminaires, and it is not connected directly to the 220 V mains.

Types

• By number of LEDs: Single, double, triple and multi-LED modules; the LED count sets the light and power per module.
• By optics: A lens module spreads light over a wider angle for a more even surface.
• By colour: White (3000/4000/6500 K), single colour (red, green, blue) and RGB.
• By protection: Waterproof (such as IP67) for facades, or indoor-only modules.

Selection criteria

• Light colour: On a white sign face, 6500 K looks bright, 4000 K natural and 3000 K warm. On a coloured acrylic or vinyl face, a module of the same colour gives a saturated colour; a white module lightens the tone.
• Module spacing: Modules are laid densely in a shallow box and sparsely in a deep one; if spacing is too wide, the face shows hot spots. Set the spacing from the manufacturer's recommendation for the box depth and face material, or with a small test.
• Power supply: The total load is module power × number of modules; 50 modules of 1.2 W make 60 W. Choose a 12 V LED strip power supply above this value with a margin; on a facade the supply must also be protected from water.
• Chain length: Modules are connected in parallel on the same line; as the line gets longer the voltage drops and the last modules get dimmer. Take the maximum number of modules fed from one end from the datasheet, and feed long letters at several points.
• Polarity and joints: If + and – are swapped, the module does not light. Even with waterproof modules, seal cable joints with waterproof connectors.
• Dimming: Dim dimmable modules with a dimmer working on the 12 V DC side or with a dimmable LED driver.

Common mistakes

1. Connecting directly to 220 V: A 12 V module is destroyed on the mains.
2. Sizing the power supply at full load: A supply equal to the total module power runs at its limit all the time.
3. Feeding a long chain from one end: The end of the line is dimmer and the sign face shows tone differences.

LED modules in the catalogue

All 6 active products in the LED Modules category are ACK AS04 series triple LED modules and can be ordered directly. Common values: 12 V DC, 1.2 W per module, 160° beam angle, IP67, dimmable, 82 × 18 × 8.6 mm, operating temperature -20 °C to +40 °C.

Check the order unit and pack quantity on the product page. For straight, long runs, indoor LED strip or outdoor LED strip does the same job with fewer connections.

Frequently asked questions

How many LED modules can a 12 V power supply feed?

Divide the supply power by the module power and leave a margin: a 100 W supply works out to 83 modules of 1.2 W, and with a margin of about 20 % it feeds 66 modules. Also check the maximum number of modules per chain on the datasheet.

What is the difference between an LED module and LED strip?

LED strip is a continuous tape stuck along straight, long runs. LED modules are fixed one by one; in curved and deep spaces such as channel letters each module can be placed where needed, so the surface is lit more evenly.

Can LED modules be used outdoors?

The ACK AS04 modules in the catalogue are IP67 and work from -20 °C to +40 °C. On a facade sign, seal cable joints with waterproof connectors and place the power supply where it is protected from water.