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SloanLED
THINLED
Constant Current
Installation Guide
Product covered in this guide:
ThinLED CC: Part Number
Description
701228-18-A Amber ThinLED Constant Current
701228-18-B Blue ThinLED Constant Current
701228-18-G Green ThinLED Constant Current
701228-18-R Red ThinLED Constant Current
701228-18-W White ThinLED Constant Current
701228-18-Y Yellow ThinLED Constant Current
SloanLED (888) 747-4LED www.SloanLED.com
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Attention!
Scope: This procedure is designed to aid in the installation of SloanLED’s
ThinLED Constant Current channel letter illumination product.
Skilled tradespersons that are familiar with general construction, electrical
and sign installation techniques should do the installation.
Licensed electricians should provide all installation and hook-up of both
the primary input and secondary outputs of the Power Supply.
All installation and hook-up should be done in accordance with all national
and local codes.
In no way is this document intended to construe warranty or fitness of use
of the products described, nor is it intended to provide safety instruction
for those installing the product.
THE FIELD ASSEMBLY OF THIS SECTIONAL SIGN IS SUBJECT TO THE
ACCEPTANCE OF LOCAL INSPECTION AUTHORITY.
LES ENSEIGNES MODULAIRES MONTEES SUR PLACE PEUVENT ENTRE
VERIFIEES EN TOUT TEMPS PAR LE SERVICE D’INSPECTION LOCAL.
CAUTION: TURN OFF ALL INTEGRAL DISCONNECTS BEFORE SERVICING
(IF INTEGRAL DISCONNECTS ARE NOT PROVIDED, TURN OFF POWER TO
THE SIGN BY OTHER MEANS i.e. TURN OFF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OR
REMOVE THE FUSE AT THE SERVICE PANEL).
ATTENTION! METTRES HORS TENSION TOUS LES SECTIONNEURS
INTEGRES AVANT D’ENTREPRENDRE LE DEPANNAGE
Attention!
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ThinLED Constant Current (CC)
ThinLED CC is a low voltage, long life alternative to neon and florescent lighting for
reverse channel letter illumination and edge lighting applications. The light source for
ThinLED CC is the Light Emitting Diode (LED) instead of traditional neon or florescent
tubes. LED technology allows ThinLED CC to provide excellent color and brightness in
a safe, low voltage circuit (12 Volts DC). ThinLED CC is a robust, easily installed
product designed for a long life of safe, maintenance free operation.
Figure 1 – ThinLED CC is made up of light strips 12” long, 3/4” wide, and 5/16” high.
They can be cut to fit (cool colors can be cut in 1.33” increments, warm colors in 2”
increments), and are daisy chained together with jumpers that have positive locking
connectors. They are designed to mount to the return of the letter with the LEDs
facing the wall on which the letters are to be mounted.
Tools Required
1. Wire stripper
2. Measuring Tape
3. Drill
4. Screw Driver
Standard Hardware and Supplies (UL listing may be required on certain
items) (Supplies listed below may be purchased from SloanLED)
1. AWG # 18, 2 conductor, PVC jacketed, NEC type Power Limited Tray Cable
(PLTC) with UL Listing.(100’ Roll is SloanLED part number 400299-1200)
2. AWG # 14, 2 conductors, PVC jacketed, NEC type Power Limited Tray Cable
(PLTC) with UL Listing. (100’ Roll is SloanLED part number 400301)
3. 6” Jumper Wires (SloanLED PN 701655-B)
4. “Y” Connector (SloanLED PN 410115-B)
5. ThinLED CC Power Supply Hook-up kit (PN 701693)
6. 4” nylon zip ties.
7. Wire Nuts (IDEAL P/N #30-073 Orange) (SloanLED P/N 701573-10)
8. Outdoor rated caulk / Silicone sealant.
9. Conduit and J-Boxes as needed (Appropriate UL listing is required)
10. Disconnect switch for primary power shutoff if required by local/national
Electrical Codes
11. UL Listed for wet location or NEMA 3R Box, min. dimensions 12” x 12” x 6”,
vented (if power supply is to be mounted in a location exposed to weather)
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Populating the Channel Letter
ThinLED CC Layout
NOTE: These guidelines are an estimating tool. More or less product may be used in
the actual population of the letters depending on scrap or illumination needs.
Select which channel letter returns will be populated with ThinLED CC, add up the
linear distance of these returns and round up to the nearest full foot. This is
approximately how many one-foot ThinLED CC strips will be needed to populate the
letters.
Each one-foot strip has four connector headers. Any one of these headers can power
the entire one-foot strip or be used to transfer power to another ThinLED CC section.
Each one-foot strip can also be cut on any of the marked cut lines. As long as the cut
section has a connector header on it, the section can be lit. Any small section that is
trimmed off which does not have a connector header on it cannot be lit.
Items to consider:
Stroke Width- The stroke width of the letter and the illumination effect you are
seeking will help you determine if you need to populate both returns of the reverse
channel letter, or just one. Generally, if the stroke width is 2” or less, populating one
side of the letter will provide adequate illumination. If the stroke width is wider than
2” or more illumination is desired, both sides can be populated.
Power routing- when laying out the ThinLED CC units, keep in mind that each unit will
need a power hook up using a jumper. It is best to use as many full size 1’ strips as
possible to minimize the amount of jumpers required. One jumper is provided with
each 1’ strip of ThinLED CC and additional jumpers are available for purchase from
SloanLED.
Placing ThinLED CC in a Channel Letter
1. Ensure bonding surface is clean and oil free.
2. Lay out ThinLED CC in letter housing for positioning and cut strips on cut marks
as required.
3. Connect all jumper wires ensuring each strip is connected. Peel off tape
backing and, pressing firmly, affix ThinLED CC strips into place.
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Tight Bends/Mechanical Fastening
ThinLED CC is a very flexible product and can conform to bends as tight as 1” radius.
However, very tight bends may put additional load on the mounting tape. In these
situations, the installer may choose to use a mechanical fastener through one or more
of the holes provided in the ThinLED CC strip, or use an appropriate epoxy along the
edges and ends of the product for additional mounting security. When using screws to
fasten ThinLED CC into place use a #6 pan or round head screw. Larger screws or flat
head screws may damage the ThinLED CC strip. (Figure 2)
Figure 2 – Securing ThinLED CC using mechanical fasteners
Figure 3 – Channel Letter for Reverse Illumination Populated with ThinLED CC.
Clear Protective Lens.
Seal around edges &
wire access holes with
clear silicone to keep
rain and foreign
material out.
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Power Supply Connection
To connect ThinLED CC to power supply simply cut a ThinLED CC jumper in half,
connect the black wire to the black wire on the power supply output lead, the red
wire to the red wire on the power supply out put lead, and then plug the connector
into any available connector on your ThinLED daisy chain. (NOTE: UL requires the
wire nut connection to be located within the channel letter housing.) ThinLED CC
strips may be connected in series or parallel. After all connections have been made,
replace the letter’s lens. Seal edges and wire access holes with clear outdoor rated
silicone to keep rain and foreign materials out of channel letter.
Power Supply Capacities:
Maximum Number of Feet (Meters)
Power Supply Part # (Each) Power Output ThinLED CC (all colors)
Self Contained 20 701680 20 Watts 8 (2.5)
Modular 60 701507-MOD 60 Watts 25 (7.5)
Modular 60-277 701507-MOD277 60 Watts 25 (7.5)
Quad 240* 701494 240 Watts 100 (30.5)
Power Used per Foot (Meter) in Watts 2.2 (7.2)
*Quad 240 has four output legs; footages expressed are total (divide by four for footage per leg)
It is recommended that the current be checked on each power supply output after
loading is complete. The current drawn by each leg should not exceed the current rating
on the power supply label. If the measured current does exceed the rated current,
reduce the length of ThinLED on that leg until the current is below the rated output.
NOTE: If any power supply output leads are left unused, the two wires in the PLTC
lead must be left individually capped with wire nuts inside a UL Listed junction box,
race way or sign housing.
Routing Secondary Wires
When wiring the secondary outputs of the power supply, all routing through walls must
be sealed with outdoor rated caulk to protect the sign and building from water
damage and the cable from chafing. The PLTC used for power supply leads and
jumpers can be routed through walls, inside and outside without conduit. It is
recommended that all connections be enclosed inside the channel letter or a UL listed
junction box with strain relief.
Extension of Power Supply Leads
If a longer lead wire from the power supply to ThinLED chain is needed, an extension
can be used. The extension should be kept as short as possible (under 15 feet for 18
AWG UL Listed PLTC or under 50 feet for 14 AWG UL Listed PLTC).
WARNING: CHECK POLARITY:
After all wire routing is complete and the lighting modules are connected to the power
supply, RECHECK THE POLARITY OF ALL CONNECTIONS. They must be RED TO RED AND
BLACK TO BLACK throughout the entire system. Reverse polarity connections may
damage the LEDs and void the product warranty.
Note: For power supply installation instructions check the manual packaged with your
power supply or check online at www.SloanLED.com
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Figure 4 – Sample Layout and Connection Diagram
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Making a Custom Length Letter-to-Letter Jumper
To make a custom length letter to letter jumper you will need (1) 6” jumper, (1) UL
listed PVC jacketed, 18 AWG, 2 conductor power limited circuit cable long enough to
make the letter-to-letter connection, (4) wire nuts, (2) 4” nylon zip ties and a wire
stripper.
NOTE: UL requires the wire nut connection to be located within the channel letter
housing.
1. Strip the ends of the cable as shown in Figure 5.
2. Cut the 6” jumper in the middle and strip the ends of each wire as shown in
Figure 5.
3. Using the wire nuts, connect one connector assembly to each end of the cable.
Connect black wire to black wire and red wire to red wire.
4. Use the zip ties to create a strain relief as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 5 – Items needed for Letter-to-Letter Jumper.
Figure 6 – Completed Letter-to-Letter Jumper.
Cut this (1) 6” jumper to make
these
(
2
)
connector end assemblies.
Cable with
stripped ends.
4” Nylon zip ties
Wire nuts
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Troubleshooting Guide
Entire Sign or leg with ThinLED CC does not light after complete installation.
-Check the connection from the power supply lead to the first ThinLED CC unit. Make
sure the polarity of the connections made at the power supply lead and any jumper
wires is correct. Power supply outputs to the gray cable should be red-to-red and
black-to-black. Connecting a grey cable to a 6” jumper should be red-to-red and
black-to-black.
Still does not light.
-Using a voltmeter check the output voltage of the power supply. The output voltage
should be 12.0 ± 0.5VDC. If there is no output voltage, have a licensed electrician
check input voltage and make sure the power supply is hooked up correctly and
getting primary power. If the power supply is hooked up correctly and getting primary
power and there is still no output voltage, replace the power supply with a new one.
ThinLED CC goes dim after a short time of operation.
The primary cause of ThinLED CC going dim after a short period of operation is too
much current draw on the power supply leg. First, check the current draw on the leg
or legs that go dim. Ensure the current draw is less than the maximum output current
marked on the power supply label. If all units are wired as recommended, the current
draw will be below these levels. To correct the dimming problems reduce the number
of ThinLED CC strips on each leg until the current draw is below the rated current for
the power supply.
The beginning of a ThinLED CC leg lights, but the entire leg does not light or lights
intermittently.
The primary cause of part of a ThinLED CC leg not lighting or lighting intermittently is
a bad connection at the connector between the units that light and the units that
don’t light. Check this connection. Look for wires pulling out of the connector or
broken at the back of the connector housing. If the wires are pulling out of the
connector housing, disconnect the connector, reseat the wire in the housing and
reconnect. If the wire is broken or will not reseat, replace the jumper with a new
one.
One ThinLED CC strip or section does not light, but all others in the leg light.
ThinLED CC is designed so if one section goes out, it will not cause the entire sign or
leg to go out. If one ThinLED CC section is not lighting, but all others in the leg are
lighting, replace the section or strip with a new one. If replacing a section, ensure
new section and any remaining sections have a connector to plug into. The unit
cannot be repaired in the field.
