Three things prevent almost every problem when you put up a Color Neon sign: a wall socket within 3 metres of the spot, measured along the route the cable will actually take; the right mounting method for the size of the sign, screws and plugs or the hanging kit; and a few checks done before you drill. No electrical wiring is involved. The sign runs on 12 volts through the supplied adapter, which plugs into an ordinary wall socket.
What comes in the box
Everything needed to hang the sign and switch it on is included, so there is nothing else to buy. According to our product page at the time of writing (12 November 2026), the box contains:
- a wall mounting kit: the 8 mm acrylic backing is pre-drilled and comes with its screws and wall plugs;
- a hanging kit with metal cables and hooks, intended for the largest models;
- a CE-marked 12 V adapter with an EU plug;
- a remote control with a dimmer and flicker modes;
- a 3 m clear cable.
If 3 metres will not reach the socket, Color Neon provides an extension free of charge. Ask for it when you order rather than on installation day. The adapter has an EU plug, so if your sockets use another standard, check with us before ordering.
Choosing the wall and the height
The right wall is one where the sign is easy to read and a socket sits within reach of the cable. Before thinking about decoration, find the nearest socket and measure the distance along the path the cable will follow: down the side of a piece of furniture, along a skirting board or into a corner, never in a straight line through thin air.
For height, aim to put the centre of the sign roughly at the eye level of the person who will look at it most. Someone standing in a hallway or a shop sees it higher than someone sitting on a sofa or at a desk. Above a sideboard or a bed, leave a clear gap between the furniture and the bottom of the backing, or the sign looks as if it is resting on it.
Look at the light in the room too. Opposite a large window, a neon is less noticeable in daylight. In a dark corridor or a bedroom it can look too bright, and the remote lets you dim it instead of moving it.
A simple way to decide: cut a paper template the size of the backing, hold it on the wall where you plan to put the sign, and look at it from where you will usually be. Do this during the day and again in the evening. You will know straight away whether the size and height work. If you have not ordered yet, our guide to choosing a neon sign size for your wall helps you get the proportions right first.
Wall mounting or hanging kit
For a sign of standard size placed flat against a wall, the wall mounting kit is enough. The backing is pre-drilled: mark the holes on the wall, drill, then fix it with the supplied screws and plugs. For the largest models, our product page recommends the hanging kit with its metal cables and hooks.
Hanging also helps when you cannot or would rather not drill exactly where the sign will be: in front of a shop window, above a counter, below a beam. The sign then hangs from fixing points higher up.
Either way, check what the wall is made of before you drill. A solid wall, a hollow plasterboard partition and a tiled surface are not treated the same way. If the supplied plugs do not suit your wall, ask at a DIY store or a professional before you start.
Running the cable neatly
The clear cable runs from the backing to the 12 V adapter, which plugs into a wall socket. There is nothing to connect to the mains and no box to open.
Plan the route before fixing the sign. The cable should reach the socket without being pulled tight, without running under a door or across a walkway. Along a wall corner, a window frame or the side of a cupboard it almost disappears. Leave the adapter near the socket and within reach, so the sign is easy to unplug.
If the socket is too far away, ask for the free extension rather than improvising a joint.
Indoors, outdoors and the IP68 option
The standard sign is made for indoor use. For a terrace, a balcony, a shopfront or anywhere exposed to rain, choose the waterproof IP68 version when you order; it is offered as an option in the configurator. An indoor sign cannot be made waterproof afterwards.
If the only available socket is outdoors as well, ask us before ordering: where the adapter goes needs planning at the same time as the sign itself.
The checks before you drill
These checks take about ten minutes and save you from drilling twice. The first one happens as soon as the parcel arrives, before you even choose the wall.
| Check | How to do it |
|---|---|
| The sign works | Unpack it and plug it in flat on a table: every letter lights up and the remote changes brightness and modes. |
| The socket is within reach | Measure the real cable route to the socket: 3 m at most without the extension. |
| The wall takes the fixings | Identify the wall (solid, hollow, tiled) and check that the plugs suit it. |
| Nothing runs behind | Look for switches, sockets and pipes near the planned holes; if in doubt, use a detector. |
| The spot is confirmed | Paper template on the wall, viewed by day and in the evening from where people will see the sign. |
| The marks are drawn | Holes from the backing marked in pencil, alignment checked with a spirit level. |
| Indoors or outdoors | A spot exposed to water needs the IP68 version, ordered from the start. |
Download the pre-installation checklist (PDF) to print and tick on installation day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an electrician to install a Color Neon sign?
No. The sign plugs into a wall socket through the supplied 12 V adapter. Nothing is connected to the mains wiring.
The 3 m cable is too short. What can I do?
Color Neon provides an extension free of charge. Mention it when you order so it arrives with the sign.
Can I hang the sign instead of screwing it to the wall?
Yes. The hanging kit, with metal cables and hooks, is included. Our product page recommends it for the largest models.
Can the sign go outside?
Only in the waterproof IP68 version, chosen as an option in the configurator. The standard sign is for indoor use.
What should I check when the parcel arrives?
Plug the sign in flat and make sure everything lights up and the remote responds. If anything is wrong, contact us before drilling: the sign carries a 24-month guarantee.
Still at the design stage? The custom neon sign configurator lets you set the size and add the IP68 option, and if the sign is a present, our guide to giving a custom neon sign for Christmas lists the last order dates.
