Guides · 2026-09-23
RFQ Checklist: Face-Lit Channel Letters for EU 230 V vs US 120 V Storefronts
A practical RFQ checklist for face-lit channel letters: sizes, files, LED voltage, and mains power for EU 230 V and US 120 V storefronts.
Ordering face-lit channel letters goes smoothly when the request for quotation (RFQ) already answers the questions a fabricator and installer must resolve before metal is cut. This guide is a shop-floor checklist for storefront face-lit (front-lit) channel letters, with explicit notes for European Union and United Kingdom sites on 230 V mains versus United States sites on 120 V mains.
It does not replace local electrical codes or a licensed electrician; it helps you send complete information so quotes are comparable and production drawings stay on schedule. Source: ChannelLetter.com What “face-lit” means on the RFQ Face-lit channel letters use translucent faces—most often acrylic—lit from inside by LED modules so the letter shape reads as a bright panel at night.
Returns (the sides) are usually aluminum or stainless; backs carry LEDs, wiring, and mounting. On the RFQ, state “face-lit / front-lit channel letters” clearly so suppliers do not price halo-lit, open-face, or reverse-lit constructions by mistake.
Also name the installation country and city. Mains voltage, connector norms, enclosure preferences, and installer habits differ.
For the European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia, plan around 230 V AC supply. For the United States, plan around 120 V AC supply.
LED modules inside letters commonly run on low-voltage DC (often 12 V or 24 V DC) after a power supply; the RFQ must separate mains input from LED DC voltage . Artwork and files that prevent remakes Send vector artwork (AI, EPS, PDF with outlines, or SVG).
Convert fonts to outlines and note brand Pantone or RAL references for faces, returns, and trim if used. Include a simple elevation showing letter heights, overall width, and spacing between characters.
Call out which characters are logos versus text, and whether any trademark or icon must match an approved brand glyph exactly. Minimum practical checklist for files: Final approved artwork in vector form, fonts outlined Overall letter height(s) in mm or inches, and overall sign length Stroke widths of thin letter parts (especially on script or condensed faces) Desired return depth (common storefront depths often fall in a mid range; confirm with your wall build-up) Mounting preference: flush / studs, raceway, or wireway—plus wall type (brick, EIFS, metal panel, curtain wall) Site photos of the façade and power access points If stroke widths are very narrow, say so early.
Thin strokes drive acrylic forming limits, LED packing density, and heat. Fabricators would rather redesign a stroke slightly than discover a dark, hot letter after production.
Sizes, depth, and face construction List every unique letter height. Multi-height logos need separate LED layouts.
Specify face material and thickness class (for example, translucent acrylic face with or without applied vinyl graphics). Note whether faces are flat or formed, and whether trim cap or welded face construction is preferred.
Return material and finish belong on the same page: painted aluminum, brushed stainless, and color-matched powder coat behave differently outdoors. For coastal sites, mention salt exposure so material upgrades (for example stainless grade selection) can be priced—not as a surprise change order later.
Ask the fabricator to return a shop drawing showing: Letter outlines and overall dimensions Return depth and face build-up Stud or raceway layout Wire exit locations and service access notes LED module count or spacing strategy (even if the exact module brand is selected later by the shop) Source: SignMonkey LED lighting parameters to request Comparable quotes need the same lighting assumptions. Ask suppliers to state: Illumination type: white face-lit modules (or RGB only if the brand truly needs it) Correlated color temperature target (for example warm ~3000 K for hospitality, cooler ~6500 K for many retail façades) Color consistency approach (tight binning reduces patchy faces across a long wordmark) Module beam / optic intent suitable for even face fill at the proposed letter depth Environmental rating for outdoor exposure (IP65 is common under canopies; more exposed façades may need higher sealing discipline) LED DC operating voltage: typically 12 V DC for smaller letters and shorter runs, 24 V DC when letters are larger or DC runs are longer—confirm with the shop, and never mix voltages on one circuit Request total estimated load in watts and the proposed power-supply count and wattage, with headroom.
Industry practice is to keep continuous load well under nameplate capacity (often discussed around an 80% guideline) and to allow for ambient temperature derating in hot climates. Ask how voltage drop on the DC side will be controlled: shorter runs, larger wire, or a second supply—not by “cranking” output voltage.
Mains power: EU / UK / AU 230 V vs US 120 V State the country and the available branch circuit. Example language you can paste into an RFQ: Germany / EU storefront: “Site mains approximately 230 V AC, 50 Hz.
Design LED power supplies for 230 V input. Installer will provide dedicated circuit and local disconnect per national rules.” United Kingdom storefront: “Site mains approximately 230 V AC.
Confirm supply input, IP-rated enclosure location, and cable entry details on drawings.” Australia storefront: “Site mains approximately 230 V AC. Coordinate with local electrician for isolation and earthing practice.” United States storefront: “Site mains approximately 120 V AC, 60 Hz.
Design LED drivers for 120 V input unless a different circuit is documented. Note panel location and raceway path.” Clarify where drivers live: inside a raceway, remote in a weatherproof enclosure, or in a accessible interior closet.
Remote drivers need documented cable lengths and wire gauge. Include whether night-time photocell or timer control is required, and whether dimming is in scope.
Do not ask a fabricator to certify the whole assembled sign to a national listing mark as if that were a factory-wide property of every order. Instead, ask for component documentation relevant to your market (for example driver datasheets, IP ratings, and installation instructions) and have a qualified local electrician complete final connection and inspection.
Mounting, penetrations, and service Wall type drives stud length, backing plates, and weather sealing. Raceway mounting can simplify wiring and service on uneven walls; flush stud mounts look cleaner but need careful wire planning.
On the RFQ, ask for: Proposed mounting method and hardware finishes Number and diameter of wall penetrations Weep / drainage and sealing notes for outdoor letters How a failed module or driver will be accessed later Service access is often forgotten until a dark letter appears two summers later. Prefer designs that allow module replacement without destroying faces, and drivers that can be swapped without dismantling the entire word.
Source: ChannelLetter.com Packing, QC, and commercial terms Ask for pre-ship photos of illuminated faces (even a short video helps), packing method for acrylic faces, spare module quantity if offered, and warranty language that separates LEDs, drivers, and paint. Confirm Incoterms or delivery point, lead time from drawing approval, and who installs.
Split “supply only” versus “supply and install” clearly so electrical scope is not ambiguous. Copy-paste RFQ block Use this as a starting template and fill every blank: Project / site address and country Mains: EU/UK/AU 230 V or US 120 V (confirm measured supply with electrician) Sign type: face-lit channel letters, outdoor / indoor Letter heights, overall length, return depth Face, return, and trim materials / colors Vector artwork attached; fonts outlined LED: white CCT target; 12 V or 24 V DC preference if known; IP intent Mounting: flush / raceway; wall construction Driver location and max cable run estimate Controls: switched only / photocell / timer / dimming Shop drawings required before production QC photos, packing, lead time, warranty, delivery terms Shop-floor takeaway A strong RFQ separates three voltages in plain language: mains (230 V in much of Europe, the UK, and Australia; 120 V in the US), LED DC (usually 12 V or 24 V), and any control voltage.
It also locks artwork, sizes, mounting, and service access before anyone prices aluminum. When those items are on one page, quotes arrive faster, drawings conflict less, and the storefront lights evenly the first night.