What to Include in an LED Module RFQ for Channel Letters

An LED module RFQ for channel letters should include sign drawings, cavity dimensions, face materials, lighting goals, installation conditions, power and control requirements, quantities, and acceptance criteria. Ask suppliers to identify the exact proposed model and return its datasheet, layout assumptions, and quotation scope.

Start with the letter construction

Give suppliers enough information to assess the actual sign. Attach dimensioned drawings showing letter height, stroke widths, internal depth, tight corners, and mounting restrictions. Identify whether the project uses front illumination, halo illumination, or a combination, and mark which surfaces should emit light.

Describe the face material, thickness, color, and any printed graphics or films. Include the interior finish and, for halo letters, the intended mounting surface and separation from it. If these details remain undecided, label them as open items and request separate proposals for the alternatives.

HansonLed's channel letter LED module catalog lists mini modules and lens-equipped options. Treat those listings as a starting point: request the dimensions and application guidance for the specific model being offered.

Describe the required appearance

Define color and visual acceptance

Specify white, a fixed color, RGB, or RGBW. For white lighting, state the desired color appearance and request the supplier's available color temperature options and consistency information. For branded colors, explain whether the target appearance will be judged through a colored face, printed film, or another material.

Describe unacceptable results, such as visible bright spots, dark strokes, uneven corners, or mismatched letters. Ask the supplier to propose module positions and spacing for the supplied construction. Any layout recommendation should remain subject to the actual datasheet and approval in a representative assembled letter.

Separate RGB color changing from pixel control

Whole-module RGB color mixing and individually addressable RGB pixel control are different requirements. In a conventional grouped RGB arrangement, modules on the same controlled circuit follow the same color command. Addressable pixels can receive separate commands, enabling different colors or animation across the sign.

HansonLed's RGB module catalog lists RGB and RGBW products, while its pixel module page describes independently controlled module pixels. Neither a product name nor the word RGB establishes the control capabilities of a particular quoted model. Request confirmation of the addressable unit, controller compatibility, wiring, and supported effects.

Request a complete electrical proposal

Identify any existing power supplies or controllers that the modules must work with. Otherwise, ask the supplier to propose compatible components and explain the electrical assumptions. Do not select a supply voltage from a category description alone; use the confirmed model datasheet.

Request a wiring diagram identifying supply locations, cable routes, connection points, and proposed circuit divisions. Ask for the module quantity and calculated connected load for each letter or circuit. Cable selection, permissible run lengths, supply capacity, and any additional power feeds should follow the selected equipment documentation and application conditions.

For color-changing projects, specify whether control applies to the whole sign, separate letters, or individual pixels. If animation is required, provide an effect description and ask who supplies programming, configuration files, and commissioning support.

State installation and environmental conditions

Explain whether the sign is indoors, outdoors, sheltered, or exposed. Describe expected moisture, dust, sunlight exposure, cleaning practices, ambient conditions, and service access. Ask the supplier to confirm suitability for those conditions with model-specific documentation.

Request mounting instructions covering the actual substrate and any adhesive or mechanical fixing requirements. Where relevant, ask how connections, cable entries, drainage, and enclosure details should be handled. A module protection rating alone should not be treated as approval of the complete installed sign.

If the project requires conformity documents or third-party approvals, name the applicable requirement and request evidence identifying the proposed model and its scope. Do not assume that a company certificate or another product's documentation applies to the quoted module.

Make quotations directly comparable

Specify quantities by model, sign set, or project stage. Separate prototype demand from the expected production order, and identify any requested spare modules. Ask suppliers to state minimum order quantities, sample availability, production lead time, packaging, delivery terms, and exclusions.

Request separate identification of modules, power supplies, controllers, connectors, and other accessories. Require suppliers to list deviations from the RFQ explicitly. If a proposed substitution changes dimensions, color, electrical requirements, or control behavior, request revised documentation before accepting it.

Practical RFQ checklist

• Drawings: Letter dimensions, internal depth, stroke widths, and mounting constraints.

• Construction: Face material, films, interior finish, and illumination direction.

• Appearance: Color target, uniformity expectations, and viewing conditions.

• Control: Static lighting, grouped RGB, separate zones, or addressable pixels.

• Electrical scope: Exact model, datasheet, layout, load calculation, and wiring proposal.

• Environment: Exposure conditions, mounting substrate, and service access.

• Documentation: Installation instructions and any required model-specific compliance evidence.

• Commercial scope: Quantities, accessories, packaging, delivery terms, and exclusions.

• Approval: Representative sample construction and written acceptance criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Can a supplier quote from letter height alone?

A preliminary estimate may be possible, but request that assumptions be stated. A proposal intended for production should also account for cavity depth, stroke geometry, face construction, and the required appearance.

Should the RFQ specify a fixed module spacing?

Include an existing approved layout if one must be followed. Otherwise, ask for a proposed layout based on the actual product datasheet and sign construction, then evaluate it in a representative sample before production approval.

What should be approved before placing the production order?

Approve the exact model, assembled appearance, layout, electrical arrangement, control behavior where applicable, and quotation scope. Record unresolved items and require agreement before they affect production.