Waterproof LED tubes

A waterproof LED neon light is chosen on three measurements: tube length, colour temperature and protection rating. Count on IP65 for a garage or workshop, neutral white to work without tiring your eyes, and a length matched to the fixing centres already in place.

• What is a waterproof LED neon light and what light does it give?
• Where should you install a waterproof LED neon light?
• Which length should you choose?
• Replacing a neon tube with an LED neon light
• Are neon tubes banned in France?
• Neon, ceiling light, wall light: which lighting for which room?
• Waterproof neon light or cuttable LED strip?
• Installing and maintaining

What is a waterproof LED neon light and what light does it give?

A waterproof LED neon light is a LED tube or batten enclosed in a profile sealed by a diffuser and a gasket. Water and dust do not reach the components, and the white light runs along the whole length instead of coming from a single point.

Waterproof LED neon: what the gasket really changes

On an open profile, workshop dust settles on the diodes within a few weeks and the light drops without anything being broken. The perimeter gasket and the sealed diffuser solve this problem: the fitting can be wiped with a cloth without touching the electronics. The mounting clips also act as spacers: they hold the profile a few millimetres away from the surface, which prevents condensation trapped under the housing. This complete assembly is what you find in the entire lighting range.

Neutral white or cool white: which light for a workshop

Neutral white, around 4000 K, renders colours close to daylight: you can tell a red cable from a brown one, read a label, spot a screw dropped on the floor. Cool white, above 5000 K, gives a bluer light, perceived as brighter, useful in a cellar or pantry where little time is spent. In a workshop where you work three hours at a stretch, neutral white tires the eye less.

Where should you install a waterproof LED neon light: garage, workshop, cellar or outdoors?

It goes anywhere the air is laden: garage, workshop, cellar, utility room, plant room, covered terrace. Outdoors, it stays under shelter and is fixed high up, away from run-off areas. In a living room, it does not replace a ceiling light: it lights the work areas.

Outdoor waterproof LED neon light: under shelter, not in the rain

A canopy, a covered terrace, an open lean-to: the fitting holds there because it only receives splashes. Fixed directly under a gutter or at the edge of a roof, it takes the full force of the water and the gasket eventually gives way. So it is installed high up, directly over a dry area, and low points where water collects are avoided. If your need is really decorative outdoors, look instead at choosing a light for the home, the range also covers terrace uses.

On the ceiling in rows rather than a single point, to avoid shadows

Two 120 cm tubes spaced regularly light better than a single very bright central point: the floor stays readable between the workbench and the shelf, and you do not work in your own shadow. In a garage, the row follows the axis of the car, not the width of the wall.

Waterproof LED neon light 60 cm, 120 cm or 150 cm: which length should you choose?

The length is chosen according to the area to be lit and the existing surface: 60 cm for a cellar or a short worktop, 120 cm for a garage or a standard workshop, 150 cm to cover a long stretch without a join. Measure the old tube and the fixing centres before ordering.

Waterproof LED neon light 120 cm: the most versatile format

This is the length that covers a workbench or a parking space without multiplying light points or connections. It remains manageable to install alone on the ceiling.

Waterproof LED neon light 150 cm: when the line must cover a long stretch

In a wide workshop or a double garage, the 150 cm avoids the shadow zone between two fittings. Check the reach of the surface before choosing it: a long profile requires well-aligned fixings. The 60 cm, meanwhile, slips into a pantry or under a high shelf. To complete another use in the home, there is plenty to choose from in all our lights.

Is it possible to replace a neon tube with an LED neon light?

Yes. Two solutions exist: a LED tube designed to work on the existing ballast, or a LED tube powered directly, with the ballast and starter removed. The second requires work on the wiring. In both cases, switch off the power before touching the fitting.

Ballast, starter, socket: what to check before removing

First check whether the fitting has a starter: its presence indicates an older setup, to be modified if the chosen LED tube runs direct. Then check the condition of the sockets, often cracked by heat. The collection has six references: compare the length and cap indicated on each product sheet before ordering.

Complete batten or tube alone: the simplest solution

The tube alone reuses the existing profile, saving a complete dismantling, provided the housing is still waterproof. The complete batten replaces everything: profile, diffuser, gasket and new fixings, which also solves the problem of a worn gasket. In a damp room, this is often the most durable choice. Compare with the Designix lighting catalogue before deciding.

Are neon tubes banned in France?

New fluorescent tubes containing mercury are gradually leaving the market in favour of LEDs, but tubes already installed continue to work and can be replaced in the event of a failure. Nothing obliges you to dismantle everything: replacement often happens as failures occur.

What changes for a room already equipped

The question arises mainly at the time of a replacement: the original fluorescent tube is not always available any more, whereas the LED tube in the same format fits the existing fitting. The switch therefore happens fitting by fitting, without a global project.

Why the light drops before the failure

A fluorescent tube loses intensity well before it goes out, and flickering at end of life tires the eyes more than dim light. A LED tube does not light in stages: it gives its full output from switch-on, including in a cold room. Cold starting is immediate, with no warm-up time. For living rooms, see instead a light suited to each room.

Waterproof LED neon light, LED ceiling light or LED wall light: which lighting for which room?

The waterproof neon light lights technical areas, the LED ceiling light an entire living room, the LED wall light a wall or a staircase. A modern LED ceiling light suits a living room, a LED chandelier a high ceiling. These lights complement each other more than they replace each other.

Kitchen LED ceiling light or powerful LED ceiling light for a garage: the difference

A kitchen LED ceiling light diffuses downwards and is chosen for the ambience of a room where you live. In a garage, you look instead for a line that stays long and even, without a dark zone between two fittings. Both are useful, but not in the same place. Find both families in the lighting collection.

Living room LED wall light and LED chandelier: the ambience complements

An LED wall light lights a wall, an entrance or a staircase, where a ceiling tube would be useless. An LED chandelier is only justified if the room has free height: under a low ceiling, it gets in the way and drops into the field of vision. A powerful LED wall light can also light a landing without installing a central point there. For these uses, read how to find the right light.

Waterproof LED neon light or cuttable LED strip: how to choose?

The cuttable LED strip is cut between two marks to follow a shelf or a piece of furniture, and is stuck on: it suits short, decorative lines. The waterproof neon light is screwed to the ceiling, resists humidity and can be cleaned. For a workshop or a garage, it lasts better over time.

Cuttable LED strip: how it works

Regular cut marks are printed on the strip: cut only at these marks, otherwise the following section no longer lights. Its flexibility makes it a good tool for highlighting, not for lighting an entire room. Apply it to a clean, dry surface, otherwise the adhesive tape comes off after a few weeks.

What the strip cannot do in a damp room

Its adhesive does not hold on a cold, damp wall, and exposed cuts do not cope well with splashes. For a cellar or a utility room, a sealed profile remains the safe solution. If your project is mainly decorative, browse the other lights in the home: there are solutions designed for these uses.

How do you install and maintain a waterproof LED neon light?

Switch off the power, fix the clips or brackets to the surface, clip the profile on, then connect the power supply in the terminal block before closing the diffuser. For maintenance, a damp cloth on the diffuser is enough; avoid abrasive products that damage the gasket.

Ceiling fixing: clips or brackets

The clips are screwed to the surface, then the profile clips onto them: simple, and the fitting can be removed without tools. Brackets are used when the surface is irregular, a beam or a sloping ceiling. In both cases, align the fixings to the centres measured before drilling, and locate the power cable entry before choosing the position.

Cleaning the diffuser without damaging the gasket

A damp cloth on the diffuser, without aggressive product or abrasive sponge, is enough to remove stuck dust. At the same time, check that the gasket is not cut or out of its groove: it is what humidity gets around first. A fitting in a damp room is wiped once or twice a year.

The collection has six references of waterproof LED neon lights: each product sheet specifies the model to order. To place the waterproof neon light alongside a ceiling light or a wall light, browsing lights by use remains the shortest route, and see the lighting page gives you all the available families.

Frequently asked questions

Last step: measure the length with a tape, the fixing centres and the room to be lit, then choose your model from the Designix lighting selection.