65-inch rigid LED bars with a 30° light emission angle, inward-facing illumination and transparent mounting clips for a U.S. commercial refrigeration manufacturer.
Retail application photographs supplied for the freezer lighting project.
Project Overview
A U.S. commercial refrigeration manufacturer needed to improve lighting in wide, glass-door vertical freezer display cases used for ice cream and frozen food. The existing light bars left the central display area insufficiently illuminated, and the mounting arrangement was inconvenient to install.
iPixel supplied 12V SMD2835 rigid LED bars for vertical installation on the left and right inside the cabinet. Both sides directed light toward the centre of the display. The customer reported improved centre-area brightness, the samples were approved and the project entered mass production.
According to the project information, the order was for approximately 525 lighting sets, including power supplies. The manufacturer's identity remains confidential.
| Customer | U.S. commercial refrigeration manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Glass-door vertical freezer display cases |
| Displayed products | Ice cream and frozen food |
| Installation | Vertical mounting on the left and right inside the cabinet |
| Lighting direction | From both sides toward the centre of the display |
| Project stage | Samples approved; entered mass production |
| Reported order quantity | Approximately 525 sets, including power supplies |
Customer Requirements
The main lighting issue was insufficient brightness in the centre of a relatively wide cabinet. The customer needed the side-mounted light bars to direct illumination toward this area.
The customer also wanted to improve the mounting arrangement. The original aluminium clips required screw fastening; the revised design used transparent plastic clips for a less visually prominent appearance. The lighting also needed to suit a freezer application where fogging was a concern.
Side Installation and Light Direction
The final configuration used LED bars on the left and right inside the cabinet. There was no top-mounted light bar in this project configuration.
The bars had a 30° light emission angle and were oriented to illuminate the centre from both sides. The 30° value describes light emission, rather than a specified mounting angle. Customer feedback indicated that this arrangement improved brightness in the central display area.
Interior side-lighting detail from the project.
Product Configuration
| LED type | SMD2835 rigid LED light bar |
|---|---|
| Input voltage | 12V DC |
| Rated power per metre | 10W/m |
| Colour temperature | 9000K |
| Light emission angle | 30° |
| Customized length | 65 inches (approximately 165.1cm) |
| Specified light-bar ingress protection | IP65 |
| Wiring | Customized 20-gauge wire with DC connectors |
| Mounting clips | Transparent plastic |
Product photograph supplied with the project materials.
Custom Engineering
A Single 65-Inch Light-Bar Length
The project used one customized light-bar length of 65 inches, rather than a range of lengths. This configuration matched the customer's vertical installation requirement.
Wiring for the Cabinet Installation
The wiring used customized 20-gauge wire with DC connectors. Power supplies were included in the lighting-set order.
Transparent Mounting Clips
Transparent plastic clips replaced the original aluminium clips as part of the mounting revision. Their transparent appearance was intended to make the mounting hardware less visually prominent. No measured installation-time saving is claimed.
Testing and Sample Evaluation
The project included an eight-hour illumination test at room temperature and a separate low-temperature check on a 3% sample. For the low-temperature check, the sample was illuminated continuously for 24 hours at −18°C (approximately 0°F).
The low-temperature inspection focused on fogging. Fogging was observed and subsequently cleared. This is the reported observation; it does not establish fog-free operation throughout the test or long-term condensation resistance.
| Room-temperature illumination | 8 hours |
|---|---|
| Low-temperature sampling | 3% sample; continuous illumination for 24 hours at −18°C |
| Fogging observation | Fogging occurred and subsequently cleared |
| Installation fit | Checked for left- and right-side mounting inside the cabinet |
| IP65 testing | Reported as conducted; no test report is available for this case study |
| Sample evaluation | Samples approved |
The project supplier reports that IP65 testing was conducted. The rating applies to the specified light bar; this case study does not establish the protection rating of the complete lighting system or freezer cabinet.
Project Results
The customer reported improved brightness in the centre of the cabinet with the inward-facing side-lighting configuration. No numerical before-and-after illuminance results were supplied, so this outcome is presented as qualitative customer feedback.
The samples were approved and the project entered mass production. The reported order quantity was approximately 525 lighting sets, including power supplies. This figure describes the order quantity, rather than a confirmed delivered quantity.
Installed lighting in the frozen-food display application. The photograph is not a measured before-and-after lighting comparison.
Related Solution
Refrigeration Lighting – Low-temp, Condensation & Cleaning Reliability
Explore broader refrigeration-lighting engineering considerations, including environmental conditions, wiring and project-specific validation planning.
Related Products
Explore the product categories relevant to this project:
- LED Light Bars — rigid lighting options for equipment integration.
- Cable Connectors — wiring and connection options for OEM lighting projects.
- Power Supplies — power-supply options for LED lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the light bars installed?
They were mounted vertically on the left and right inside the cabinet, directing light toward the centre of the display. The final configuration did not include top lighting.
What does the 30° specification mean?
It is the light emission angle of the rigid LED bar. It is not a specified mounting angle.
What was customized for this project?
The project used a single customized length of 65 inches, customized wiring with DC connectors and transparent plastic mounting clips.
What happened during the low-temperature fogging check?
A 3% sample was illuminated continuously for 24 hours at −18°C. Fogging occurred and subsequently cleared. The observation should not be interpreted as fog-free operation throughout the test.
What improvement did the customer report?
The customer reported improved brightness in the centre of the cabinet. No quantified illuminance improvement is claimed.
Discuss Your Freezer Lighting Project
Send your cabinet dimensions, side-mounting positions, supply voltage and lighting requirements to iPixel for a project review.