Setting up an RGB hexagon kit needs no hardwiring and no electrician. Pick a wall or ceiling spot within reach of a standard outlet, snap the tubes into the connectors, mount the grid or hang it on suspension wires, and plug in the 12 V adapter. Then pair the free iOS or Android app over Bluetooth, try the included remote, and choose one of 7 solid colors, 358 dynamic scenes or music sync.
In this guide
RGB stands for red, green and blue, the three colors of light these kits mix to make the rest of their colors. An RGB kit goes up a lot like our white hexagon kits, with one big difference. Every RGB kit, whatever its size, runs from a plug-in adapter. This guide walks through the setup for any kit in our hexagon RGB lighting system, written for homeowners, gamers, and studio or bar owners doing the job themselves.
It covers the six standard RGB kits at the level of our product pages. It doesn't replace the printed installation guide that ships in every box, and it doesn't cover custom RGBW builds (RGB plus a separate white channel), which our team plans with each customer. We sell these kits, so every spec here is one our product pages state.
What Comes in the Box
Check the parts before you mark a wall. Every RGB kit ships with the same six things.
- RGB tubes, each 17.5 inches (44 cm) long
- 3-pin grounded connectors with snap-lock assembly
- A power supply, which is an external 12 V adapter
- A handheld remote control
- Mounting hardware
- A printed installation guide
The app isn't in the box. It's a free download for iOS and Android, so get it onto your phone while you unpack.
Plan the Spot Around an Outlet
Most setup advice starts with the lights. Ours starts with the outlet, which is why we call it outlet-first setup. Because the adapter plugs into a standard outlet, the outlet decides where the grid can sit. After over 13 years in the lighting industry, our team's advice is to find the outlet first, plan the grid around it, and check the reach with the adapter in your hand before you drill a single hole.
Then measure. Each kit's overall size is on its product page. The longest, the RGB 4 Line Grid, runs 11.2 ft × 3.9 ft (3.4 m × 1.2 m), while the RGB 3 Grid spans 5.6 ft × 5.6 ft (1.7 m × 1.7 m). Mark the outline with painter's tape. Then step back and look at it from the couch, the desk or the bar.
Last, be clear about the light's job. RGB kits are ambient color lighting with no separate white channel, so if part of the room needs bright working light, save that spot for a white kit.
Snap It Together and Test It on the Floor
Lay the parts on a clean floor and follow the printed guide step by step. The tubes push into the connectors, and the snap-lock assembly holds each joint in place.
Before anything goes up, plug the grid in once and check that every tube lights. In our experience, a loose joint is far easier to fix at knee height than from the top of a ladder. If a tube stays dark, check that joint against the printed guide.
Mount It on a Wall, a Ceiling or Suspension Wires
RGB kits mount three ways. Mounting hardware comes in the box.
| Mount | Good for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | A feature wall behind a desk, a TV, a bar or a rack | The included mounting hardware |
| Ceiling | Color overhead in a lounge, a theater or a studio | The included mounting hardware |
| Suspended | A grid that hangs below a high, open or crowded ceiling | The Ceiling Suspension Wire Kit, with 3.3 ft or 9.8 ft cables |
To hang a grid, add the suspension kit. Wherever the grid goes, keep the cord's path to the outlet in mind as you mark the holes.
Plug In the 12 V Adapter
This is the step that makes an RGB kit an easy DIY job. Every RGB kit runs from an external 12 V power adapter that plugs into a standard outlet, so it's ready once assembled, with no hardwiring and no electrician. Keep the cord tidy and clear of feet and chairs.
Every connector on a HEXLED kit is a 3-pin grounded design. The RGB kits are rated IP54, dust and splash resistant, and they're made for indoor use only. IP codes come from the IEC 60529 standard, written to say more than vague terms like waterproof, with one digit for dust and one for water.
Adding a white kit to the same room? Smaller non-dimmable kits ship with a plug-in cord, while larger kits and all dimmable kits ship with hardwire cables, so have a licensed electrician connect those. Our guide to plug-in vs hardwired garage lights covers that choice.
Pair the App and Try the Remote
You get two ways to run the lights.
The app. Download the free app for iOS or Android, turn on Bluetooth and pair your phone with the kit. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless standard, the same kind of link your phone uses for wireless headphones, so pair from inside the room. Through the app you get the 7 solid colors, all 358 dynamic scenes, brightness levels, music sync and scheduling.
The remote. The included handheld remote also changes colors, effects, brightness and scenes, and it has music modes of its own. It's the handy option for guests, since nobody needs a phone to change the color.
Set a Color, a Scene or Music Sync
With the grid lit and paired, pick how it should look.
- Solid colors. Seven steady colors for a calm accent behind a TV, a desk or a bar.
- Dynamic scenes. 358 animated scenes in the app, with scenes on the remote as well.
- Music sync. The lights react to music in real time, which suits parties and workouts.
- Brightness and schedules. Set the brightness from the remote or the app, and a schedule from the app.
Our team's suggestion is to live with one solid color for a while before you explore the scenes, because a steady color shows you how the grid sits in the room.
Your 8-Step Setup Checklist
This is outlet-first setup in order, from the box to the first scene.
| Step | Do this | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Unbox | Lay out the tubes, connectors, adapter, remote, hardware and printed guide | Nothing is missing |
| 2. Plan | Find the outlet and tape the outline | The adapter reaches the outlet |
| 3. Assemble | Snap each tube into its connector, following the printed guide | Every joint is seated |
| 4. Test | Plug the grid in once on the floor | Every tube lights |
| 5. Mount | Fix it to the wall or ceiling, or hang it on suspension wires | It's level and secure |
| 6. Power | Plug the 12 V adapter into a standard outlet | The cord is tidy |
| 7. Pair | Pair the free app over Bluetooth | The app changes the color |
| 8. Play | Try the remote, then a color, a scene or music sync | It looks right to you |
Where to Find the Printed Guide
Every RGB kit ships with a printed installation guide, so keep it beside you while you assemble. Lost it, or want to read the steps before you order? Installation instructions are on our installation guide page.
Next Steps
So setting up an RGB hexagon kit comes down to the outlet, the mount and the app, with no hardwiring along the way. When you're ready to choose a kit, compare all six sizes in the HEXLED RGB collection.
About this article, . It covers setup for our six standard RGB kits, and the kit contents and specs match our RGB product pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do RGB hexagon lights need an electrician?
No. Every RGB kit runs from an external 12 V adapter that plugs into a standard outlet, so there's no hardwiring.
Is there an app for RGB hex lights?
Yes. A free app for iOS and Android pairs with the kit over Bluetooth and controls the 7 solid colors, 358 dynamic scenes, brightness levels, music sync and scheduling.
Can I change the colors without my phone?
Yes. Every kit comes with a handheld remote that changes colors, effects, brightness and scenes.
Can RGB hexagon lights go on a wall?
Yes. They mount on walls or ceilings with the included hardware, or hang on the Ceiling Suspension Wire Kit with 3.3 ft or 9.8 ft cables.
Does the kit come with printed instructions?
Yes. Every RGB kit ships with a printed installation guide, and installation instructions are also on our website's installation guide page.
Are RGB hexagon lights waterproof?
No. They're rated IP54, which means dust and splash resistant, and they're made for indoor use only.