The services offered by Neonic Signs include:

• Design
• Specification
• Mock-ups
• Manufacture
• Supply
• Project management
• Installation
• Sign rental
• Service and maintenance

Neon: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How are neon lights produced?

A: Neon tube that is 4 or 5 feet in length. I place sections of the tube into fire generated from gas (natural or propane) mixed with air. There are several types of burners used to deliver the fire that will allow me to heat different sized sections of glass. Fires are used to heat a one to two inch section of the glass to achieve a 90 degree bend.

 

A ribbon burner is used to heat sections up to 15" in order to achieve a curved bend. A hand torch (the same as a jewelers torch) is used to concentrate the flames on a small area of the glass. This is used to blow holes in so I can attach a smaller piece of glass that will allow me to put the needed gas and mercury inside during the bombarding phase of production.
After a series of bends I eventually have a design that conforms to a paper pattern. For instance the letter R is printed on a paper pattern and I use my fires to bend the glass into curves, 90 degree angles, or double backs to achieve the shape of the pattern.

After the desired shape has been bent I add electrodes to both ends of the glass tube. These are glass devices with metal wires protruding out of the end to allow electricity to travel into the neon tube freely. At this stage the process is to empty the neon of air and impurities and add neon or argon gas plus mercury if needed. The neon letter is placed on a manifold that has a vacuum pump that will evacuate the tube of all of its air then I attach the metal leads on the electrodes to a huge bombarder that sends high voltage electricity into the glass. The goal is to make the glass very hot so that any impurities are burned to toast so they can be vacuumed out. The metal inside of my electrodes need to get red hot then the neon technician stop the bombing process to allow my glass to cool again.

 

Once the glass is cool the necessary gas is added. Argon makes blue light and neon makes red light. The gas is then filled into the letter and a hand torch is used to melt the small piece of glass which is added that allowed the neon technician to put the needed gas in. This last step seals the tube literally, this is done by heat with a hand torch. Now I can attach my neon to a transformer and see the brilliant lights.

Q2: Can the gas from neon kill you?

A: No, neon, in it's natural state, cannot kill you. It is not poisonous or explosive like some other gasses and it is very useful to us in many practical applications such as neon lighting, lasers, TV tubes, refrigerant and more. Neon is an inert gas found in the air we breathe. Inert means it is a very stable and slow moving and it is not very reactive. It is the 10th element , atomic number 10, on the periodic chart, this means that the element neon contains a quantity of 10 protons inside of its atom's nucleus.

Q3: What electronic transitions take place within the atom to give off the light and certain spectra?

A: Transitions take place in the atom when the electrons change in value due to the effects of collision. Electricity is introduced Into a neon tube through electrodes (a glass capsule with imbedded wires that lead power from the outside to the inside of a completed neon tube, which is otherwise sealed) at either end. As the electricity travels through the tube it causes the atoms inside to collide into one another.

 

These collisions result in the rearrangement of the electron altering their value thus resulting in ionization, a point in which an atom is positively charged. It is at this point that we are able to see the illumination of a particular element. As far as its spectra, gases such as neon, argon, helium, xenon, and krypton as well as the "liquid metal", mercury are found to produce the desired glow and colors. Any combination of these gases can be used to achieve a spectrum of lighted results.

Q4: The sign is broken. Is this sign totally no good now or can it be repaired?

Yes, a local neon shop or sign company can fix or remake a broken part of any neon sign; though, many shy away from this as it’s a health risk for the neon technician. Be aware that there is probably a small bead of mercury that can fall out while you are removing the broken parts so be sure to work over paper or other material so that you might track any mercury spill. Consult your local law for proper disposal.

Q5: I'm using a 15,000 transformer to light up 60 feet of 15mm neon filled tubes what could cause an electric discharge when you touch the glass of a neon tube and then touch a near by object of metal?

 

A: A neon sign is high voltage. Although the electrical charge is contained within the glass tube, it tends to omit a strong electrical field called a corona. This Field is not dangerous coming off of your sign but care should be taken to avoid metal to glass contact.
Because neon is high voltage, electrodes and any exposed wiring should be properly insulated with UL Listed materials. UL listed caps are used to cover electrode wires and properly rated conduit enclose the wires that run through high voltage cable (GTO) . All GTO splices should be done within listed splice enclosures only. No exposed wire should be visible anywhere on your sign.

How does the Neon sign get it’s power source? You do need a transformer. You must determine how much “juice” you will need to power your sign. Power is measured in high voltages called secondary volts (secondary because it steps up your- primary, 120 household current to high volts needed for neon).

Transformers for neon come in increments from 2000 -15000 secondary volts. We choose the correct transformer by figuring the over all length, the diameter, and the color of the glass.

Q6: What factors and elements are combined to achieve the affect of a brilliantly lit neon sign.

First there is the glass also Known as silica. We start with 4' rods of hollow glass in varying diameters. We mainly use a lead based glass because it is more tolerant in high temperatures and it becomes malleable for a short period of time, enough to work into a pattern.

- For Color there are pigments that can be incorporated into the glass or used to coat the outside of the glass. There are also phosphate coatings inside of the glass tube. They are in powder form and they give us a large range of color options.

- Once the neon shape is completed we add electrodes to serve as a pathway to allow electric to travel inside a finished neon element.

- All air is vacuumed out of the tube and impurities are essentially burned away with temperatures that reach 400 degrees or above.

- Once our glass is cool we place one or more types of gas inside. Neon, argon, and sometimes helium for cold temperatures.

- A when using argon gas a small amount of mercury is placed into the finished unit to make it illuminate brighter.

- We seal in all of the wanted elements, gas, mercury, and phosphates then introduce electricity in through the metal leads on the electrodes that were placed on opposite ends of the neon tube and then the action begins. We now have the perfect environment for controlled chaos.

- There are high voltage electrical wires that connect a transformer to one end and leads to the electrodes that we placed on the neon tube. One on each end. The electricity travels through the tube at astronomical speeds. The opposing electrodes bat the electrons back and forth like a hyper tennis match. In this environment the electrodes are bound to collide BOOM! It is in this instance that you see the argon or neon glow. You are seeing the result of the many explosions that happen when positive electrons collides with a negative electrons.

- Multiply this activity to infinity or the amount of time your neon is plugged in and there you have it a constant and brightly lit neon tube.

Q7: Does cold temperature have an effect on how a neon sign works?

A: Yes indeed, cold weather has ad effect on your neon. A small bead of mercury inside of every argon (blue gas) filled tube will condense in the cold and vaporize in the heat. You will notice very low light output in the areas that lack the needed mercury vapor to glow. This is not a problem with red or neon filled tubes because neon doesn't require mercury to glow brightly.
The problem reverses itself if you were to heat your environment or bring your sign into a warmer climate. There is no actual harm to your sign.

Q8: "How much does it cost to repair a broken section on a neon sign?"

A: It depends on your location and the market in your area. Calling several companies in your area to explain the nature of the problem for the best estimate.

Other factors that may effect your costs are travel to pick up a broken sign, dismantling the sign and reassembly, replacing the entire unit vs. splicing an area of glass on (due to mercury contamination shops vary), and the replacement of parts such as wiring, transformers, etc.

Q9: If a neon sign in a store window is blue, does it really contain neon?

A: The term neon is used broadly to describe lighted signs, as well as, it's the name of the gas used to achieve the red we see in red signs. There are traces of neon gas used in blue (argon filled tubes) and like colored "neon" signs, but the prevailing and dominant gas is argon which is used to achieve a dull bluish glow. Because argon filled tubes is so dull mercury is needed to brighten argon filled tubes. Helium gas is also used in varying doses inside of blue and like colored "neon" when the argon filled tubes are used in cold weather regions as argon loses it's intensity under these conditions.

Q10. How do you get the colors?

A: The initial color source is the inert gas which emits a characteristic color when electricity is applied. The two most common gases are neon which emits a fiery red, and a mixture of argon and minute particles of mercury which emits a subdued blue. Clear glass allows you to see the characteristic colors emitted by the gas.

 

Fluorescent powders may be painted or baked to the inside walls of the glass tubing and the source light is then converted into a multitude of shades such as pink, turquoise, and green. By altering the mixture of elements, subtle differences are possible. For example, white is available in a wide array of color temperatures from warm to cool. Tubing is also produced in colored glass. Deep clear reds, blues, and greens for example produce the richly saturated colors referred to as exotic or Euro glass. Colored glass may also have a fluorescent coating which can change both the quality and color of the light.

Q11. How do you bend the glass?

A: The glass is rotated and rocked (rocked and rolled) in burner flames which use a gas and air mixture to raise the flame temperature. Generally four burners are used. Crossfire and fishtail burners produce most angled bends and splices. Ribbon burners produce curves or sweeps. Hand torches are usually used for splices or tapering and tipping off electrodes.

Q12. How does a neon tube produce light?

A: Electrical current bombard the inert gas atoms with electrons knocking neon's atoms out of their orbits. The electrons collide with other free electrons sending them back toward the atoms. As the electrons are absorbed into the atom, energy is given off as light.

Q13. How do you get the gas into the tube?

A: Neon tubes are capped off by two glass electrodes which have wire passing from outside to inside. One of these electrodes has a tubulation, a small tube which remains as a passage from outside to inside. The tubulation is sealed to the pumping system or manifold. The manifold has glass stopcocks or valves that allow sections to be selectively opened or closed. An ultra high vacuum pump pulls the air out of the tube while a high voltage-high amperage transformer bombards and heats the remaining air to produce temperatures in excess of 500 degrees F. This allows the tube to achieve a higher degree of purity. When a very high vacuum is reached and the tube begins to cool, a small amount of inert gas is introduced from a flask or tank. The tubulation is then heated and as it is pulled it sucks in to make the tubes own seal.

Q14. Is neon dangerous?

A: Neon and argon gas by themselves are not. They are inert. As with standard fluorescent tubes, the minute droplets of mercury present in some colors are safe as long as the tube is not broken. Improper handling can be a threat to both the environment and health. Many modern neon shops refuse repair of broken argon-mercury tubes for this reason.

Neon is powered by voltages in the 2,000 to 15,000 volt range. Even though the current is in the milliamp range, if a neon piece is not properly mounted, wired, and insulated this voltage poses both a shock and fire hazard. This is an area where cheapness does not pay off. A well constructed neon piece should be problem free for many years.

Q15. How long does neon last?

A: Neon can last decades In practical terms the expected life span is between 8 to 15 years. Neon can be repaired and recharged.

Q16. Do you use a pattern or do you bend the glass freehand?

A: For most applications (signs, designs, etc) neon is bent over a fire resistant pattern. Artistically expressive work is often freehand. Three dimensional work from engineer drawings or a dimensional template is very challenging but can be done.

Q17. Can neon be used with three dimensional shapes such as a globe?

A: Yes. Very interesting effects can be acheived because the light tends to fill the object with varied coloration and depending on the power supply, it can respond to touch. This is however an advanced technique.

Q18. How do they make neon appear to move?

A: The huge animated neon signs or "spectaculars" of the 1940s have multiple layers of neon each powered in a timed sequence to produce the desired effect. Many other forms of movement have been found in the neon tube itself. "Wiggle tubes", "Crackle tubes", "Jelly beans", and "Whirlygigs" are a few.

Q19; What are the advantage before other light sources?

A: It consists in midget power consumption, brightnesses of a luminescence (in 2,5 times above, than lamps calefaction), stability aggressive conditions of an environment, long term without failure operation (7-15 years at correct installation), a wide choice of colors (more than 100 shades). Gives really juicy luminescence in any of the shades. The neon can serve both an independent element of registration, and internal illumination of volumetric letters When it comes to brightnesses of color the neon qualitatively surpasses any of known technologies of an illuminated signs.

Q20: What are the reasons of failure are?

A: infringement of technological process of manufacturing of lamps and their installation, terms and conditions of storage of accessories, incorrectly calculated total pressure of lamps on which the quantity and characteristics of applied transformers depends. From hailstones.

Q21: When did neon first start being used? History of Neon?

The first signs commercially arrived in the early 1900's. Merchants soon realized neon's potential for grabbing attention and began using neon to create ambiance and excitement for their businesses and brands. A brief history of Neon,

The concept behind neon signs was first conceived in 1675, when the French astronomer Jean Picard observed a faint glow in a mercury barometer tube. When the tube was shaken a glow called barometric light occurred, but the cause of the light (static electricity) was not then understood.

History Note: Jean Picard is better known as the astronomer who first accurately measured the length of a degree of a meridian (longitude line) and from that computed the size of the Earth. A barometer is a device used to measure atmospheric pressure, there are two main types of barometers: mercury and aneroid. Evangelista Torricelli invented the barometer in 1643. Then though barometric light was not yet understood, it was investigated. When the principles of electricity were discovered, scientists moved forward towards the invention of various forms of lighting. By 1855, there was the geissler tube named after Heinrich Geissler, a German glassblower. Gas in the tube was placed under low pressure and electrical voltage was applied, the result was that the gas glowed. After electrical generators were invented, many people experimented with applying electric power to tubes of gas. Several electric discharge lamps or vapor lamps were invented from 1900 onwards in Europe and the United States. Simply defined the electric discharge lamp is a lighting device consisting of a transparent container within which a gas is energized by an applied voltage, and thereby made to glow.

The French engineer, chemist, and inventor Georges Claude (b. Sept. 24, 1870, d. May 23, 1960), was the first to apply an electrical discharge to a sealed tube of neon gas (circa 1902) to create a lamp. The word neon comes from the Greek "neos," meaning "the new gas." Georges Claude displayed the first neon lamp to the public on December 11, 1910, in Paris. In 1923, Georges Claude and his French company Claude Neon, introduced neon gas signs to the United States, by selling two to a Packard car dealership in Los Angeles. Earle C. Anthony purchased the two signs reading "Packard" for $24,000. Neon lighting quickly became a popular fixture in outdoor advertising. Visible even in daylight, people would stop and stare at the first neon signs dubbed "liquid fire."

History Note: Before there were neon signs in America, there were commercial sign tubes that used a carbon dioxide fill. The carbon dioxide signs were made by a man called Moore. Neon gas was discovered by William Ramsey and M. W. Travers in 1898 in London. Neon is a rare gaseous element present in the atmosphere to the extent of 1 part in 65,000 of air. It is obtained by liquefaction of air and separated from the other gases by fractional distillation.

Hollow glass tubes used to make neon lamps come in 4, 5 and 8 ft lengths. To shape the tubes, the glass is heated by lit gas and forced air. Several compositions of glass are used depending on the country and supplier. What is called 'Soft' glass has compositions including lead glass, soda-lime glass, and barium glass. "Hard" glass in the borosilicate family is also used. Depending on the glass composition, the working range of glass is from 1600' F to over 2200'F. The temperature of the air-gas flame depending on the fuel and ratio, is approximately 3000'F using propane gas.

The tubes are scored (partial cut) while cold with a file and then snapped apart while hot. Then the artisan creates the angle and curve combinations. When the tubing is finished, the tube most be processed. This process varies depending on country; the procedure is called "bombarding" in the US. The tube is partial evacuated of air. Next, it is short circuited with high voltage current until the tube reaches a temperature of 550 F. Then the tube is evacuated again until it reaches a vacuum of 10-3 torr. Argon or neon is back filled to a specific pressure depending on the diameter of the tube and sealed off. In the case of an argon-filled tube, additional steps are taken for the injection of mercury; typically, 10-40ul depending on tube length and climate it is to operate in.

Red is the color neon gas produces, neon gas glows with its characteristic red light even at atmospheric pressure. There are now more than 150 colors possible; almost every color other than red is produced using argon, mercury and phosphor. Neon tubes actually refer to all positive-column discharge lamps, regardless of the gas filling. The colors in order of discovery were blue (Mercury), white (Co2), gold (Helium), red (Neon), and then different colors from phosphor-coated tubes. The mercury spectrum is rich in ultraviolet light which in turn excites a phosphor coating on the inside of the tube to glow. Phosphors are available in most any pastel colors.