Guide to Neon

Exposed, for Channel Letters, or Cold-Cathode Lamps

Neon is a hand-made "light bulb", and all neon is not created equal!

Unlike most sign companies, Signs Manufacturing manufactures neon (and Cold-Cathode lamps).

We use the highest quality glass and nickel-flex electrodes with Dumet alloy inner leads, heavy-gauge solid-nickel corrosion-proof 7-strand exterior leads and ceramic collars, the best we can buy, because except for heat-cracking, most neon failures are electrode failures.

Our artisans carefully charge each neon tube for optimum brilliance using the most sophisticated of neon pumping systems because the third most frequent cause of neon failure is improper pumping.

Even though all neon dims in cold weather, neon manufactured by Signs Manufacturing will dim less because we use gases specially formulated for cold weather, which are unaffected by hot weather.

Employing an old "trick-of-the-trade" we place our neon electrodes in the bottom of channel letters wherever possible. The heat rising off the electrodes heats the neon and causes it not to dim so greatly in cold weather. Another reason our signs are usually brighter when the weather is cold.

The most common cause of neon failure is heat cracking. This is caused by improper installation (too much or too little neon footage for the size [secondary voltage] transformer used), or by the effects of high voltage on the shorter neon pieces.

It is critically important to the long-life of both the neon and the power transformers that each transformer has the proper resistance in neon (loading) for its secondary voltage.

Signs Manufacturing "burns in" each neon tube for twenty-four hours to stabilize the neon, then meters the neon to be connected to each transformer for both voltage and amperage draw to insure a proper load, because even identical neon letters will have different resistance. Most competitors neither meter nor "burn in" their neon.

Well-made and properly installed neon should average a twenty-year lifetime (40,000 hours of use).

Neon is affected by voltage. For instance, standard neon will burn nearly 100% brighter if you double the power feeding it. The neon will last about ¼ as long, however, making this alternative quite expensive in total cost.

Our challenge is to give you a brighter sign which attracts more customers, without increasing your sign, energy, or maintenance costs.

Channel letters are usually illuminated with neon. Our artisans individually manufacture the neon for each letter after the letter base is manufactured to insure a proper fit that will evenly and brilliantly illuminate the entire face of the letter without "shorting" against the metal. Sign companies that buy their neon pre-made from neon manufacturers cannot do this.

Multiple neon strokes are added as required to insure even illumination.

We automatically employ neon intensity control to give our customers the brightest sign possible without increasing energy costs.

Neon Colors

	White (9 different shades)
	Warmtone
	Clear Red
	Red (4 additional coated colors)
	Amber
	Rose
	Ruby Red
	Orange (4 different colors)
	Tangerine
	Gold
	Yellow
	Pink
	Beige
	Magenta
	Violet
	Purple
	Green (7 different colors)
	Turquoise
	Clear Blue
	Blue (6 additional colors)
	Aquamarine

Cold-Cathode Colors

(Glass 18 mm and larger)

	White (10 different shades)
	Green
	Blue (2 different shades)

Neon and Cold-Cathode Lamp Brightness

Glass tubes 8 mm to 18 mm thick are used to make “neon” lamps, 18 mm to 30 mm thick to make so-called “cold-cathode” lamps, thicker to make “fluorescent” lamps.

Other than size and the type of electrode used, there is no difference between neon and fluorescent lamps of the same color output. The size and/or color does change the energy requirements, however, which is why they use different power sources.

All things being equal, the thinner the tube, the more light it puts out!

Unless there are over-riding lumen requirements, or landlord restrictions, we will adjust your neon size to give you the brightest sign possible. However, you CAN have an even brighter sign (see Brighter Signs.)

Brighter Signs™ Neon

“Our (channel letter) sign is like a star, a beacon in a universe of dull and dingy signs…it lights up the whole area! We couldn’t be more pleased.” Greg Clark, Mom’s Kitchen (with Brighter Signs™ option)

New neon is available that increases the light output of neon, without increasing the energy consumption of the sign.

This new neon, incorporated into your new sign, will make your sign significantly brighter than all other signs in the area when lighted. A 110% brighter sign. Potential customers will see your sign first so it is the one that will make the strongest impression!

The greatest testimonial to the effectiveness of Brighter Signs™ on our customer’s bottom line is that EVERY customer who has ordered Brighter Signs™ technology for a sign has reordered it for every sign from then on!

Ultra-Bright Signs™ Neon

We combine our Brighter Signs™ technology with neon intensity control to create a 150% brighter sign. This option may use up to 16% more energy but it is worth it.