Creating Neon Lighting

How Do Neon Lights Work?

Neon lights are classified as a type of glass discharge lamp in which a noble gas fills a glass chamber. A noble gas is one of several elementary gases on the periodic charts that are not prone to interacting with other elements. They are gases such as neon, argon, helium, xenon and krypton. When the chamber is bombarded with high-voltage electricity, the preponderance of free electrons within the tube interact with the molecules of noble gas. Each impact results in the free electrons releasing energy in the form of light. The color of the light depends on which noble gas the tube contains. Many such lights may not actually contain the element neon, though they are still referred to as neon lights.

Neon Light Construction

Lead glass is heated to a melting point and then blown into thin tubes by experienced glass workers. The thickness of these tubes ranges from 8mm to 20 mm. If the tube were any thicker, it would become extremely difficult to generate the amount of electricity needed to bombard the interior. Tabs of metal wire are inserted into either end of the tube, typically surrounded by more glass except for the very tips. While the glass is still malleable, it's connected to a vacuum pump and all of the air is sucked out, replaced by one or a mixture of noble gases. The end of the tube is sealed as it's removed from the vacuum to finish the neon light.

Neon Light Installation

Neon lights are mounted and installed in several ways, depending on one's lighting needs. They were originally designed for store sign advertisements, catching people's eyes with their liquid fire glow. Now they're used in indoor lamps, decorative wall hangings and aftermarket attachments for cars. The manner in which they are mounted has become more complex as a result. Instead of each individual neon tube being mounted to a metal or plastic bracket, each with its own electrical leads, the tubes are now wired in sequence with amplifier circuits placed in between. These circuits are necessary for neon lights in cars. as their electrical needs can quickly drain an average-sized battery. The downside is that sudden power surges are more likely to destroy neon lights, so surge protectors are a must for in-home use.