Neon lamps are widely used in many areas of lighting. They are distinguished by a bright and multi-colored luminous flux, as well as reliability and durability. Most often, with the help of such lamps, signs, advertising inscriptions, decor and architecture items are highlighted. Detailed information about such lamps is presented in our article.

Design and principle of operation

Discharge lamps are very similar to neon lamps. If neon is included in the composition of a gas-discharge light source, then it can be considered neon, but in fact it is not. Neon lamps have some distinctive features.

Neon lamps consist of a glass tube that is filled with a small amount of gas. The gas has a low pressure. Each of the neon atoms is covered electron shell due to which they do not come into contact with other atoms. To detach even one electron, the impact of powerful energy (at least 15,000 V) is necessary.

Electrodes are located at each end of the glass tube. Neon lamps can operate from various current sources, both variable and constant. However, when using the latter option, the glow will be formed only in the region of the electrodes.

The principle of operation of this lamp is as follows:

• Under influence electric current neon atoms lose their electrons and gain a positive charge.
• Then these atoms are concentrated near the negatively charged electrode.
• Free electrons, in turn, are sent to the electrode, which has a positive charge.

The result of this process is the formation bright light. The neon lamp is thus used to illuminate not only buildings outside, but also in an apartment and house, while being a worthy competitor to LED lighting. Do-it-yourself neon lighting is installed without any difficulty.

Advantages and disadvantages

Neon light sources have a lot of advantages. These include:

• a variety of dimensions and shapes of lamps;
• ease of connection and installation. Installation of neon lighting fixtures is carried out with a minimum amount of fittings and in a short time, due to which, often, a neon lamp is installed with your own hands;

• the ability to control brightness and consumption;
• the possibility of obtaining different colors;
• long period of operation (up to twenty years);
• fire safety. This advantage is due to the fact that neon light sources, due to their design, exclude the possibility of heating;
• silent operation.

Despite numerous advantages, neon lamps have some disadvantages:

• the composition of these lamps includes some harmful substances;
• light sources function only at high voltage in the network. Therefore, when using them, a powerful transformer is required;
• fragility (does not apply to neon ribbons). This is because all neon lamps are made of glass.

It can be concluded that such lighting fixtures have much more positive points than negative ones. But still, before purchasing a neon device, you should carefully analyze the above features.

Backlight Options

Neon bulbs are distinguished by their spectacular bright glow, which is created due to certain processes inside the device. The continuous movement of atoms leads to their collision, as a result of which they share energy with each other with a certain amount of heat.

In other words, the excitation of atoms is carried out, due to which the energy level increases. In the process of heat release, the electrode can be lowered to a lower level. At the last stage, the excess energy in the lamp is released in the form of a photon. This is how neon lighting is created.

Comparing these lamps with other types of lamps, it can be noted that the former are more durable. This circumstance is due to the absence of incandescent filaments in neon lamps, which cause electron emission. Instead, in these devices, emission is created using electrodes that do not heat up during their entire operation. Therefore, neon lighting devices have a second name - "cold cathode".

If neon is used as gas in the lamp, then the luminous flux will have Orange color with a reddish tint. In order to get a different color, use the following methods:

• use of another gas

For example, helium gives the light a pink tint, argon makes it blue, and krypton makes the light stream green. To obtain intermediate colors resort to mixing gases in various proportions. However, regardless of what inert gas is included in the composition of the lamp, all these devices are called "neon".

• application of phosphors

This method involves applying a variety of chemicals to the lamp.

Neon ribbon is a fairly popular variety of such lighting fixtures. It is also called flexible neon. This device is represented by an LED garland installed in a PVC tube.

The range of neon ribbons consists of multi-colored and plain products. The following advantages of flexible neon can be distinguished:

• protection against mechanical damage. So, for example, glass lamps have a risk of being broken, but tapes exclude such a possibility, so they can be used with full confidence in children's rooms;
• moisture resistance;

• the possibility of using RGB technologies;
• flexibility. Due to this property, the device becomes mobile and versatile, therefore, the neon strip is installed in various places both inside and outside the house;
• price.

If we compare flexible neon with LED strips, then the neon device is the most optimal.

Currently, neon strips are gaining popularity, thereby gradually replacing other lighting fixtures.

Scope of use

Neon light sources are in demand in various fields. They are indispensable in the organization of road and street lighting at night, outdoor advertising, for highlighting cars, as well as for highlighting various buildings and structures.

In the field of production, neon lamps have found their application in lighting warehouse, retail and office space. In addition, such a lighting device is used to illuminate the runway at airports. Neon lamps are widely used in electronic computers as an indication element.

When decorating the interior in a room, a neon lamp serves as a decorating element, as well as for arranging hidden lighting.

Installation and connection

Installation of neon lighting fixtures is extremely simple. It consists in installing lamp holders on the selected surface, where the bulbs themselves are then fixed.

Such devices are connected to the network through a resistor that performs the function of current limiting. Also, this device does not allow the conversion of a glow discharge into an arc. As a rule, such a resistor is already built into the base, and the lamp is connected immediately to the network. It is due to the simple installation and connection that the glow discharge lamp is very popular.

When installing neon light sources, certain requirements must be observed. First of all, it is forbidden to install the converter on metal surfaces. In this case, it is necessary to use a special gasket with a thickness of at least 1 cm, which is placed between the device body and the surface. The distance from the lamps to the surface should not be less than 4 cm.

When laying the cable, use remote holders that provide a distance of at least 3 cm from the metal surface. If the neon lamp is installed outdoors, you should take care of additional cable protection through the use of plastic corrugated hoses.

Neon lamps can create both romantic and festive atmosphere in your home. And if you want to equip the space near the house, you should pay attention to neon ribbons. They will not only provide bright and spectacular lighting, but will serve you for many years without requiring special maintenance.

The neon lamp is the most attractive and bright member of the lamp family in every sense. And to this day, the word "neon" refers to all lamps filled with inert gases - argon, neon and others.

What is a gas discharge lamp?

Discharge lamps are "relatives" of modern neon. And now the term "neon lamp" can be called gas discharge if it contains neon gas. But this is not entirely true, although these names are very close. The term "discharge lamp" is used to refer to inside the tube. electrical discharges between the spiral anode and cathode, which are located on both sides. Under the influence of a discharge, mercury vapor emits ultraviolet waves invisible to human eyes. With the help of a phosphor deposited on the inner surface, which consists of a mixture of different elements and phosphorus, ultraviolet radiation is transformed into visible light. The neon lamp is also gas-discharge, but with some features.

What is choke and starter?

The neon lamp 220 V gas-discharge works thanks to the EMPRA and the starter. EMPRA is a ballast electromagnetic device, which is "popularly" called a choke. The power of this device must correspond to the power of the lamps that are connected to it. The starter is a small device filled with an inert gas, with a pair of bimetallic normally open electrodes inside.

The difference in the principle of operation

The gas discharge lamp has a fairly simple principle of operation. When the power is turned on, a discharge occurs in a device such as a starter, the bimetallic electrodes are closed. After that, the current in the starter and electrode circuits is limited by the resistance of the electromagnetic ballast (choke). As a result, the operating current increases instantly several times, the electrodes heat up. At this point, the bimetallic contacts cool down and open the circuit. The inductor, using the phenomenon of self-induction, generates a high-voltage triggering pulse. It leads to a discharge in an inert gas environment, which ignites the lamp. After this process, the voltage on the lamp will be equal to half the voltage in the network. If the lamp shines normally, the starter contacts will be normally open and he will not take part in the operation of the device.
The neon lamp is a glow-discharge gas-lighting device. It consists of a cylinder made of glass, which is filled with neon under pressure. Inside it are two electrodes made of non-activated metal different forms. As you can see, the modern neon lamp is more versatile and reliable.

neon features

Unlike other lamps, neon lamps are much more durable, since they do not have incandescent filaments inside that would create electronic emission. A neon lamp requires more voltage, but it has a much lower current value (up to 75 milliamps). The electrodes that create the emission remain fairly cold. That is why the neon lamp is also called the "cold cathode". The physics of the process is based on the laws of bombardment of neutral gas atoms by charge carriers. Colliding, charged electrons push neutral atoms (inert particles) out of their orbit. This leads to the excitation of the atomic structure. This process is called ionization. During each collision, several light quanta are released. Since such collisions are very frequent (many times per second), a stable (for the human eye) glow is obtained. Inert gases have different color qualities. This allows you to create unusual photodynamic effects.

Application

Neon lamps, the price of which, depending on the size, manufacturer and shape, varies from a few tens of dollars to several hundred, have found their application in many areas. Without them, it is difficult to imagine the illumination of highways and city streets at night, outdoor illuminated advertising, lighting of buildings and structures. Lighting of warehouses, workshops, offices, enterprises, design of shopping malls are carried out with the help of neon. Often it is used not only in the form of additional / emergency lighting, but also for the main one.

Advantages

Neon lamp 220V has many advantages:

The light box can be made in any size, shape;

Connection and installation requires little fittings and time;

Simple and reliable electrical circuit, in comparison with gas-discharge;

Ability to control brightness and consumption;

You can get a different color due to different gases and phosphor (helium gives yellow, neon - red, argon - blue);

High service life - up to twenty years.

Mounting

Connecting a neon lamp is very simple. Lamp holders must be fixed on the surface. The lamp itself is inserted into them. An electronic converter or an electromagnetic transformer is connected to the middle of the load, according to the connection diagram. You can not turn them on a metal surface. There must be a dielectric between the converter and the surface (at least 1 cm).

Neon lamps are the brightest new lighting products, characterized by maximum efficiency and long service life. Therefore, today they are used in the most different areas human activities, including lighting of buildings and interior lighting of premises.

A neon lamp is a glass tube filled with gas under reduced pressure.

Advantages and disadvantages

Consider the main advantages of such lighting devices that are in demand today, such as a neon lamp:

1. quite bright light effect;
2. long service life - within 80,000 hours;
3. you can make lamps of various shapes;
4. does not heat up, which means it is fireproof;
5. you can pick up a device with any white backlight;
6. you can control the brightness;
7. it works without noise.

But it is worth considering that although such lighting is used everywhere, it also has its drawbacks:

1. contains harmful substances;
2. needs a high voltage network, in addition, a high-voltage transformer is required;
3. high price.

How do they work?

A neon lamp consists of a bulb in which the following processes take place: when moving, the electrons collide with neutral gas atoms, which are the fillers of this region, and begin to ionize them, pushing the electrons from the upper region into the capacitance. The atoms in turn collide with electrons, again becoming neutral atoms. Thanks to this reverse transformation, a quantum of light energy is emitted. As you can see, the principle of operation of neon lamps is not very complicated.

When turned on, such devices do not heat up much - the heating temperature reaches a maximum of 80 ° C. It is for this reason that neon tubes are also called cold cathode lamps. Their scope is quite wide, as they are durable, economical and functional flexibility. The main advantage of such bulbs is that they can have any shape.

Any inert gas and metal vapor has its own spectral light composition:

• helium tubes emit light yellow or pale pink light;
• neon tubes - red light;
• argon tubes - blue light.

Application of neon ribbons

It should be noted that in the neon lighting market you can also find neon strips or, as they are commonly called, flexible neon. They are a LED garland sealed in a PVC tube. Flexible neons are divided into multi-colored and monotonous. They are made from high quality PVC pipes, they can be both transparent and matte. Single color options are made from matte tube.

The tape, in comparison with a light bulb, has numerous advantages, among which it is worth noting:

• there is no risk of mechanical damage. Glass lamps break very often, so they can be very dangerous, in particular, if you want to equip a nursery with them. But the tape does not have such a drawback;
• waterproofing;
• you can use RGB technology;
• the tape is flexible, which makes it possible to mount it in almost any room or outside the building. As a result, the backlight is quite mobile;
• the tape will be cheaper when compared with the LED option. LED strips are not always a great buy.

Neon strips are quite in demand, and over time, they may even force certain types of lighting fixtures out of the market. They have a fairly wide range of light, for this reason they are widely used in various fields.

Application area

Both lamps and cords consisting of inert gases are used everywhere. They have been used for:

1. production of hidden lighting;
2. decorative design of the outer area of ​​buildings, architectural buildings, monuments and so on;
3. lighting of advertising structures;
4. decorating unusual interiors in any residential premises and other public places.

The neon lamps used today in the interior design of the house look very organic and presentable. You can use them to transform any room and add your own special notes to the style of decoration. They are indispensable for organizing a picnic in the evening, you can use them to create an extraordinary atmosphere.

In everyday life, such a tape is also very valuable. It is the ideal solution for illuminating the ceiling area, aquarium as well as any cabinet. You can make it so that when you open the cabinet, the light mounted in it with a neon cord automatically turns on.

The tape can also come in handy in the kitchen space - if it is noticeably dark when washing dishes or cooking. You can simply install a neon strip of the required length in the required area. And there are a huge number of ways to use this tape.

As you can see, the scope of such universal lighting fixtures is quite extensive. This is due to their advantages, among which it is worth noting high quality and beautiful light output. Only LED strip can compete with them.

Do you know that neon lamp invented as a result of experiments aimed at supplying liquefied oxygen to hospitals? We bring to your attention a short story about the invention of a neon lamp and the principle of its operation.

Jean Claude - Inventor of the neon lamp

In fact, scientists approached the invention of the neon lamp several times before the 20th century. An astronomer from France, Jean Picard, in 1675 discovered a mysterious faint light in the tube of a mercury barometer, the cause of which he could not explain. Many years later, in 1855, the German physicist Heinrich Geisler invented a prototype gas discharge tube. Neon itself was discovered in 1898 by English scientists William Ramsey and Morris Traver.

These discoveries became like separate details that were to be combined into one invention. The inventor of the neon lamp was the Frenchman Jean Claude, an engineer with the talent of an entrepreneur. He hoped to supply liquefied oxygen to hospitals, and make good money on this.

There was only one problem - inert gases interfered with obtaining high-quality oxygen. By removing impurities from oxygen, the practical Claude tried to find a use for them. One day he heard about "luminous tubes". He pumped gases into tubes and passed through them electric charge. The tubes began to glow, red from neon and blue from argon. The engineer immediately realized that this discovery would bring him commercial success.

In 1910, Jean-Claude presented his neon lighting at the Exhibition of Achievement in Paris, and soon patented it. In 1915, he opens the Claude Neon Lights Company, and licenses his technology to anyone who wants to put up a neon sign. This made Claude wealthy very quickly - by the end of the 20s, the annual income of his company reached almost 10 million dollars.

Characteristics and principle of operation of neon lamps

Let's talk a little about the principle of operation of neon lamps. Their design consists of glass tubes (colored or transparent) that are filled with an inert gas. Most often it is neon in its pure form or in the form of a mixture with argon. The tube is connected to a power source, and when an electric charge passes through it, the gases inside the tube begin to glow.

As for the characteristics of neon lamps, here one can note a very high brightness, durability and a huge selection of glow shades. Disadvantages - neon lamps are fragile, expensive and flammable. These disadvantages have become the reason that, once incredibly popular, neon has lost its position. Increasingly, neon lighting on the streets began to be replaced by LED. LED backlighting is more economical, consumes less electricity, is fireproof, resistant to atmospheric and mechanical influences.

We meet neon lamps most often in the form of signal lamps (in home appliances). Typically, they are used to indicate power on. This can be seen on irons, toasters and other appliances. The indicator lights are orange-red.

Principle of operation

The light emitted by them is not particularly bright. It is created by a flow of electrons that occurs between two electrodes in a glass bulb filled with gas - neon.

Design

The neon lamp has the same design as all other gas-discharge light sources. It is a glass container or tube with two electrodes soldered into it. The glass flask can be given almost any shape. Neon gas is pumped into this tube at low pressure. Under the name "neon lamp" there may be similar light sources filled with other helium, argon, krypton. Metal vapors, phosphors can be added there, all this creates a wide range of colors and shades. But this whole variety is called by the name of its ancestor - a neon lamp.

Starting voltage

In order for it to start glowing, you need to apply a starting voltage to its electrodes. For normal brightness, it will be from 45 to 65V, and for increased - from 70 to 95V AC.

Resistance

Resistance as an element of an electrical circuit is simply necessary for the operation of such a light source. It is included in its design and limits the electric current. When the neon lamp is already working, the electric current for it becomes large, and without built-in resistance, it can simply destroy it. It can operate at 110V, 220V (depending on the built-in resistance).

transformers

Such lighting is very demanding on the parameters of electric current. In addition to the built-in resistance, electrical circuit also includes a transformer for neon lamps. Without it, they cannot be connected to a regular 220V network. For them, they are produced which produce but with a frequency of 50 Hz.

Neon lamp emits in the visible and infrared ranges electromagnetic waves. The visible part of its radiation lies in the range from 580 to 750 nm. This corresponds to orange-red light. The luminous flux of such a light source is from 0.03 to 0.07 lumens.

Operating time

Its operating time depends on the magnitude and type of current. With a current of 1mA, the service life is from 25,000 to 50,000 hours. reduces its service life by 40%.

fluorescent lamp

This is the green light option. It is also used as a signal light source. Green light is obtained as follows. The inside of a glass bulb is coated with a special fluorescent substance that absorbs red light and turns it green.

Usage

Lamps have found their application in decorative lighting of interiors, in the advertising industry, as various devices. This is due to a number of their parameters. They are economical, durable and safe. Neon lamps for cars are used as illumination of the bottom, interior, trunk. If desired, they can be installed anywhere. Can be sold in a set of four. Two are attached to the front and back of the case. And two on the sides. The transformers included in the kit can be either built-in or external. The price of the tuning kit is $300.