Neon Wall Clocks - FAQ
How To Buy A Neon Clock
- And -
What You Always Wanted To Know About Neon
But Never Knew Any Scientists To Ask
Q1. How do you get the colors?
The initial color source is the inert gas which emits a characteristic color when the electricity is applied. The two most common gases are neon which emits a fiery red color, and a mixture of argon and minute particles of mercury which emits a subdued blue. Clear glass tubing allows you to see those colors emitted by gases.
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 alternating the mixture of these elements, subtle differences are made 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 of Euro glass. Colored glass may also have a fluorescent coating which can change both the quality and color of the light.
Q2. How do you bend the glass?
The glass is rotated and rocked in burner flames which use a gas and air mixture to raise and lower the flame temperature. Generally four such burners are used in the process. Crossfire and fishtail burners produce the most angles bends and splices. Ribbon burners produce curves and sweeps. Hand torches are usually used for splices or tapering and tipping off electrodes.
Q3. How does a neon tube produce light?
Electrical current bombards 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 in the atom, energy is given off as light. See wasn't that easy :)
Q4. How do you get the gas into the glass tube?
Neon tubes are capped off by two electrodes which have a 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 a 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.
Q5. Is neon dangerous?
Neon and argon gas by themselves are not. They are inert. As with standard fluorescent tubes, the minute droplets of mercury present in some neon colors are safe as long as the tube is not broken. Improper handling can be a threat to both you and the environment. 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 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.
Q6. How long does neon last?
Neon can last decades. In practical terms the normal expected life span is between 8 to 15 years. Neon can be repaired and recharged as long as the tubing is not cracked/broken.
Q7. Where can I place my neon clock?
You should not, under any circumstances, place your neon clock/sign outside. Outdoor placement is considered a misuse of most manufacturers neon products and will void their warranties.
Your clock/sign has been designed to hang on a wall, hang from the ceiling, or stand on a counter or shelf. You may also want to consider hanging your clock/sign in the interior of a window with the logo facing out for the passersby to see.
Q8. When determining where to place your neon clock, use these tips
In some instances, a neon clock/sign can cause interference with radio equipment. If you are experiencing interference, try plugging your clock/sign into a different outlet away from your TV or radio.
Be sure you do not damage or remove the ground pin (U Pin) on the plug of your neon power cord. Good grounding is essential for interference suppression. To eliminate any possible interference with an infrared remote control, try to avoid displaying your clock/sign in their beam paths.
As with any electronic device, you should never operate your clock/sign in or near water (shower/tub etc.).
Q9. How do I clean my neon clock?
Be sure to always unplug/turn off your neon clock/sign when handling it. Next, use a feather duster or a dry cloth to dust off your clock/sign. Magic cloths are good to use also.
NEVER use a cleaning solvent or even water to clean your clock/sign. Be very careful not to break the glass. If you do accidentally break the glass, please contact the manufacturer immediately.
Q10. Why are neon clocks so costly?
Actually, neon clock/signs are the best form of retail signage around today. Nothing has the eyecatching brightness of neon. The initial cost may seem steep however you will have little or no maintenance on the clock/sign nor will you have to change light bulbs on a regular basis. Well made neon costs money, don't be fooled into buying inferior neon at a low cost you will be dissapointed, believe me.
The cost of running a neon clock/sign is inexpensive. You can run neon for pennies a day in most situations.
Q11. Can a neon clock/sign be fixed once it has broken?
Most of the time neon clock/signs can be repaired. Most neon signs are made up of several neon sections called units. If one of the units is broken, it may be possible to either repair the unit or make the unit over with a new glass and new ends called electrodes.
Repairs are made by heating a new piece of glass and melting it to the original piece of glass. Once the unit has been fixed, the unit is then refilled with gas.
Q12. How much does a neon clock/sign cost to make?
There is a wide range to the cost of neon clock/signs. Some clock/signs can be bought for about $100.00. Others can cost in the thousands. The cost is directly related to the time it takes to produce the clock/sign and the cost of materials which include the transformer (power pack) needed to power the neon.
And the Trademark license fees to produce a copyrighted clock/sign can also be very costly and definately adds to the final price you pay.
Q13. How do I know I am buying a good neon product?
Cheap unlicensed knockoffs of Trademark clocks and signs are going to give you nothing but problems. For example, if you come across a brand new 20 inch Harley Davidson neon wall clock for let say $30 you have just entered the "grey zone". This would be a cheap knockoff and you would be wasting your $30.
Stick with reliable retailers who only carry licensed neon products from well know and respected manufacturers who have warranties. These good companies and retailers will have USA addresses and phone numbers and have been in business for more then 5 years.