Illuminated Signs Neon Signs

The Brilliance of Neon Signs:

Neon Signs possess a visual electric quality that ensures attention from viewers.  You can not duplicate the pure Brilliant Colours of exposed Neon tubing elsewhere.  In every retail environment, there are a countless number of companies competing for the same business.  A neon sign can give you the necessary edge.  Neon remains highly visible in pouring rain, full readability during the day light, and especially at night.  It is proven to be highly effective form of advertising for companies that are active in late afternoon or evening.  Neon signs are more economical than other electric signs and will provide many years of service.

Uses for Neon:

Channel Letters.  Neon can be incorporated into many kinds of signs.  Most commonly Channel Letters feature neon tubes as the light source and remains a highly used application for Neon in signs.  Neon lighting works inside of the cabinets that are specially designed for Illuminated Dimensional 3D letters - more commonly known as Channel Letters, or shaped Channel boxes.  Therefore Neon can provide a variety of effective lighting styles for the ever popular Channel Letter Signs.  Lighting techniques such as "Halo-Back-Lighting" and forward Glow Illumination can be achieved easily with the custom shaping of Neon Tubes.  Exposing the neon directly in view creates the most visible type of sign available for both day and night visibility.  Open Face Channel Letters give your signs a powerful edge over clearness, visibility, and readability of other signs.  Use Neon to light letters and logos, (backwards, against the wall) and the ever popular "Back-lit Halo" soft glow lighting effects are the result.

Border Neon:

Border neon can make a building stand out from the landscape and be visible for miles.  Successful Neon Border Systems require dedicated planning, hand-crafting and careful installation for a neon system to be successful.  Installing neon signs and borders safely is extremely important, and the current electrical codes must be followed to ensure the neon operates safely.  We will advise customers of possible electrical issues and the best method of approach for making and installing neon signs and border neon safely.

How is Neon Made?

Neon signage is produced by the craft of bending glass tubing into shapes. A worker skilled in this craft is known as a glass bender, neon or tube bender.  Lead glass tubing in external diameters ranging from about 8 to 15 mm is most commonly used. The tube is usually melted into shape using small torches that run on a simple combination of natural gas and air.

An electrode is melted (or "welded") to each end of the tube as it is finished. The electrodes are also lead glass and contain a small metal shell with two wires protruding through the glass to which the sign wiring will later be attached. All welds and seals must be perfectly leak-proof before proceeding further.

The tube is attached to a manifold which is itself attached to a high-quality vacuum pump. The tube is then evacuated of air until it reaches near-vacuum. During evacuation, a high voltage current is applied to the wires protruding from one electrode and the other electrode is attached to ground, allowing an arc to be struck through the interior of the tube. This arc heats the tube to a temperature just below its melting point, and any dirt and impurities within are drawn off in the gasified form by the vacuum pump. When completed properly, this process results in a very clean interior at a high vacuum.

While still attached to the manifold, the tube is now filled with neon or argon. Krypton, xenon, and helium are used by artists for special purposes, but in commercial signage only neon and argon are common. Neon glows bright orange red when lit with a high-voltage current. When argon is used, a droplet of mercury is added. Argon by itself is pale lavender blue when lit, and the droplet of mercury, when exposed to high-voltage electricity, emits ultraviolet light. This property allows finished argon-charged tubes to glow with a variety of bright colors when the tube has been coated on the interior with ultraviolet-sensitive phosphors before being bent into shape.

The finished glass pieces are illuminated by either a transformer or a switching power supply running at voltages ranging between 3,000 and 15,000 volts and between 30 and 120 mA. Neon signs are a type of cold cathode lighting.

Installing Neon:

Neon involves High Voltage and is dangerous if an inexperienced person attempts repair or service.  The professionals at Signs BC Illuminated offers complete Installation & Repair Service to Neon and Neon Signs.  Safely have your Neon serviced by professionals only.  Neon must be installed with the current Canadian Electrical code honoured.  See more about our Installations and Sign Services.

Neon Signs Photo Gallery - Click to view larger image

Custom built neon signs	Custom Neon Signs
Double Stroke Neon lines the inside of letters.