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While this circuit isn't an ideal way to drive neon tubes (best with argon/mercury tubes) it does provide a super cheap and rugged way to make your own tube driver.
It should be noted that this circuit is intended for 220-250V operation, is not a good choice for pure neon tubes and will gradually cause mercury migration in argon/mercury tubes. But for its intended application it is a really neat circuit.
It can also be switched rather conveniently using a standard triac opto-isolator directly, since the current draw is well within the rating of the small triac inside the isolator.
One application where the mercury migration is not an issue is where straight tubes are mounted vertically. If the positive connection is at the bottom the mercury will automatically return to the base by gravity.
While this circuit isn't an ideal way to drive neon tubes (best with argon/mercury tubes) it does provide a super cheap and rugged way to make your own tube driver.
It should be noted that this circuit is intended for 220-250V operation, is not a good choice for pure neon tubes and will gradually cause mercury migration in argon/mercury tubes. But for its intended application it is a really neat circuit.
It can also be switched rather conveniently using a standard triac opto-isolator directly, since the current draw is well within the rating of the small triac inside the isolator.
One application where the mercury migration is not an issue is where straight tubes are mounted vertically. If the positive connection is at the bottom the mercury will automatically return to the base by gravity.
nein
in pennsylvania in the united states at the lycoming mall there is a art structure that uses a similar illusion hadany arch.
China gone make this now !!
You may be right, the majority of the tube (except for the blue part on the ends) is yellowish orange
I'll call it "the mustard tube" because it has a sort of mustard color.
I thought I'd mention that lol…
It's a shame that the circuit won't work well on pure neon… I do have a neon sign transformer around here someplace that was taken off of a beer sign where the tubing had gotten broken. And some inverter transformers taken out of flatscreen TV boards. And some other stuff taken out of laser printers that apparently generated some kind of high voltage. I've no current inclination to play with this stuff, though you can never tell where I might be inclined to go later on. 🙂
I love this simple circuit!
Is the UV from the neon tube down where the phosphor isn't present hazardous as it would be for a flourescent lamp without phosphor?
I bought a bag of 100 1N4007 diodes just as part of my stocking up of spares. It looks like there will be a lot of uses for them! I initially just wanted to make my own bridge rectifier, but they do seem to be much more versatile than just that.
Going on from there, it would be really handy if you could maybe do a video where you suggest a basic list of supplies that a beginning electronics enthusiast should buy so he can do a wide range of different circuits. I mean really basic things like a selection box of electrolytic capacitors, a selection box of non-polar ceramic capacitors and so forth. Many of these things can be bought for around £5-£10 on ebay for 350 pieces from a far eastern source.
Neon tubes are still being made for new installations, I have seen quite a few in Estonia.
Sockets, for the tube holders, probably the closest word.
Oh, love the channel.
I must have seen this video about 80 times now