While looking absolutely nothing like a real flame, the neon flicker flame lamps are strangely pleasing to look at. This is one that came directly from China via eBay, and had a very intriguing manufacturing fault.
I'm guessing that the reason the electrodes went white when the lamp was opened is because they also have the function of a getter which absorbs residual oxygen in the lamp. I can't find anything about the electrode material or coating online though. I do have some different lamps that have shiny metal flame electrodes, but they gradually reduced in the flickering effect over time.
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I'm guessing that the reason the electrodes went white when the lamp was opened is because they also have the function of a getter which absorbs residual oxygen in the lamp. I can't find anything about the electrode material or coating online though. I do have some different lamps that have shiny metal flame electrodes, but they gradually reduced in the flickering effect over time.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
Excellent demonstration, always wanted to do everything you did, thanks champ!
Thanks for this Clive – I was mesmerised by my flickering bulbs and suddenly wondered how they worked. Still wondering why use a resistor rather than run several sets of electrodes in series. Perhaps not enough room in the bulb, and the "hot" neon might do something weird too if there were extra electrodes to discharge to. Anyway, got me thinking! 👍🏻
Alec (Technology Connections) sent me over, after he posted a video about these today and I haven't seen them in use anywhere nor thought about the effect being used intentionally for several decades. The only thought of mine after watching this though: seems like less of a current-limiting resistor, and more of a thermal fuse/product lifetime-limiting resistor to me!
Technology Connections sent me here
Hello from Technology Connections in 2022
Technology Connections just did a video about these too!
just imagine other gas types. Like argon. You would have a blue flame.
I'm kinda curious now if these could be lit without the flicker when slightly over driving them. Old neon light bulbs for regular lighting, like war time blackout lights (such as beehive lamp), are rather hard to find and a bit expensive for my budget.
It's a shame you sacrificed the defective one!!! It was unique and will be hard to replace…
"The vice of knowledge. [glass cracks] Ah, it's just released the knowledge." – love it.
Reminds me of my old history teacher at school in the 1970s when corporal punishment (hitting the culprit's bottom with a trainer shoe or a cane) was still legal. He used to threaten that he would apply "the staff of knowledge to the seat of understanding".
Can I ask a really silly question? Why did you solder the wires onto the tip/cap of the bulb? Why not cut the lead to the bulb holder and then connect the variable resistor in series with one of the wires using screw-block connectors?