Neon clock transformer anyone?

[John T]

I bought this neon clock probably 30 years ago.... company is long out of business.

Works great still but the transformer makes a lot of noise and it’s driving the dogs nuts.

No stampings on it for specifications.

Anyone know what I can use for a solid-state or modern type transformer whatever the terminology may be?

It’s probably 4 feet of neon tube.

 

[John T]

Would also like to find some of these plastic neon tube keepers.

3 out of 4 are busted.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Back years ago for noisy transformers we would push wooden sticks beside laminated core and windings. We would sharpen a small stick like a flat blade screwdriver and use glue, pushing it in carefully until noise stopped.

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[John T]

Yeah this thing is pretty tight

I took the old one out and found some specs.

All the ones I see on eBay and Amazon are rated at kv

You can get a 10 kV power supply for $30

Just not sure how that translates to 500? V

I think this is 500 V

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Way back when as I started my engineering career, one of my first jobs was with an organization that rebuilt submarine motors. Replacing these involved cutting a hole in the hull, so screwing up was strictly prohibited. Our motors were immersed in a varnish, then subject to a vacuum to completely fill all voids with varnish to keep the wires from vibrating, which is the source of hum. This would work on a transformer as well. Unfortunately, the makeup of the “varnish” is still classified as far as I know.

Non-flammability and non-conductivity are important on a sub, but it should be very possible to treat your transformer in a similar manner and quiet it down.

 

[John T]

Might be Glyptal

 

[Innovate1]

I would be surprised if it is only 500V. It looks like there might be another digit in front of the 500 that didn't print well. You could measure the output but at full input voltage that would be dangerous and you likely don't have a meter that will go high enough if it really is thousands of volts and not hundereds. You could connect 12VAC to the input, say from a landscape light transformer, and get 1/10 of the normal voltage out. Still might be a lot - if it is normally close to 10kV it would be close to 1000V. You also might be able to estimate the voltage from the length of the tube - I am guessing there is some relation between length and voltage.

I just googled it and 500V looks to be enough for small tubes with some gases. Just the first info I found so no idea how useful or accurate it is.

http://www.bestsupply.com.hk/LoadingChartforSiettransformers.pdf

 

[californiaHank]

I'm guessing the partly worn off digit in front of the '500' on the transformer is a '3', meaning it's 3500V at 8mA. That's consistent with the 30 VA rating that's also stamped on the transformer. Compared to most neon sign transformers, it's pretty small.

Actown-Electrocoil still makes neon sign transformers, but I think that most of their current products are mainly for big outdoor signs. It's a bit of a long shot, but you could try phoning their sales line and see if they still make a replacement for the "FG-3905" transformer.

The last address I found for them was 2414 Highview St, Spring Grove, IL 60081, phone (815) 675-6641, but the brand has changed hands a bunch of times, and I'm not sure the info I have is current.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Yeah this thing is pretty tight

I took the old one out and found some specs.

All the ones I see on eBay and Amazon are rated at kv

You can get a 10 kV power supply for $30

Just not sure how that translates to 500? V

I think this is 500 V

Look closer...7,500 volts?

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[Sevenhills1952]

Now looking closer at picture maybe it is 3.5kV

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[Lightning rod]

california Hank is spot on

good detective work

 

[edboyles]

https://prosites-llcwccd.homestead.com/CNCTRANS.html

A 3508 should work just fine.........3500v and 8ma........they also have tube supports

I have been using their transformers for years........unfortuanetly they are no longer made in the USA

 

[edboyles]

By all means use a iron core transformer, do not use a electronic transformer.....

 

[cybrdyke]

sign supply companies carry neon transformers. N.Glantz is a big one.
CD

 

[John T]

Too late Ed

I ordered this yesterday hopefully it will do the job.
Supposed to be here next Tuesday.

.

 

[John T]

Speaking of transformers....

Check this out....

 

[TractorJeff]

There is a "Collector/Repair" Guy in the middle of Wisconsin. He carries all those old obsolete parts for Neon Signs. He repairs lots of those small ones.

 

[John T]

All fixed up.

Silent.

PRELIMINARY TEST:



TOGETHER:

 

[mustangmike6996]

Looks good, I have a Mustang neon sign that I might be doing the same thing with.

 

[John T]

Looks good, I have a Mustang neon sign that I might be doing the same thing with.

Yeah for $13.88 shipped it was worth a shot.
Seems brighter than before too.

I actually dont turn the neon on all that much ...
so it will probably last a long time.

 

[pancho400cid]

My question was going to be is it buzzing between laminations of the core or is it buzzing due to vibration at the mounting screws between the xformer and frame.... but never mind.

Cool you got it fixed!

 

[John T]

My question was going to be is it buzzing between laminations of the core or is it buzzing due to vibration at the mounting screws between the xformer and frame.... but never mind.

Cool you got it fixed!

I saw no evidence of it vibrating between the laminations.
it wasn’t really a vibration it was more of a high-pitched noise.

I was actually wondering if it was coming from the neon tube itself somehow. ??

But obviously not since I change the transformer to a smaller/electronic unit and it works fine now.

I really should have put my Killawatt meter in it
And done a before and after.

I could probably still hook juice up to the old transformer and see what it is pulling for amps/watts

I’m pretty sure I must be saving electricity

 

[LVIIIR]

Looks great!