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Neon sign help

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rburke65

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Nov 10, 2007
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12,349
Location
Canfield, Ohio
Just went to a Good Guys Car Show in Columbus, Ohio and bought a neon sign. The seller had the transformer, that didn't work, and the rating on the secondary read 6,000 volts at 0.3 amp, I think. I have a transformer from a neon sign rated at 12,000 volts at 3 amp. My transformer powers the neon, but my question is, will the "extra" voltage hurt the function of the sign? I have no idea. Thanks.
 
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nnoble83

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Nov 14, 2010
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Clinton, Oh
I see your in Canfield. Call Ellet Neon Sign in Springfield/Ellet area right near 224 and 91 they will fix you up.
 
S

sberry

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I believe you need something near the right rating. The power required is based on the footage and amount of electrodes, color of gas. I read up on it but forget all the details as to how its sized and over current protection.
 
Z

zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
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Are you sure the transformer you have is 3 AMP output at 12k volts? Neon's don't need amps, they need volts.
 
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OldNeons

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Dec 27, 2011
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Midwest
your transformer is likely 12kv 30mA - not 3A. Your primary current may be getting close to 3amps (110v) at full load - but the secondary current is low amperage.

I sent you a PM back. It depends on what type of transformer you are trying to use. Most solid state units are self adjusting to the load required (up to their max output). The newer magnetic coil units function the same way. The older magnetic units need to be sized to the tube load (as Sberry states above- total tubing footage, diameter, gas, etc). Let me know if my PM didn't answer your question. Good luck.
 
B

Bert_

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NW Iowa
If the secondary current of the transformer is the same then the neon will be fine as long as it lights. The transformer is constant current output, it will deliver 0.3 amps into many different tubes and the voltage will vary based on lamp length. I am assuming 3 amps is not correct.

Using a transformer that puts out double the voltage might make the transformer run hot.
 
5

58Yeoman

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Oct 1, 2010
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Location
Central IL
Years ago, a friend of mine gave me a Matilda Bay neon sign, but a piece of glass was broken. At the time, it cost me $60 to have a neon shop repair the glass and recharge it. It looked great. When I was moving to my new house, I carried it out to the truck to put it on the seat where it would be safe. I broke the glass when I set it down. I love neon lights, but it was too far gone to repair.
 
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pcmeiners

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Aug 13, 2009
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In the only town in Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg.
Just beware about fooling around with 12Kv at 3 amps....

No way is it 3 amps output, neon transformer do not work at high amperage. As to lethality.... Was working with a large energized 25k volt DC 35 milliamp neon sign transformer, the new insulated leads were rated for >60kv. I grabbed one of the leads, but the 60k rating meant nothing, it failed (grounded via my leg). Was throne backwards due to muscle contraction, about 6 feet, hit a wall pretty hard, slid down the wall; thankfully it was direct current, otherwise I would have involuntarily gripped the wire. A 12kv unit will not do the same. The transformer I had was from a giant 42nd theater sign from the 1940s, not from something you hang in a window.
 
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