This is the most likely question that follows in the minds of enthusiasts who just discovered the beauty and nostalgic glow of neon. So, if you’ve ever found yourself mesmerized by the captivating glow of neon lights outside a bar, storefront, or diner, just know that you’re among millions of other people with the same curiosity.
These lights are dazzlingly iconic, effortlessly adding flair, warmth, and character to a space. But How Do Neon Lights Work, exactly? Behind the dazzling glow lies an interesting combination of science, artistry, and passion. Let’s break down how these neon beauties actually work, from the gases inside to the electrifying process that makes them shine.
What is neon light? A Quick Flashback
Before we delve into how neon lights work, let’s first understand what is neon light. Neon light is the dazzling brilliance produced when an inert gas, such as neon is subjected to high-voltage electricity. Neon light came into the limelight in the early 20th century when a French engineer, Georges Claude, did a presentation at the Paris Motor Show.
Claude discovered that passing an electric current through a sealed tube with neon gas produces a bright, steady glow. After his first public demo, he sold the first neon sign to a barbershop in Paris in 1912, and the technology spread quickly, particularly in commercial advertising. Neon lights created a reliable and fascinating way to grab people’s attention and soon became a global phenomenon.
How Do Neon Lights Work: The Gas and the Glass
It all starts with a glass tube and a bit of gas. While neon gas is the original and most famous element used, other gases have been added to the mix over time to produce a wider array of colours. Here’s a quick look at the gases commonly used and the colours they emit:
- Neon: The most common inert gas used and emits a classic bright red or orange glow.
- Argon: When mixed with a bit of mercury, produces a soft blue light.
- Krypton: Produces a dim white brilliance
- Xenon: Gives off a purple glow, though it's less commonly used in standard neon signs.
Sign makers also use mercury vapor and phosphor coatings on the glass to achieve a wider range of colours, including bright white and green.
How do Neon Lights Emit Light: The Electrifying Process
The traditional neon signs are equipped with two electrodes (small metal conductors), each at either side of the glass tube—one is negative, and the other is positive. The glass tube filled with one of the inert (noble) gases is tightly sealed to prevent oxidation when electricity is applied to the electrodes.
Applying an Electric Current
When high-voltage (approximately 15,000 volts) electricity is applied to the electrode, the electric current flows through the electrodes.
Energizing the Gas
The inert gas gains enough energy from the electric current to become unstable. This causes the electrons in the gas atoms to shift to higher energy levels, creating a temporary “excited” state.
Releasing Light
The excited atoms can't maintain this state forever, so they quickly regain their lost electrons and return to their original natural state. In the process, they release energy in the form of light. This is the iconic nostalgic glow we see. Its colour majorly depends on the type of noble gas in the tube. And that is the answer to the question, how do neon lights work?
This entire process takes place incredibly fast—thousands of times per second—that’s why we see the light as constant and steady, but in reality, it’s intermittent. Generally, alternating current (AC) is used in neon signs to produce an evenly spread glow. But if direct current (DC) is used, the glow only appears in one electrode.
Why Do Neon Lights Have Different Colours?
How do LED neon lights work, especially in terms of the colours produced? You’ve seen a lot of neon signs out there with different hues and wondered how this is done. As you already know, neon gas produces an orange-red glow. But there are different ways to achieve other colours besides the orange-red.
As we mentioned earlier, inert gases produce different colours when subjected to high-voltage electricity. Here are the other ways of producing the various hues:
Phosphor Coatings
Some neon lights are coated on the inside with phosphor or some other chemical that produces a characteristic glow when energized. Since the range of coatings is so broad, most neon signs nowadays no longer rely on neon gas. Instead, they’re fluorescent lamps using mercury or argon and a phosphor coating.
Tinted Glass Tubes
to produce different hues, let’s consider the use of tinted glass tubes. The coloured tubes often produce distinct shades that are almost impossible to produce while using gas alone. This method is mostly common in artistic designs and custom applications.
Mixing Gases
Neon sign makers can also achieve different hues by mixing different noble gases within the same tube. In other cases, the different gases are placed in separate sections of a neon sign to achieve multi-coloured designs. Other than mixing the gases, mercury vapor can also be added to noble gases, such as argon gas to enrich the blue glow.
By carefully choosing the gases and coatings, neon sign makers can create a full spectrum of colours of neon signs.
Are Neon Lights Eco-Friendly?
The issue of eco-friendliness applies to neon lights just as it is with other lighting technologies. Generally, these traditional neon lights consume less energy than you might have thought, especially when compared to the old incandescent lights.
However, when it comes to their production process and disposal after serving their lifespan, caution must be taken due to the components inside the glass tube. While noble gases are harmless, some neon lights use mercury which is poisonous to the environment and life.
For this reason and several others, such as neon lights being fragile, LED neon light alternatives have emerged. They’re an eco-friendly option with similar aesthetics as the traditional neon lights but with lower energy consumption.
Traditional Neon vs. LED Neon: What’s the Difference?
LED neon lights have grown in popularity as better alternatives to traditional neon lights. While both produce vibrant colours, their mode of operation is very different. LED neon lights rely on a series of light-emitting diodes to produce their glow.
These LEDs produce a similar effect to traditional neons but with greater flexibility and efficiency. However, some enthusiasts argue that the traditional glow of true neon lights offers unique qualities that cannot be replicated with LED.
How LED Neon Lights Are Made
when considering LED neons, we have to look at how they’re made.
Flexible LED Strip Design
Unlike the traditional glass tube neon lights, LED neon lights are crafted from flexible LED strip lights embedded within a soft, PVC or silicone casing. This design makes them bendable and allows sign makers to bend intricate shapes and designs without worrying about the risk of shattering glass. For example, the intricate design of this birthday neon sign is possible through flexible LED strips.
The Role of LEDs
Inside the silicone or PVC casing, LEDs are placed close to one another to form a continuous line of light. When electric current passes through a semiconductor material, the LEDs produce light. Neon sign makers can achieve different glows, from warm whites and yellows to vibrant blues and reds by controlling the type of semiconductor material.
Diffusion Layer for a Neon Look
If you’ve observed both traditional neon lights and LED neon lights, you must have noticed that the latter has the smooth nostalgic glow of the former. LED neon lights mimic this glow through a diffusion layer that spreads the light evenly across the surface.
The layer softens the individual light points of LEDs to create a continuous steady glow resembling that of gas-filled neon tubes.
Why LED Neon Lights are Superior to Traditional Neon Lights?
The superiority of LED neon comes from the fact that they’re more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, safe, and durable.
Power Efficiency and Safety
LED neon lights need a much lower voltage compared to traditional neon lights. This makes them much safer to handle and is more energy efficient. Once you get your LED neon sign from your neon sign maker, all you have to do is find a standard power outlet, plug and play. Their use of low-voltage adapters has made them popular for indoor use, such as these bedroom neon signs, and outdoor use.
Environmental Benefits and Longevity
Since LEDs consume less energy, they tend to last longer than other light-producing elements. This explains why LED neon lights can boast lifespans of up to 50,000 hours. Plus, they don’t use potentially hazardous elements, making them an eco-friendlier option.
Their energy efficiency also comes in handy in keeping your electricity bills low compared to traditional neon lights.
Wrapping It Up
To sum up the answers to the question “How do neon lights work,” neon lights are an adorable blend of science and art that brings a nostalgic glow to our world through noble gases and electricity. From the early days when they were solely used for commercial advertising, to their resurgence as trendy décor elements, neon lights are an important part of our world.
With the entry of LED neon lights into the market, we’re witnessing a revolution in the neon glow. LED neon lights don’t rely on noble gases, glass tubes, or high-voltage electricity, except for low-voltage LED strips. Yet they emit the same nostalgic charm but with better eco-friendliness, durability, and energy efficiency. Plus, they allow for more intricate designs and have a wider range of vibrant colours to make them a top choice for modern neon enthusiasts.