Neon Signboard

Neon lighting consists of brightly glowing, electrified glass tubes or bulbs that contain rarefied neon or other gases. Neon lights are a type of cold cathode gas-discharge light. A neon tube is a sealed glass tube with a metal electrode at each end, filled with one of a number of gases at low pressure. A high potential of several thousand volts applied to the electrodes ionizes the gas in the tube, causing it to emit colored light. The color of the light depends on the gas in the tube. Neon lights were named for neon, a noble gas which gives off a popular #0056A7 light, but other gases and chemicals are used to produce other colors, such as hydrogen (red), helium (yellow), carbon dioxide (white), and mercury (blue). Neon tubes can be fabricated in curving artistic shapes, to form letters or pictures. They are mainly used to make dramatic, multicolored glowing signage for advertising, called neon signs.

Advantages of Using Neon Light

1) Long Lifespan

While standard light bulbs have service lives of 6 months to 1 year, neon lights can work for 5 to 10 years on average. Neon lights can even last up to 20 years when maintained properly. Their lifespan is usually affected by factors such as susceptibility to electrical charges and exposure to heat which can cause deterioration to the light’s electrical wiring. They are easier to maintain though compared to other options that need repeated bulb replacements.

2) Energy-Efficient

Since neon lighting options produce light through the interaction of electricity with the gas, they consume considerably less energy compared to traditional lights. Traditional lights use electricity itself as light sources while neon lights use the energy from electricity to produce light. Also, it is estimated that neon lights can save energy up to 50% compared to other lights. You can even install dimmers on your neon lights to reduce their energy consumption further.

3) Customizable

This is among the biggest advantages of neon lights. They give more design freedom. The glass tubes that neon lights use are bendable so they can be shaped into any of your desired designs. Professional neon light manufacturers can mold neon lights into various designs to meet your business’ aesthetic. Moreover, neon lights come in a wide array of vivid colors that can match every business’ needs.

4) High Visibility

One of the major reasons.

why a lot of businesses are being attracted to neon lights is because of the ability of neon lights to make a place stand out. Unlike other types of lights, like directional LED lights, neon lights can give a 360-degree illumination. Thus, they can be seen even from a distance.

Of course, how far your neon light will be visible will depend on your light’s size. But in general, a one-inch letter height will be visible up to 30 feet while larger signs can be seen up to 100 feet.

5) Variety of Operating Ranges

Traditional lights need standard electrical sources. Neon lights, on the other hand, can work on a wide range of voltages. Thus, lighting designers can focus more on creative lighting approaches because of the flexibility of neon lights when it comes to power sources and structure types.

Types of Neon Light

There are 2 common types of neon lights: traditional neon lights and LED neon lights.

1) Traditional Neon Light

Traditional neon lights come in hand-crafted glass tubes. They create light from the reactions of inert gases that emit fluorescent colors when the gas atoms release energy. While neon tubes are crafted beautifully, they break easily and this can cause damages to the glass tube if not handled properly.

2) LED Neon Light

LED neon lights use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are positioned closely together, allowing the emitted light to overlap. Thus, creating a steady light source. LED neon lights are normally lighter and more durable compared to traditional neon lights because LEDs are wrapped with polymer jackets that help protect the diodes from damage. Also, they are dimmable and do not need a lot of power before they can operate.

Below are the common types of LED Neon lights:


* LED Neon Flex Mini

* LED Neon Flex Linear

* LED Neon Flex Landscape

* LED Neon Flex RGB

* LED Neon Flex RGBW

* LED Neon Flex Pixel

Difference Between Traditional Neon Light & LED Neon Light

Here are the differences between traditional neon lights and LED neon lights to help you choose which one suits your needs better:

1) Brightness

When it comes to brightness, traditional neon lights produce warmer and more aesthetically-pleasing glow compared to LED lights.

LED lights have a brighter glow that can still be seen even in great distances.

2) Lifespan

Traditional neon lights last longer when properly maintained compared to LED lights. they do not need a lot of replacement or repair services under normal conditions.

The LED in LED lights might need to be replaced once damaged.

3) Safety

Since neon lights use glass tubes, they are prone to breakage and need special treatment when disposed of. They also operate in high voltages which can be quite dangerous.

LED lights are made of shock-proof materials and emit little heat so they are safer. Plus, LED lights do not have detrimental materials such as phosphor and mercury which are used in neon lights.