Neon Safety: A Typical Neon Sign Setup

▎Typical Neon Sign Setup

In a typical neon sign setup, the main components generally consist of glass discharge tubes, an inert gas (neon,­ argon, etc.), a transformer, an HT cable and wiring, and an electrical mains plug. As a standard setup, you should expect to see all of these components on your neon sign and if any are missing then it’s likely that the sign won’t turn on.

As shown in the typical neon sign setup above, there are only a few main components that are responsible for the operation of a neon sign, so it’s important to understand how they work on a more granular level to minimise all associated risks. For the purposes of the above diagram, the electrode is shown as exposed, but in reality, you should expect to see this covered.

▎Safety Considerations

Glass breakages should be handled with the utmost care, with any broken glass shards being disposed of safely. In the event that you have found one of the glass tubes to be broken, you should refrain from operating and contact the manufacturer directly for further advice.

▎Inert Gas

Neon gas, or any noble gas for that matter, is generally unreactive within the Earth’s natural atmospheric conditions and can only become reactive under extreme conditions – such as those within the glass tube. In theory, any inert gas may be used within neon signs, although neon and argon are used most frequently.