New twist on NE-2(neon) "blubs"

[e=mc²]

Just found this interesting link.

Lumex

Having played with NE-2's alot growing up, just thought these were pretty neat. Not quite "state-of-the-art" as LED's, but cool nonetheless. I just wished that these were available a "couple" (ahem) years ago, when I used to build pretty large displays utilizing NE-2 lamps.
These can be line (AC) powered with a 1/4 watt resistor in series for all you night light enthusiasts out there....

E-

 

[carbonsparky]

You what to see a brite light connect one of those NE-2's to 120 volt ac with out the resistor. It will blow your breakers. I tried that trick once when I was about twelve. I never did find what remained of the bulb. If any one does try this make sure you can do this from remote.

They are neat looking lights, some how I just have not been able to get into NE-2's since the incident.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

When I was around that age, a friend and I connected one across a lightswitch that was controlling a 60W or 75W bulb in his basement ceiling. The neon glows BRIGHT orange with blue and purple flashes, and if you turn it off before it physically blows up, you can see the electrodes glowing orange hot.
The regular bulb in the ceiling glows at about 1/2 to 3/4 intensity while all this is going on.

 

[carbonsparky]

I had a little different results for some reason. There was a blinding white flash and than every thing went dark. I ran down to the basement and replaced the fuse hoping Mom had not noticed. She did I am sure, but by than she just kind of took it in stride. You know like oh will at least the house is still standing.

I would guess it blew up, I think I can remember a bang associated with the event. Its been along time ago, back before led power indicator lights became common.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

A NE2 connected directly to the AC line will go out with a noticeable pop or even a mild bang, like a ladyfinger firecracker that was only 1/4 or 1/3 of the way full of powder.

 

[Chris M.]

I submitted an online "freebie sample request" with them on the week-end, but since I was honest and said exactly who I was (lamp collector) rather than pretending to be someone interested in ordering 50000, they declined my request and referred me to Future Electronics here in this country.

Still no word from them, but fingers crossed they`ll send me some. I only asked for one or two, it`s not lie I want hundreds for nothing.

If I get any I`ll post some photos here. Be interesting to see that red one they make especially- I`ve never seen phosphor-coated gas lamps that glow deep blood red before

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Same thing happened to me when I tried the "neon bulb unregulated" trick. I had scavaged an old laminater someone threw out (I never did outgrow that scavaging bug). After cutting and stripping the ends of the ac power cord, stupid enough by itself, I touched it to the leads of the neon bulb. A bang, a blinding flash, then darkness from the tripped breaker. I remember a bit of glass 'dust' on my fingers but thats all I ever found of the bulb. Can't forget to mention that burnt electrical smell I(we) would come to know so well all these years later. Mom took it all in stride, also. I'm struggling to recall my age but I'm thinking 6-8th grade.
brendan

 

[The_LED_Museum]

A neon glow lamp has a negative resistance curve. The higher the input current is allowed to become and the hotter the device becomes, the lower its internal resistance. Before long, it effectively becomes a short-circuit at household voltages. Hence, the popped breaker, the explosion of the bulb, and the burnt "electrical" odor lingering in the air afterward.

Mercury vapor bulbs are the same way: if you try to connect one of those across an AC line; it will very quickly become a short circuit. And you DON'T want vaporized mercury condensing on everything and everyone in that room. Most common (smaller) Hg bulbs will have a fusible links and other components inside that opens the circuit if this happens (like if some dummy screwed it into an ordinary desk lamp), so all you get is a brief fat spark from inside the bulb and then it's deader than a doorknob.

So don't break open a mercury vapor, sodium or metal halide bulb and try to connect the tube itself directly across AC. If it were ever to strike an arc (a misdirected static charge can do this), disaster would be swift and certain; and assuming you survived the small blast, would involve hospitals, hazmat crews, icy cold showers, catheters, tweezers, thousands of tiny shards of vitreous material, artificial eyeballs, vacuum blood scrubbers, IV needles, and house-sized plastic bags. Not necessarily in that particular order.

 

[star882]

Go to http://misty.com/people/don/sillyne2.html for some neat tricks with NE-2 bulbs.
And http://www.eurisco.com/jack/neon/neon-e.shtml for more.
Use a red and green bulb in the back and forth flasher and you get a nice nightlight.

 

[Chris M.]

Those neon bulb tricks of mr Ks look fun, though I`ve never tried any yet. I keep meaning too, I`ve got a pack of 10 amber neon bulbs somewhere here just screaming out for me to spend an aftenroon messing round with. Never seem to get the time......

BTW I never did get anything from Lumex. They alledgedly referred me to Future Electronics but I`ve heard nowt. Doesn`t surprise me, it`s exactly the same thing that happens each and every time I try to request samples for the "Bulb Museum". No-one in the world is interested in sending anything unless I commit to buying 50000 units.