Neon Lighting

[orange2k4]

I have chosen yellow as the color for automotive interior neon tubes, but I have noticed yellow doesn't seem very bright when compared to other colors. Is there a reason as to why yellow neon isn't as bright as say blue or red neon? The tubes I have purchased are from a reputable company, so quality shouldn't be an issue. Perhaps I should look into LED tubes? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[zeitghost]

When you say neon tubes, do you mean neon gas filled discharge tubes?

rgds
Zeit.

 

[orange2k4]

I believe so, yes.

https://www.streetglow.com/cgi-local/shop.pl/SID=107571072730925/adcode=/page=an.htm

 

[johnspark]

Orange2k4, yes.
The gas in neons is of two types. Argon and neon. One is red and one is blue. Any other colour is obtained by using coloured glass to produce the other colours. That is why the other colours including orange, are dimmer than red and blue.
Just for interest, if you look closely at neon signs, you will notice a nice red neon, and the more stark one. The rich red one is created by starting off with a red translucent glass which then takes on a continuous ruby red glow. The other one is just a clear glass tube, with a thin red glow where the gas exists. By the way, I understand the red neon lasts longer than any of the others.

Also, if you get a neon tube to use, don't solder the pig tails, just twist and place inside the HV plastic sock, otherwise the heated pigtails may cause the glass to expand, crack and reduce the life-time of the neon.

cheers John-neon-spark

 

[MacGyverS2000]

The rare gases, neon, argon, helium, xenon and krypton, are ideally suited for use in signs. The two most common gases used in neon signs are neon and argon. While neon is very bright, argon's light is weak due to its low resistance.

Neon gas gives off a red glow. This gas is normally contained in tubing that is clear in color, and when illuminated, projects the brightest red color. Almost everything else is filled with argon gas. When you see yellow, blue, green, white or any of several other shades, these tubes are filled with argon gas.

Neon tubing can be created in many different colors, through the use of argon gas and the various internal phosphor coatings on the glass itself. The coatings in the tube appear to be white when non-illuminated. They become other colors once the tube is illuminated and the phosphors become excited. More expensive pigmented glass tubing can be purchased in order to achieve a richer color, such as Novial Gold or Ruby Red and a few others.



That's a brief intro to neon, but the answer to your question is the phosphour generally used for yellow just doesn't have the same specific output capabilities as other coatings.