Can neon sign tubes be repaired?

Repair or Replace the Glass Tube Even a small crack in the glass tube can render the neon light useless unless repaired. In most cases, you will have to isolate the broken or cracked part of the fixture, create a vacuum seal, and then heat the glass until it melts and bridges the crack.

How do I fix my neon OPEN sign?

How to Troubleshoot Neon Lights

Check the voltage supply to the light and look for any loose connections.
Look for broken wires, a shorted wire, extremely low voltage or defective tube section within the neon light system.
Check for any leaks along the glass tube.
Check that the transformer is still working properly.

Is it expensive to repair a neon sign?

The cost of repairing a simple break runs about $50 if neon and $60 if it had argon gas, as the tube has to be cleaned prior to being repaired. On older signs that used argon gas, mercury vapors have clouded the glass. When a section is replaced it will be noticeably brighter for several years as it burns in.

What happens if a neon sign breaks?

The convertors and transformers that we supply with our neon signs are fitted with open circuit and earth leakage protection, meaning that if the neon tube gets broken, the power is automatically cut off, hence no risk of electrocution.

Are neon signs bad for you?

No. Neon is perfectly safe to the touch and will not burn you. When manufactured and installed correctly, neon will only ever run warm. The electrodes that are attached to each piece of neon tubing, that create the start and end point for the current to travel, do get hot and should not be touched.

Why do neon signs flicker?

The reason neon bulbs flicker is that the gas is getting used to light the bulb it has a certain firing voltage that has to be controlled by limited current. This is accomplished by a series resistor.

How do you know when a fluorescent tube is bad?

How to Tell If a Fluorescent Tube Is Bad?

Check the ends of the tube. If they appear darkened this indicates the bulb is burned out.
Rotate the tube in the fixture if the bulb is not darkened on either end.
Remove the bulb from the fixture if the bulb is still not illuminating.

What do you need to repair a neon sign?

You need to wipe the tube clean, so that, the dust won’t get inserted inside the tube while you are repairing the neon signs. After that, check for the vacuum of the tube. You can do that with a tube tester or a spark coil. If the tube lights, then know that it is under vacuum and cutting it will give way to air to enter the tube.

What causes a neon sign to get cracked?

If the air rushes inside the tube, then it can blow the powder coating and lead to total wastage of the neon tube. To ease the air into the tube, you need to heat the sealed tube tip, with help of a hand torch. This way, it will get easily cracked.

What happens when you cut a neon sign?

If the tube lights, then know that it is under vacuum and cutting it will give way to air to enter the tube. If the air rushes inside the tube, then it can blow the powder coating and lead to total wastage of the neon tube. To ease the air into the tube, you need to heat the sealed tube tip, with help of a hand torch.

Can a neon sign be replaced with leaded glass?

Now, if you replace this with modern non-leaded glass, the collector value of the neon sign will be lowered. Don’t forget to check that the insulators, wiring, electrode housing, chains, bolts, nuts, and all the other tube supports are rust free and are in working condition.

Can neon sign tubes be repaired? Repair or Replace the Glass Tube Even a small crack in the glass tube can render the neon light useless unless repaired. In most cases, you will have to isolate the broken or cracked part of the fixture, create a vacuum seal, and then heat the glass until it…