Lighting & Electrical Services Blog | Rayteklighting.com

Have Your Neon Sign Professionally Repaired

Neon signs have long been popular, but they have recently become a hot trend.  They look great and make an impactful statement no matter how they are used.  If part or all of your neon sign is broken, the last thing you want to do is just throw it away.  But, you also cannot leave a a broken neon sign up – all it will do is draw attention to the problem and not leave a great impression of your business with customers and employees.  No matter the size of your neon sign, you can have it professionally repaired to restore it to its former glory.

The average life expectancy of a neon sign is approximately 10,000 hours.  If a colored glass tube on your neon sign has been broken, a replacement tube will need to be acquired in the optimal color.  But, as a side note, finding a matching color can be challenging.

When your neon sign is flickering, blinking, or not turning on, there may be a problem with the power supply. A professional neon sign repair company will check the power circuits to make sure the light fixture is getting enough voltage to work, and will also cheek for any shorted or broken wires.  If you are having a problem with your neon sign and want to continue to use it, do not fret – a professional repair company will likely be able to restore it to proper working order.

What are neon light problems?

Flickering

A blinking or flickering neon signs are an indicator of insufficient power. It is caused by poor connections or due to broken wires. Such problems are common with poor installations that care connected with the power source. Technicians will use multimeter tools to check voltage.

Dimming

If neon lights appear dim than their full illumination, there might be a lean in the glass tube. Cracks or holes in the tube cause the neon gas to leak from the tube and replace with the air. As the fixture gets filled with air, it cannot efficiently create the necessary ions.

Shutdown

The worst-case scenario in neon lights is that they won’t turn on. Such a problem is caused by internal electrical problems like shorted wires or defective sections. As a result, there is a no voltage transfer from the transformer to signs. Inspecting damaged wires is essential to restore the transmission of power.

How to troubleshoot neon signs

Performing troubleshooting measures on a malfunctioned light helps to resolve problems at the earliest. As cited above, problematic signs don’t transmit current. It also means that there is internal gas leakage that affects the production of ions. When technicians notice flickering in their lights, there is a possibility that their units are defective. Once the defective tube is fixed, they should bright up with no flickering. Troubleshooting measures include turning off the power and remove defective units. Then, attach the jumper wires in its place using proper supports. Most technicians also ensure that the bare ends of the jumper wires are in contact with outlet wires. Moreover, burned-put transformers will not provide adequate current even for tubes. Hence, it is necessary to check for signs of damage. Replace the defective units with a new transformer.

Electrical tests

Routine electrical tests help to check proper supply voltage. Most neon light problems are caused by low voltages. They should also check the mechanical grounding connection with plastic conduit or sheathed cable. Some mid-point grounding wires for proper attachments should be connected to transformer posts. As a troubleshooting measure, shut off the power and disconnect GTO leads from the transformer. The short circuit test using milliammeter is necessary detect defective units and have them replaced. These tests also make it easier to check the loop between individual neon signs and return wires running back to the main power source.

Loading problems

In neon sign, loading refers to the size and length of tubing for a given transformer. Underloading and overloading refers to transformer failures. As a result, GTO insulation breaks down and the wires get damaged. Underloads will also create excessive heat throughout the transformer system. Hence, routine maintenance is necessary to ensure optimum load currents. After all tests are completed and defective components are replaced, technicians should install bonding jumpers to resolve metal-to-metal contact through a unit. The best practice to prevent such problems is avoiding any faulty or substandard installations.