Designer Neon Signs Company | How To Troubleshoot Your Neon Sign | Los Angeles, CA | (310) 608-6099
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- Опубліковано 7 жов 2024
- Your One Stop Shop For Your Business Signs
Sean Blake the founder of Designer Neon Signs showing how to troubleshoot a neon sign.
Take a look at how we troubleshoot and repair neon signs. Whether it's a custom sign you need, a custom interior installation, or just a beer sign fixed, we can handle it!
About Designer Neon Signs:
Your One Stop Shop For Your Business Signs
We are a full service sign company based in Southern California that can help you Design, Permit, Fabricate, Install, and Service your next sign.
As a company we focus on helping our clients achieve their needs to Advertise, Identify, and Brand their businesses.
Call us today! 310-340-1566 We want to help you do more business with quality business signage.
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Contact DN SIGNS
DN Signs Office Location:
2501 East 28th Street, Unit 112
Signal Hill, CA 90755
License #892967
(310) 608-6099
info@dnsigns.com
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Met an older guy in a local bar. He mentioned he had a neon shop. I told him I was fascinated by the physics. He invited me to stop by and check it out. He retired from the railroad and electric company. Decided to go to a neon school and start his own business. He said he would stay late and "erase" all the glass he wanted. He made the glass manifold and used an old power pole transformer with a dead man switch. I watched him work off and on for a couple months and learned enough to charge units part time. I tried my best to bend the tubes but I never got "smarter than the glass" as he put it. He moved away and retired once more. Paradise neon Atlanta GA circa 1993
Very cool. Benders are craftspeople in every sense of the word.
Great decision to leave the block-out (Sta-Zon was a brand i remember from back in the day) - I like that sparkle too - makes it look less like some kind of reproduction piece. Well done!
Thank you. I agree. The crackled finish definitely gives it a more original, vintage feel.
Very helpful..especially the many other uses for a cattle prod 😉 I was gifted a neon sign and your info is a good starting point BEFORE plugging it in.
I spoke with Sean regarding a neon sign issue. He was extremely helpful. I look forward doing business with him.
Wow, Michael! It's been three years since we've talked and you've given us the opportunity to help you with multiple signs. Thank you!
Great info boss. I just got one from the 1960s or early 70s (Coors Beer) looks rusty and super dirty but works perfect after all this time 👍
Right on!
Asked the guy a transformer question and was very happy to help me, pleased what he helped me with thank you so much John.
My pleasure, John.
Hello DN Signs! Thanks so much for posting this! A few questions if you don’t mind.
- I have a PlayStation 2 retail glass neon sign probably manufactured between 2000-2006. Manufacturer out of business.
- Is it possible to tell if it has a ground fault circuit interrupter?
- is it best to leave it on 24/7 or turn it off at night?
- if leaving it on is better how high is the fire risk?
Your help is much appreciated and if it does break I know who to turn to for repairs! Thank you!!
Hello Rheiner, Thank you for your email! We love to help people with neon.
1. Given the year of manufacture, it's likely the transformer has a GFI. If the transformer is plastic, rather than metal, it probably has a GFI.
2. Transformers normally have a certain number of hours that they will run. They are kind of like a car engine in that way. Leaving it on at night will add to the wear and tear. I can't answer as to whether it is worth turning it off or not. If you'd like to automate the on/off times, you can use a 3-prong plug timer.
3. Modern neon signs are relatively safe, but they are high-voltage signs. Be sure to keep the insulator boots on the sign (the rubber covers that shield the connections between the GTO and the glass electrodes) and keep the sign away from any flammable elements - plants, curtains, etc.
I hope this helps. Enjoy your neon!
@@seanblake7922 this was very helpful - thank you so much!
What is the going rate to have one neon troubleshooting it, mine lites up halfway and some tubes are half way lit, like I touch a tube and it glows more.
I live in the Palm Springsngs area
Do you have a new, used transformer source? What's the procedure checking a transformer already removed from the tubes with a digital multimeter. Transformer has AC plug and two output cables.
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, our suppliers only work with sign companies / neon companies and not with the general public. I think your best bet is probably Amazon or Ebay. Make sure you match the primary and secondary voltages.
The way that we normally check our transformers is to repair the neon units first - if any are bad - and then we connect the transformer to see whether or not it can light the system for 2-3 hours. The reason for this is that most of the modern electronic transformers are self-regulating so even if the transformer is removed from the system and tested with a testing device, and shows a particular output reading - it may not be capable of putting out the full power needed to power your sign over a sustained period. And even if it is capable of doing it initially, if the transformer is at the beginning stages of failure, it may light the sign for 30 minutes to an hour, then overheat and shut itself off via the GFI.
Bottom line: Either the transformer can perform or it can't. If it can - great! If it can't, either there are tubes in the system that need repair, or the transformer needs to be replaced.
I hope this helps!
Great video and the light turned out awesome. How do you scrape the paint off?
Hello Scott, Normally we use an Xacto blade.
I have a Bud Light Super Bowl XLIV neon sign, and one night about 3 years ago we had a big storm and it went out and hasn't worked since...💁🏻 Do you think it blew it's transformer or what exactly...❓❓❓ Can it be fixed...❓❓❓
It's hard to say with lightning storms. It's possible that there was a surge that fried the transformer. Hopefully the tubes/electrodes aren't damaged. If it were my sign, I would probably buy a replacement transformer and see if that fixes the problem. Just be sure that the secondary output (6kv, 9kv, 12kv) of your replacement transformer matches that of the original. You may also need to create a retrofit plate to mount the new transformer. I hope this helps.
Hi! I appreciate your video on this.
A question:
My glass neon sign at work is not functioning. We've been trying to repair but now I am thinking is there a way to take out the glass neon and then replace it with LED neon in same place?
Thanks for your response!
We only manufacture gas-and-glass neon. I'm not sure if an LED neon company can do that or not. As far as I'm aware, the majority of LED neon signs are manufactured in China and drop-shipped around the world. I'd recommend you search for a local provider to see if you can find one.
Have you tried changing the transformer on your sign? Is the glass visibly broken?
My sign will light when I turn it on but immediately goes off. Can you address this problem? I swapped the transformer already.
Hi! It's likely that one of the tubes is bad and needs to be repaired/repumped. Since these signs are connected in circuit, and the transformer has a GFI/automatic shut-off, if there's a problem in the circuit the transformer will shut down. One other thing to check is whether the secondary voltage on the transformer is the same or better than the previous transformer. Hope this helps!
DN Signs thanks for the video. I'm currently trying to get a second sign to light up with 2 broken tubes, I took them out of the circuit and it still isn't lighting. My current hunch is a bad transformer because I hooked it up to one tube and nothing happened. Is that or the one tube is bad and I need to try another one. I know that the transformer is ment to handle all the tubes and its probably bad to hook it up to only one, but I'm just trying to test things out.
You did the right thing. I would try hooking the transformer up to one other tube, to make sure it's not that other tube that's bad. If it doesn't light the second tube, it's probably the transformer. Hope this helps!
Sean Blake Yep, bad transformer. Its fun working on these when you get them cheap and all you want to do is get the unbroken tubes to light!
Thanks for the update!
Tester can be used on 😅.
I have two neons that I put in an outdoor tikibar next to the ocean....not exposed to any rain but since it's outdoors in a humid environment, both of my signs stopped working within a year of being placed there. Is there a way to protect a neon sign in this type of environment? cover the connections or transformer with silicone grease perhaps? Any advice would be appreciated..thanks!
The combination of salt and water can be very detrimental to any system, especially a high-voltage neon system. When we make signs for outdoors, we normally build them in an enclosed aluminum cabinet with a clear plexiglass face. This helps somewhat but the air and moisture still get in.
What could cause a neon to turn off after a couple minutes of lighting. I turn it off and it does it again after a couple minutes. Is it a ballast or tranformer?
The transformer has a GFI (ground fault interrupt) built in. If anything disturbs the circuit, the transformer will shut itself off. The most common cause of failure is a worn out / old transformer as these transformers only have so many hours on them. But there can also be other factors as well - a bad (or 'going bad') tube - that creates a higher draw on the transformer, a short in the system, etc.
The only way to be sure is to bring your sign to a qualified neon technician for a troubleshoot - so that the tubes can be tested. You can also roll the dice and try replacing the transformer - which may solve the problem.
I hope this helps!
I have an old Miller Beer sign. However, I'd like it to stop blinking. Is there an easy way to disable the blinking function.???
Hi John, If your neon sign is blinking it probably means that your transformer is bad - or it's a transformer with a flashing function. Replacing the transformer with a non-flashing model should handle your problem. Just make sure that the secondary voltage is the same - or higher - than the existing transformer.
nice restoration and informative video. Do you answer troubleshooting questions? I have a Coors Light Silver Bullet sign with the state of NJ emblem on it. The sign lights up fine, no buzzing, but the word Coors (red) flickers. However, it stops flickering completely if I hold the neon tubing for the word Coors, and for as long as I hold onto the tubing it's good. No, I don't want to hold onto the tubing every time the sign is lit, but my question is: wouldn't this be a grounding problem? On the transformer housing it says that the sign is mid-point grounded. Could it just be a loose connection inside? or should I replace the transformer? Also, is replacing the transformer something a novice with a little electrical experience could tackle?
Thank You,
Sure! Give us a call @ (310)608-6099 We'll be happy to help you!
Where do you get one of those testers?
Amazon sells battery powered neon testers. Otherwise, you'll probably need to talk with a neon specialty company.
Hi, i have a problem with my neon light. There two lengths of wires with metal plugs that go into a spitter into a transformer when i connect one in it turns the light off when the two are connected the light switch won't turn off any ideas whats wrong?
Thanks for reaching out. I think some photos would help us understand the situation a little bit better. Please call us at (310) 608-6099 so that we can understand the situation better.
How much does a repair like this cost?
We have a shop minimum of $150. The repair price depends on what is wrong with the sign.
I have one that looks exactly the same and I would be extremely thankful u could give me a general idea what it’s worth?? 2006 it works 47 x 23
Hi G,
We can't really appraise the sign because the value is really determined by how many potential buyers there are for your particular sign. Your best bet would be to look on Craigslist or Ebay for signs similar to yours and to see what the asking prices / sold prices are.
I'm replacing my neon transformer on a custom sign. I was unable to find the exact replacement but I got a 6KV 30ma 120V which matches the old one. Does it matter where the leads go? I don't see any indication on the wires or unit.
Hi Rick, Give us a call so that we can get some additional info. Ask for Sean. (310) 608-6099
@@dnsigns4233 thanks for getting back to me but everything is done and the sign looks great.
Where can I find a tester like that
Hey Ryan,
The only distributor I know that sells these only sells them to the trade. But there are some cheaper, battery-powered neon testers that are readily available on Amazon.
Hope that helps!
DN Signs
I think my transformer is hot when I keep my sign on . Is that bad ? The box is hot
Without seeing the sign, we can't give an accurate diagnosis but heat is usually a sign of a failing transformer. It probably needs replacement.
Thanks
How much do these lights cost
Well I just picked up a vintage Heineken sign for $135 plus shipping. The piece works but the white star is dim.
It depends on the sign.
CAN YOU ORDER REPLACEMENT GLASS FOR A SIMPLE OPEN NEON SIGN THAT BROKE AND IS JUST BLINKING 3 TIMES
I have a Neon sign that would stay on for about 1 hour and then turn off. I replace the transformer with the same exact model and the same result. I replace the transformer with a compatible transformer and the same result. Why would the sign turn on for a period of time and then turn off. Any thoughts. Much appreciative for your insight. Thanks.
It's possible that one of the tubes has "leak-down". When the tubes are made they are vacuum-pumped to remove all of the oxygen and replace it with neon or argon gas. Sometimes the tubes can develop microscopic holes that allow air to leak into the tube. When that happens, the system needs more electricity to complete the circuit - which overtaxes the transformer. So what may be happening is that the system is creating a heavier draw than it's supposed to and the GFI shut-off within the transformer is being activated - causing the transformer to shut down. In order to fix this, the sign needs to be taken to a neon repair shop so that the tubes can be tested, and if necessary, re-pumped. I hope this helps! If it does, please give our video a like and/or subscribe to our channel. Thank you!
Sean Blake Thanks for your reply. Very helpful.
You're welcome.
Can we by pass the failing tube??..
Yes. You just need to jump / connect the two wires that connect to the failed tube with a section of GTO (high voltage neon wiring). Be sure to insulate the connections as neon is a high-voltage system. Good luck!
I called them and they wanted to charge me 150 for a replacement part
What did you expect them to fix it for free?
Not a helpful troubling shooting video as most people won’t have a testing device.
Neon testers are available for sale.
Hi Sean. I have an old Budweiser sign that isn't working. I don't have that fancy gadget that you used to excite the gas in the tubes to see if they light. Could I use a hand held taser to charge the tubes, or is the voltage too high that it may damage the tubes/neon gas? Thanks!
I've never tried using a taser. I don't know whether the voltage / amperage would be right. You could try hooking the transformer leads up to a single unit in the sign to see if the transformer can light it. If it doesn't light one unit, try one more, if it doesn't light both - you probably have a bad transformer.