How Hot Do Neon Signs Get? A Guide to Avoid Burns

Before answering some of the specific questions we’re frequently asked here at A1deSIGNS regarding the safety of neon – let us first say that neon signs are incredibly safe to use, provided it’s well maintained and treated with respect.

Neon light dates back over 100 years to the time when it was first invented (take a look at the background of neon, here) With more than a century of improvement, you can be certain that modern neon signs are more reliable and safe than ever.

Also, can neon get extremely hot?

A neon tube (or tube) may become hot due to several reasons. It could be due to impurities inside the tube (air), the excessive current passing through the electrodes because of inadequate calibration, or improper installation.

The only other way an electrode might be hot is when it is placed on large-diameter tubing running at a high current within the 150mA range.

Is neon at an all-time high?

While neon can be placed at an appropriate height, there are different rules for its installation. The height at which a touch is made (arm’s reach) is specified in Section 7 of the European Standard EN 50107 and is concerned with the protection against contact of active (live) parts.

An arm’s reach is the distance from any surface on which a person can move or stand. It is a distance that is at least 1.25m in front above, below, and 2.5m above the surface.

When an item is within arm’s reach the following applies: If the glass tubing is completely enclosed within a case, for example, acrylic there is no open circuit protection is required.

An enclosure that is mechanically secured conforming to IP2X as well as open-circuit protection is essential if the glass tubing can touch. It could be a tray panel with the electrical connections in the rear, or the silicon caps that are fixed so that it requires an instrument to remove them. External metal parts must be earthed and all electrode connections must be protected with silicon caps.

Complete mechanical protection is achieved if the housing doesn’t have any openings with a diameter of more than 12mm even if a tube breaks.

Protection against open circuits is standard on electronic transformers. Other types of transformers require simple changes to an earth trip inside the transformer or when the light is being flashed or dimmed or dimmed or an external earth trip.

We hope you found this post helpful. Check out more of our neon articles here. And please drop us a line if you’d like to chat about any of the details we’ve covered or to find out more about how our variety of custom neon signs can help your business.