If you are going to take a walk at night, notice the luminescent, glowing signs that are gracing the faade of many buildings. These are called neon signs.
The first neon sign appeared in France in 1910 at Grand Palais. The display caught peoples attention in fact, the effect was so bright and catchy that other countries took notice. As a result, demands to create neon signs for commercial use have grown since the 50s and are still very much in demand.
Neon signs are created out of brightly colored gas discharge lamps filled with a certain gas. These are actually glass tubes bent and twisted to form different designs and letters. The light uses a high voltage but very low volume of amperage. To make the gas inside the tube glow with light, you will need to increase the electrical pressure from your wall outlet so that enough supply of current is transported.
One known advantage of neon signs is that electrical cost is relatively low. The typical lifespan of neon signs range from 7 to 10 years but there are some that have been known to last 20 years.
If you are wondering why those neon signs vary in colors, it is because these signs are created in...