Pros and Cons of Neon Lighting
What is Neon Light?
Businesses — along with anyone trying to grab someone’s attention — have taken advantage of the unique, eye-catching glow of neon lighting (revealed to the public in Paris in 1910) for over a century now. Something about the warm radiance of neon advertising signs and lights draws us to them. We can't help but gaze at their lustrous beauty, which is why they're so abundant outside business storefronts today.
How Neon Lights Work
Neon, a noble gas, is the source of illumination for a traditional neon light. A glass tube is filled with a small amount of low-pressure neon gas to make a neon light. AC and DC currents can both be used as a source of power, although AC current is the most common power source. An electrode is placed at both ends of the glass tube. Voltage running through the electrodes excites the neon atoms inside the tube. The atoms then produce the unmistakable glow of a neon light.
The Pros of Neon Lights
Traditional neon lighting for advertising and industrial purposes has been around for a long time and is quite dependable. Here are some of the pros of choosing traditional neon lights.
Long-Lived
Neon lights have a long lifecycle, which can exceed a decade or more. The airtight glass tube construction means the gas stays put, which should reduce maintenance time and overall running costs — provided you handle your neon lights with care. Neon that does age and leaks a bit of gas can be repaired, refilled and restored.
Customizable
A neon sign can be customized into pretty much any shape you can imagine. All you have to do is visit Las Vegas or Tokyo to see the endless design possibilities available when it comes to molding attention-grabbing neon signs and displays. Neon glass tubes can be shaped into almost any configuration your desire, including your company’s logo or an imaginative holiday display.
Outdoor and Indoor Applications
Since neon glass tubes are built airtight, they can stand up to the elements, which makes them ideal for indoor signs and lighting displays (inside a bar, restaurant or startup hub) or for outdoor advertising purposes. The distinctive characteristics of enclosed neon gas mean it won't overheat. On top of that, neon also tends to be fairly cool to the touch, adding to its indoor and outdoor utility.
Attention-Grabbing
Beaming neon is extremely attention-grabbing. There's a reason why futuristic movies like Blade Runner and Akira make such abundant use of neon in future cityscapes where everyone is vying for your attention. Neon's bright glow draws the human eye toward it, even when it’s surrounded by other signs. The inherent allure of neon is why it's an ideal choice for getting folks interested in what your neon display has to say.
Messaging is all about getting people paying attention, right? That’s one job neon has no problem accomplishing. LED neon is great at catching the human eye as well, and it brings other perks we’ll expand on shortly.
The Cons of Neon Lights
While traditional neon lights have many pluses, there are a few associated cons you may want to consider as well. These cons come into play if you're contemplating investing in or installing neon lights in your home or place of business.
Efficiency Issues
While the actual neon tube can have a very long lifespan if handled correctly, neon signs don't rate all that high on the energy efficiency scale — especially when compared to more energy-efficient LED lights. A decent amount of energy is required to run neon lights — although generally, the costs aren't overwhelming until considered in the long term. LED neon lights use less energy than traditional neon tubes.
Limited Color Options
Neon electric lights can usually only make use of one color at a time (per glass tube). The availability of subtle tonal differences for your lighting design(s) is limited also, due to the narrow selection of colors that can be derived from the noble gas neon (Ne).
Heavy and Fragile Tubes
Neon glass tubing can be fairly heavy. And naturally, these tubes will increase in weight depending on the size and complexity of your lighting design. If the glass is dropped or cracked, you’ll have some serious issues with your neon lighting scheme (like obvious dark spots), which you will then have to repair.
The Advantages of LED Neon Lights
Traditional neon lights have a long history in advertising. There’s no question they can help promote a business or liven up a family or corporate holiday display while also saving money with their energy efficiency.
Birddog Lighting specializes in LED neon lighting strips and LED neon rope lights, which are perfect for setting up inventive, vibrant displays at your business or home. LED neon lights combine the eye-catching glow of traditional glass tube neon with more energy-efficient (and safer) LED lighting. Another bonus of LED neon rope and strip lights is that they’re typically simpler to install than traditional neon — and cost considerably less than old-school neon gas lights, making them the go-to neon choice for your advertising and decorating needs.
