Incandescent - Florescent - LED - or *NEON*

[Paintedcow]

Anyone that knows something about electric knows that LED lights use far less power than incandescent bulbs, and florescent bulbs fall somewhere in the middle. So, we went from Incandescent to CFL (florescent) and now LED is the best choice.

But one type of lighting that seems to be ignored are NEON lights. You see them in every bar and many restaurants and some other places, but I have never heard any power ratings for them. The typical bar signs are multi-colored and do not always put out adaquate lighting, but what would happen if neon tubes were white and sold in strips like florescent bulbs (2' 4' 8' and so on)?

Using them in that way would likely give adaquate lighting, but I'm curious to how they would rate compared to Incandescent, Florescent, or LED....

Has anyone ever seen any power ratings, and comparisons for them?

[Meanie]

[Paintedcow]

I noticed no one replied to this, and I went and googled the topic. I found this article.

There is a big difference in power consumption.

---- From this website -----

Lighting Source Neon LED Module

Power Usage per foot 20 watts 1.2 watts Nominal Installation 100

100 x Power Consumption 20 watts 1.2 watts = Total 2,000 watts 120 watts x 12 hours/day 24,000 watts 1,440 watts x 365 days 8,760,000 525,600 watts /1000 = annual kilowatt hour 8,760 525.6 x cost per kilowatt hour $0.15 $0.15 Total Annual Energy Cost $1314 $78.84

--------------------------

I thought Neon was more like florescent and did not consume all that much power, but I was very wrong.

This explains why I've been seeing more bar (and other) signs that look like neon, but are actually LED.

One thing lacking here, is the LUMENS (amount of light) for the comparison, but even if the neon was producing more lumens, the cost comparison speaks for itself.

Annual cost $1,314 Neon V/S $78.84 LED.

[Tony Hwang]

Neon also needs HV.

[Paintedcow]

Yep, I know all about that. When I was in my teens, I got a HV transformer from one of those neon signs, when they were demolishing a bar. I plugged it in and had fun making spark strips. At least I never got zapped by it.... But I have gotten zapped by car ignition coils, and it dont feel good! That's worse than an electric fence. My guess is that both a neon transformer and car ign coil are around the same voltage. They both throw a longer spark than an elec fence, and I know for fact that elec fences are generally 5000V or lower, (depending on brand, length of fence, and conditions such as weeds touching the fence). But I have literally been knocked on my butt by elec fences too.

Electric fences contain "cus words" in their zap. Everytime one of them "bites" me. my worst vocabulary comes out.... :)

Here's something most non-farm people dont know. If you take one of those little neon testers, used to test outlets for voltage, and hold the tester NEAR the fence, it will light up. -OR- Take a florescent bulb and hold it NEAR an elec fence, and it too will light up. You DONT need to make actual electrical contact to the fence itself.

I have seen my horses walk up to an elec fence and put their nose near the fence. About 3" from it, and they know whether it's "live" or not. I have one pony who tries to get out of his fence, and he does this "nose near fence" thing thing, before he trys to escape. If the fence is not turned on, or not working, he just works his way under the fence wire and gets out. (The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence). I have a fence tester that checks to make sure it works, and it even tells me the approximate voltage.