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I have just been told I am to go to a department store to remove some of the neon lighting from the walls.
I am also told I will have to refeed the neon that is staying on the walls.
I have never worked on Neon and have not been impressed with many of the installations I have seen.
Can anyone give me a run down of splices (if they are allowed) what kind of cable do I ask for if I need more, are the transformers matched to the length of the tubes like fluorescents.
This work has been assigned to me and I would like to do a quality and safe job.
Any info would be appreciated, and I will be posting this in another forum to get as much help as possible.
Thanks, Bob
Bob Badger Construction & Maintenance Electrician Massachusetts
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Iwire, Just a friendly warning, If you don't already know this,Neon or Cold Cathode Lighting uses VERY HIGH VOLTAGES!!. Depending on the size of the sign(s), this voltage can vary from 5kV, up to 50kV+. The secondary side of the supply transformer (Step-up), needs to have special silicone HV wire used, this is heavily insulated and I would not recommend the use of any splices on this side of the transformer. Be very careful around this sort of equipment and make sure that you lock out all of the energy sources relating to the sign circuit(s), there have been some really nasty accidents over the years, with CC lighting systems, don't end up being a statistic!.
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Trumpy, thank you I would prefer to see my kids grow up. lighthouse, the link for "sign web" was just the info I needed along with article 600. I just got back from the first night of working on this, the original installation was very professional all the GTO cord was in 1/2" flex to the last point possible. The transformers where 277/7500 volt. Mostly removal had to refeed one "tube" but that was no problem. Thanks for the help (and warning) that's why I asked questions here you can always get some help.
Bob Badger Construction & Maintenance Electrician Massachusetts
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Iwire, I can tell you one thing mate, it doesn't pay to drop neon signs either!. A few years ago, 4 workmates and I dropped a large (6metres long,18 feet) sign, when two of the guys lifting it slipped over. It fell down over the frontage of a shop and flattened a guys station-wagon, luckily no-one was in it,at the time. And then the guy came back to his car and saw this Chinese Restaurant sign laying all over it. My ears are still ringing from the reprimand over that one, from the same guy that told us that a crane was too expensive!.
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I don't know how it's done in the States, but here in Britain the xfmr for neon lighting generally has a ground connection on a center=tap of the secondary, so that on e.g. a 5kV supply each leg would be 2500V to ground. Still not something to treat with anything but the utmost respect!
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The job is finished now and it went well. Thanks, again for the help
The Transformers where 277 volt primary with some 5000 and some 7500 volt secondarys and as Pauluk said all where center tap grounded.
Bob Badger Construction & Maintenance Electrician Massachusetts
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