Distributors

I was looking at a competing company today online that just suddenly sprouted up for the first time. And as I took a friendly peek around I saw they had the same signs everyone else does but that these guys put a new spin on it. They actually let you know that they don't make the signs that they sell on their site. I was surprised to see someone actually coming clean about that for a change! Yea for them! They even tell you who does make the signs that are on their site (albeit in very small print). Hmmmm....which brought me to my next observation. If I'm a customer and I am purchasing a sign why wouldn't I just go directly to the company that is actually MAKING the sign? In this sites case all of the products that they carry are available to anyone to go onto the manufacturers site and purchase from them directly.

These types of sites are all over the place in the neon sign world out there. They are called distributors. They never handle the product, never see the sign, couldn't tell you a dang thing about it if you called them up or walk out onto the assembly line for you and see if your sign is done or not. And "God forbid" if your sign arrives with damage or during the warranty period needs repaired, replaced or any trouble shooting is required as these guys are not going to be able to do anything for you but deal with you and your problem back through the actual manufacturer of the sign. So you sure as heck better hope this manufacturer takes good care of their distributor's customers when problems and issues do crop up. If not your neon sign experience is going to go south in a hurry.

So while you may have some valid reasons for why you want to buy from a website like this I would suggest instead that you take a little more time, peruse a few more sites and locate a sign from an actual neon sign manufacturer. A few extra minutes spent making sure you know who you are buying from can make all the difference in the world.

Til next time,

Is it safe to leave my neon sign on all the time?

I know you guys read my blog from time to time..so here's a response to a question I get asked all the time. Is it safe to leave my neon sign on all the time? Yep, it sure is. Actually if it's an OPEN sign and your not OPEN 24/7 then probably not but that's the exception. Neon performs best when left on all the time. It is energy efficient and doesn't get hot. Your transformer and neon actually both have a longer life span when left on all the time. We never turn ours off in our facility. They make great night lights when I'm trying to navigate my way through the warehouse late at night when all the other lights are off.

What's the best color for visibility? I've got tinted windows what should I do? Red is your best shot with blue and green right behind it. 6" letters can be seen 200+ feet away so know how far away your traffic is, think about overall size of your window vs. the signage and have that information ready when talking to someone about ordering a sign.

And remember there are no stupid questions. Your sales person should be actively engaged in helping you to get the best sign possible for your budget and needs. And they should be knowledgeable and informed. You should come away from the ordering process feeling like you have put your money and sign in good hands. And if you are not then ask to speak to the owner of the company. And if they won't let you speak to the owner then uh oh.....rethink that purchase you were about to make.

Til next time,

Replacing a Transformer

One problem that comes up often on older signs is a transformer over time that has stopped working and needs replaced and some customers are simply at a loss as to what to do.

Since the sign is no longer under warranty you will need to purchase the transformer and replace it on the sign yourself. This is a relatively simple task and if I can do it anyone can.

When you look closely at a neon sign you will see black rubber "boots" or end caps at the beginning and end of a word. When the end caps are gently removed underneath you will see the transformer wires and the electrode wires twisted together. This is how the neon is powered so it can light. If the transformer needs to be removed you simply untwist these wires and unscrew the transformer from the backing. This will detach the transformer from the electrodes and glass and can now safely be removed from the sign. Now you are ready to put the new transformer onto your sign. This will sometimes result in having to drill new holes for the new transformer. Over time some transformers are no longer available and the new ones are bigger, smaller or in one way or another simply will not match up to the existing holes. Once your new transformer is in place you will not be able to see the new holes that were drilled. Run the wires through the holes that the original wires ran through and attach them to the same electrodes as before. Do not cross wires from one side of the sign to another. In other words the wires on the left side of the transformer should stay on the left side of the sign and right on the right side. Once the transformer and electrode wires have been twisted back together securely make sure to place the end caps back over the exposed wires. Never work on the sign in the ON position. Once the end caps are securely in place you can turn the sign on to make sure it is now working properly. If you've done everything correctly your sign will light back up just like it did before the transformer failed and you are back in business.

Mercury Migration

I eat at this one Vietnamese place often and I noticed their pretty new OPEN sign when they first opened and I was impressed with how nicely it was done. Believe me when you do neon for a living you notice every neon sign out there and you can get rather opinionated about what you see. I have been steadily watching the border on their OPEN sign start to darken further and further down the tube as the weeks have gone by. It just goes to show that pretty doesn't always mean anything. Had the manufacturer of this sign used the Eurocom electrodes that we use when we blow glass this sign would still look as pretty as the day it was first hung in the window.

If you have a sign with these symptoms several things can happen when you talk to the manufacturer. They will tell you to take the sign down and turn it on each of its four sides for a few hours at a time and that once fully rotated the problem will be eliminated (it forces the mercury to roll back down the tube towards the electrode. True, this may take care of it for a little while but soon the electrode will be forcing the mercury back down the tube again and you'll be right back where you started. Sometimes sending it back in can have a similar effect just like the turning of the sign due to the vibration when being transported. The manufacturer gets it back, plugs it in and the sign looks fine. Kind of like when you take your car to the auto mechanic and it won't make that funny noise now! Frustrating!

So the next time your out and about and you see a sign with a section of the neon that has darkened you can say "I know what is making that happen".