What size letters should I get on my Neon Sign?
As a general rule of thumb, your letters will be legible up to 38 feet away for each inch of letter height. The following chart shows some standard letter heights and their maximum legible distances.
Letter Height
Max. Readable Distance
4"
152 feet
5"
190 feet
6"
228 feet
8"
304 feet
10"
380 feet
12"
456 feet
Note that Red Neon letters are most readable, followed by Pink, Green, Turquoise. (Blues, Purples and Yellows are least readable and are usually recommended for borders.) Black or Smoked backings will also increase the visibility of your sign.
Upper & Lower cased letter combinations ( Sample ) on neon signs are more readable than all upper case letters ( SAMPLE ) and increase your Maximum Readable Distance.
How long will my transformer last?
Your transformer is included with your neon sign and integrally mounted within your sign such that you simply hang your neon sign up and plug it in. Generally the transformer will last from 5 - 7 years. Some will fail earlier, and many will easily last 10-15 years. Things that affect transformer life are heat, and electrical surges / consistency of your electrical supply.
What do I do if my transformer fails? Your transformer is warranted for 1 year from the date of purchase. If it fails you may return your neon sign
(click here for our warranty information) to our factory. Upon receipt we will replace the transformer and ship the sign back to you. Note that if your sign is no longer under warranty you will be billed $55 for a new transformer and also for the shipping cost to return your neon sign to you.
Another option, which saves you the trouble of returning your neon sign, is to order a new transformer which can easily be installed by any qualified handyman who is familiar with electricity. This requires payment ($55 plus $6.95 shipping) for your new transformer. However, you will receive credit for your old transformer when you return it to us (as long as it is less than one year old).
Can I get a dimmer for my neon sign? You may order your sign with a dimmable transformer for $35 extra (per transformer). These transformers have a knob next to the on-off pull chain which allows you to adjust the brightness of the neon sign. If you already have a sign, you must order a new transformer with the dimmable option ($55 for the transformer + $35 for the dimming option = $90 total cost). You can then replace your current transformer (must be done by a qualified electrician) and then dim your neon sign. Note that our dimming transformer is self adjusting and will replace other transformers rated up to 10,000 volts.
It is important that you do not use any other dimming device (such as a light dimmer you can buy at your hardware store) as it may damage your transformer, cause your neon sign to fail, and possibly create a fire hazard. Your neon sign requires special dimming circuitry (to limit the current but not the voltage - most commercial lamp dimmers simply limit the voltage) which is contained in these dimmable transformers. See our
NEON ACCESSORIES page.
Can I make my neon sign flash (on and off)? You may upgrade the existing transformer on most of our neon signs to a flashing transformer for an additional $35. Our Flashing Transformers also include a constant on option, which allows you to either have the sign on all the time, or have it flash.
This will only work if your sign has one transformer (most signs fall into this category, call for details). If you have a larger sign with multiple transformers you will need to purchase an external flashing unit which has 2 plug-ins. See our
NEON ACCESSORIES page for details.
I installed my neon sign, and now I have interference on my telephone or television set. What do I do? Interference is very rare, we have on average a single complaint out of every 4,000 neon signs installed. Generally, the sign is not the single source of interference, but simply "the straw that broke the camel's back". In other words, the existing interference is now more noticeable. The easiest solution is to purchase an interference filter (the type that plugs into your outlet, then you plug the neon sign into the filter) at your local Radio Shack, or other electronics store. These are inexpensive. Check to make sure that your phone line, or TV antenna does not pass in close proximity to the sign, relocate it if possible. Generally, these steps will take care of 90% of interference problems. If your problem persists, you may want a professional electrician to look at your wiring as you may have issues there that should be addressed.
Do you make Window Border Neon? Yes!! We have recently started producing window border tubing for indoor applications only.
Click Here to visit our Neon Window Border Tubing page for pricing and more information.
How much does it cost to operate neon signs? Neon signs are extremely efficient. The reason they look so bright is because all of the output is focused within a small wavelength band of light. The average neon sign only consumes about .8 amps ( 8 tenths of an amp). This equates to about 96 watts (about equal to a single light bulb). Average cost to operate your neon sign is only about 20 cents per day (if you operate it 24 hours per day).
Can I place my neon sign outdoors? Most of the neon signs shown on our website are designed for indoor use. They can be used outdoors as long as they are protected from rain (including blowing rain), dew, snow, and ice. Examples would be outdoors under a porch roof, or mounted up high under a significant roof overhang. We now offer the option to convert most of the neon signs we sell into an Outdoor Neon Sign. Out outdoor neon signs can be mounted anywhere outdoors and are built to withstand the outdoor elements. Our outdoor versions include a stainless steel metal casing, quality outdoor transformer ready to be wired directly into your electrical system, and a clear lexan cover to protect your neon tubing from the elements. Pricing for outdoor conversion will be an additional $135 or $160; depending on the size of the sign you are upgrading. Visit our
Outdoor Neon Signs page for more details.
Do you ship your neon signs to Canada? Many of our neon signs can currently be shipped to Canada with the following exceptions:
1. The neon sign must contain a "Z" in the first three letters of the item code.
2. All Canada orders must be placed directly with one of our Sales Staff over the phone as our website will not process these orders. All Canadian shipments will require an individual shipping quote which must be done by our Sales Department.
3. Our Shipping Damage Policy is different for any outgoing shipments to Canada. We are no longer able to have any damaged shipments picked up, and returned to our warehouse for repair or replacement. We take special packaging precautions to eliminate the possibility of any sign damage in transit, but if for some reason a sign shipped to Canada arrives damaged, our only solution will be to ship out replacement glass (at no charge, contains detailed instructions) to the original delivery destination. It will be the customer's responsibility to replace any broken glass units on the sign.
Do you ship your neon signs to locations outside of the US? No. We currently only ship out our products within the Continental US (excludes Hawaii, Puerto Rico & Alaska).
Do you charge a Fee for Cancelled Orders? All cancelled orders may be subject to a $25.00 Cancellation Fee if your order is cancelled after the payment has already been processed. This fee does not apply to returns under the 30 day Satisfaction Guarantee.
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Questions? Do not hesitate to call us toll free at: 888-526-8321 or e-mail us at SalesDept@JantecNeon.com
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