Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: RVincelette on October 06, 2011, 06:18:33 PM

Title: Neon bulbs, are they useful?
Post by: RVincelette on October 06, 2011, 06:18:33 PM

I purchase a electronic goldmine grab bag and got a couple of orange neon bulbs. In the bulb it says 250v  1/3W.  Inside the lens it a resistor and a bulb. Is there any way to make use of this in a small robot that runs on a nine volt battery?

This link is a pdf of the one I have:
http://www.solico.com/images/Cat_INDIVPagesJAN09/Cat_Int_pages%208.pdf (http://www.solico.com/images/Cat_INDIVPagesJAN09/Cat_Int_pages%208.pdf)

Title: Re: Neon bulbs, are they useful?
Post by: waltr on October 06, 2011, 06:50:43 PM

No, they typically need about 90V minimum to ionize the Neon.

They are useful for a 'Hot circuit' detector when working on AC Mains.

They are also useful as a calibration source for spectrometers (ionized Neon has emission lines at know wavelengths).