Neon signs come with a lot of perks and benefits. They are a great way to advertise your business or to decorate your working/living space.
But, as is the case with every other type of signage, neon signs can develop problems over time. One of the problems that may arise is neon sign flickering.
In this post, we’re going to tell you about the various causes that can lead to this problem along with how you can deal with them. It’s possible that your neon sign flickers but won’t turn on, or just flickers constantly while lit. Whatever the problem is, you’ll find its solution here in this post.
Why is My Neon Sign Flickering? Common Causes
Improper connection to the power source
One of the main reasons why your neon sign could be flickering is an improper connection to the power source.
Typically, here is how a neon sign works:
- The tubing is hung up or installed on a wall with a transformer close by
- The transformer is then plugged into a power outlet
- When turned on, the current passes through the transformer into the neon tubing, causing it to glow
If the transformer is not properly plugged into the power source, the flow of the current gets interrupted.
Not only can this cause the sign to flicker, but it can also create more serious problems. Loosely plugged-in appliances can create sparks and even short the wires.
Frayed or damaged wiring
Frayed or damaged wiring can also cause your sign to flicker. This problem is easier to fix than the others since the wire can simply be replaced.
Usually, the wire coming in from the transformer to the tubing can be quite small and thin. Repeated impact or movement can damage it over time, leading to the flickering.
To determine whether this is the problem or not, inspect the whole wire from the power outlet right to the point it goes into the sign. If you find an exposed or damaged part, don’t touch it with your bare hands. Turn the sign off and get to fixing the problem as soon as possible. (We’ll tell you how to do that in the next section.)
Malfunctioning transformer
The transformer is a vital part of the neon sign. It is responsible for altering the current coming in from the power source and stepping it up for the neon sign to use. Neon signs aren’t directly plugged into the power source. They go through a transformer.
If the transformer starts to malfunction, it can disrupt the voltage going to the sign, causing it to flicker. Problems with the transformer can occur over time and they can start manifesting themselves in various ways, including flickering.
An electrician will be able to determine whether or not the problem lies in the transformer. If you inspect the power source and the wiring without finding any apparent problems, you can call an electrician to have the whole thing looked over.
Gas leakage
If the glass tubing breaks, the gas inside can leak out. This can also cause flickering as the total volume of the gas can drop, causing less illumination.
It is important to remember that gas leaks aren’t just a light flickering/dimming problem. They can become a health hazard, especially if the sign uses mercury gas. (Signs with blue color usually use mercury in small amounts.)
If you suspect a gas leakage, carefully inspect the glass tubing. If there are any cracks or breaks, quickly take the sign off, take it outside, and cover the crack(s) with tape to avoid more gas leaking out.
After that, wash your hands properly and air out the area where the sign was hung. You don’t want to take any chances with the neon gases being around your breathing space.
Once that is over, you can get back to solving the problem with the sign…which we will cover in the next section.
Solutions to Each of the Problems
Now that we’ve talked about the various causes of this neon sign flickering, let’s take a look at how they can each be solved.
1. Securing a loose connection
The first cause that we discussed above was a loose connection.
The solution to this problem is fairly simple. Inspect the outlet where the sign is plugged in. Secure the plug in the socket and make sure the socket itself is affixed to the wall properly.
If the pins of the plug are loose, or if the socket itself is loose and hanging off, you can call in an electrician to take care of it for you. You can also do it yourself if you have the experience yourself.
In a lot of cases, however, the problem wouldn’t be this severe. The plug could just be hanging out a little and you can jam it back in. The flickering of the sign will go away once the connection is secure.
2. Fixing frayed or damaged wiring
Normally, the advice with regards to frayed or damaged wiring is that if you see any, turn the sign off, call in an expert, and let them replace the wire for you.
But, there are some cases where you can take matters into your own hands.
- For example, if the wires before and after the transformer are detachable, then you can simply buy a replacement and replace the bit that is damaged.
- Or, if you can easily afford it, you can replace the whole wiring kit (which can be found for sale online and in physical stores). The benefit of doing this is that any problems that may have been building up in the old transformer will automatically go away with the installation of a new one. It will cost more, sure, but there will be less of a headache later on.
3. Fixing a malfunctioning transformer
As we said earlier, you will have to bring in an electrician to ascertain whether or not the problem is in the transformer. You can’t really call it yourself unless you’re an electrician too.
If the electrician does come and declare that the problem is with the transformer, then you can simply request them to either fix or replace it.
In this case, you don’t really have to do anything other than spend some money on the electrician’s fee and the new transformer (if needed).
The neon sign flickering will go away if the transformer is the issue.
4. Leaked gas
As is the case with a malfunctioning transformer, fixing a gas leak is not something that you can do yourself.
We mentioned above that if you detect a leak, you should carefully take the sign off, take it somewhere outside, and tape up the cracks. If the break is larger than a crack, leave the sign be but make sure it is away from everyone.
After that, you will have to enlist the aid of a professional to repair the sign. Once again, the only thing you have to do (and can do) is go to a professional and pay them to fix the problem for you.
What Should I Do if Nothing is Working?
If you have tried all of the above fixes and nothing seems to bring your neon sign back to how it was, it could just mean that the sign has aged—gone past its prime and reached the point where all things need to be inevitably replaced. It’s a sad reality for pretty much everything you buy.
Even if there are no visible cracks and you replace the transformer only for the problem to persist, take it to a professional so that they can guide you on whether it is better to try and fix the sign or go for a new one.
If the glass is fine, you can have the same sign filled with new gas and equipped with new electrodes, wires, and a transformer.
But, if there are multiple problems with the sign, such as frayed wires, cracked glass, depleted gas, and on top of all that, a faulty transformer, it is better and more economical to buy a new one. And this isn’t just hyperbole for the sake of this article. These problems, in their entirety and collectiveness, can occur when a sign has been up and hanging for years and years.
How to Prevent Your Signs from Developing This Problem?
Before we give this article the wrap, let’s talk about how you can prevent your signs from developing this problem, i.e., flickering.
- Make sure that the sign is installed securely and is properly plugged in at all times. When turning it on, do a quick peek and check the plug.
- Make sure that the sign is not installed in a place where it gets bumped around or damaged by people and/or surrounding objects.
- Check the sign every now and then to make sure there are no leaks in the gas.
- Have an electrician do a routine check of all the signs when you have them in your place for other electrical work. They will be able to see if there is an issue in the wiring or the transformer and fix it before it worsens.
Wrapping Up
And with that, let’s turn the lights off on this post.
To recap the answer to the question of why is my neon sign flickering: there are a few different problems that cause this issue. In the post above, we’ve looked at four possible causes for this problem along with their solutions.
If your sign starts flickering, there’s no need to worry! Just check out what part is causing the issue and address it according to the steps we’ve mentioned.