7 Myths of Neon and the Truth about Everbrite Neon Signs

Myth #1: Neon signs consume a large amount of energy...

This claim would have been true for all neon signs before the 1990’s. Typically, pre-1990 neon signs used an inefficient power transformer. The past thirteen years, Everbrite has designed and manufactured our own patented Evertron® Electronic Neon Power Supply that is highly reliable, weighs a fraction of typical power supplies and is very energy efficient. On average, an Everbrite neon open sign uses less power than a standard 75-watt light bulb.

Myth #2: Neon signs contain harmful gases...

Neon and argon gases are actually inert gases that can be found in the air we breath, every day. In fact, the neon and argon gas used in neon signs are actually fractionally distilled from that very same air.

Myth #3: Neon signs contain large amounts of mercury...

Chances are your office or business uses the same fluorescent lights that millions of other businesses use every day. The mercury in neon signs is no more dangerous than what is presently housed within the run-of-the-mill fluorescent lights that have been lighting our businesses for many years.

Myth #4: Neon signs pose shock or fire hazards...

Once again, this claim may have been true for some neon signs prior to 1990. However in the late 90’s, Underwriters Laboratories (UL®) instituted a policy called UL2161. This policy requires that all neon sign power supplies use safety features such as ground fault interruption & over voltage protection. These safety features protect the public from any shock or fire hazards. Everbrite’s own Evertron® Neon Power supplies have utilized these safety features for over the past thirteen years.

Myth #5: Large numbers of neon signs are broken in store windows each year...

Throughout Everbrite’s 75+ years of history, all of our manufacturing facilities have instituted a process referred to as “annealing” with our neon glass. Annealing is a process that dramatically reduces the stress in the glass caused by heating, bending, and shaping of the glass. Combining the annealing process with our carefully constructed packaging results in a very low percentage of breakage in the marketplace and during shipping.

Myth #6: Neon signs are big and bulky...

The average weight of older power transformers that were utilized in the pre-1990’s weighed approximately 18 pounds or more depending on application. The average weight of the Evertron® electronic power supply is 1.5 pounds. With the use of the Evertron power supply, our most popular neon open sign weighs approximately 4 pounds and has a slim profile depth of about 3 inches. This allows for easier placement in terms of hanging materials and product accessibility.

Myth #7: Neon signs have an expected life span of 20,000 – 30,000 hours...

Internal testing conducted at the Everbrite Technology Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin have concluded that the life expectancy of an Everbrite neon sign that uses an Evertron® electronic power supply and is powered on for 24 hours per day has a life expectancy of more than 10 years (80,000+ hours). Most businesses are not open for 24 hours, so it can be expected that their neon signs will far exceed the projected 10-year life span.