24 Jun
2003
24 Jun
'03
3:20 p.m.
Interestingly, I learned something interesting about
failing neon
lamps. The failing lamp would light in the daylight, but flicker
dimly in the dark. I never realized before that neon lamps were
light-sensitive. Can anyone explain this?
The ambient light provides just a little bit of energy and helps the neon
fire. A radioactive source would do the same. Sometimes, when the tube is
getting a little tired, that little bit of energy makes the difference.
Some bits of older phone gear had internal lamps just to give all of
the gas tubes a stable environment.
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org