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Neon Flash Lamp with Integrated CCFL Driver The lamp pictured is an Edelmann neon flash lamp, which were sold for use in ignition timing lights and are reasonably available on Ebay. Low current tests yielded a slightly orange glow, so there may be some argon in the mix as well, but it doesn't really show up at higher powers (same as what happens to overdriven neon indicators). The electrodes are simple straight wires, and the lamp is not equipped with an ignition antenna. Here it is powered continuously on a driver from a TCP 3W cold cathode fluorescent lamp. This new assembly consumes about 4.2W when running, the lamp gets decently warm and electrode sputtering is beginning to become visible. Luckily this driver plays nice with dimmers, making it easy to lower the intensity to a desired level. All that was needed was to simply model and 3D print a connecting piece to put the lamp and driver together, and voila! This is the first time I have been bathed in the beautiful red glow of (relatively) pure neon, instead of that orangey color that comes from the penning mixture in neon indicators. The light is decently bright. This idea was inspired by a drawing I made almost exactly a year ago, I could post it to Off-Topic if any of you are interested. Got mercury, got sodium, got xenon, now I got neon, what's next? Keywords: Lamps

Neon Flash Lamp with Integrated CCFL Driver


The lamp pictured is an Edelmann neon flash lamp, which were sold for use in ignition timing lights and are reasonably available on Ebay. Low current tests yielded a slightly orange glow, so there may be some argon in the mix as well, but it doesn't really show up at higher powers (same as what happens to overdriven neon indicators). The electrodes are simple straight wires, and the lamp is not equipped with an ignition antenna.

Here it is powered continuously on a driver from a TCP 3W cold cathode fluorescent lamp. This new assembly consumes about 4.2W when running, the lamp gets decently warm and electrode sputtering is beginning to become visible. Luckily this driver plays nice with dimmers, making it easy to lower the intensity to a desired level.

All that was needed was to simply model and 3D print a connecting piece to put the lamp and driver together, and voila! This is the first time I have been bathed in the beautiful red glow of (relatively) pure neon, instead of that orangey color that comes from the penning mixture in neon indicators. The light is decently bright. This idea was inspired by a drawing I made almost exactly a year ago, I could post it to Off-Topic if any of you are interested.

Got mercury, got sodium, got xenon, now I got neon, what's next?

Screenshot_2026-05-17_180135.png Screenshot_2026-05-10_110023.png
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Keywords:Lamps
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Date added:17 May 2026
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Tuopeek   [Mon 18 May 2026 at 07:33]
Not too surprising there is a touch of argon in the neon, this make the electronics simpler reducing the ignition voltage slightly. Still looks very 'neon' though. The compact housing result is nice.
Ria   [Mon 18 May 2026 at 12:01]
Very nice, you should look at trying to find some of the Philips spectral lamps Cool
Drew   [Mon 18 May 2026 at 13:39]
@Tuopeek
Thanks! Yeah a part of me hoped that it would just be pure neon, but luckily it looks nice and red at these currents.

@Ria
Those seem to come with a hefty price tag Laughing! Though I do have a habit of finding things for unreasonably low prices. Real spectral lamps like those would definitely be amazing to have, I will keep an eye out for them.
Ria   [Mon 18 May 2026 at 15:28]
Yeah, that set of 10 cost us £100 each, which isn't too bad I suppose. Andy (Photonicinduction) said we could probably double our money if we sold them, but we have no plans to do that Mr. Green
AgentHalogen_87   [Mon 18 May 2026 at 20:28]
Very nice creation! It's great you're able to create physical items form your drawing ideas Smile
Sammi   [Mon 18 May 2026 at 22:12]
How about this if you want to be bathed in neon... Wonder
Drew   [Tue 19 May 2026 at 00:25]
@Ria
You almost certainly could, from what I am seeing that is a very good price.

@AgentHalogen_87
There are just so many things I want to do with lighting, and I would really like to get some glassblowing and processing equipment to be able to do them but that just isn't possible right now. One day I want to handmake a HPMV lamp, the materials necessary for that are surprisingly accessible, I have it all planned out in my head and might make a drawing of it. Many other ideas are on my bucket list (LPS and of course neon signs).

@Sammi
Gosh I remember when I first saw Photon's video of that, it made me go insane! That lamp is just incredible
Ria   [Tue 19 May 2026 at 00:37]
Well worth the price we paid (which I won't say here, but 1, 2, 3, LOTS might cover it) Mr. Green
Max   [Sun 24 May 2026 at 06:54]
Very well done, Drew! I really like the idea, the creativity, and it looks professionally made too. Note however that argon is not the reason for the different colors of neon lamps. The argon content in Ar-Ne Penning mixtures is just too low (from 0.5 to 1.5 %) to affect the discharge's spectral characteristics. It's the fill pressure and current density, which in turn determine the electron energy distribution in the discharge, which affect the optical emission spectrum, i.e., the color of the emitted light. Moreover, low-pressure glow discharges are never homogeneous, there are different parts characterized with different plasma properties resulting in different light colors. For neon discharges, including those of the Penning type, the color of the main section, called the positive column, ranges from deep red to orangish-red, while the color of the negative (cathodic) glow is orange due to the much higher electron energy there. The reason why small clear neon indicator lamps are orange is because the electrode gap length is too small to permit the development of the positive column, there is only a negative glow at the cathode (you see two of them on AC mains due to the alternating polarity of the electrodes). Your lamp operates mostly with a positive column and with the right current and pressure to produce a deep red light color.
Drew   [Mon 25 May 2026 at 01:20]
@Max
Whaaaaaat?! You just turned my world upside down. I thought neon-argon penning was orange and pure neon was red, I thought any orange showing up in neon was due to impurities! My gosh, your explanation makes so much more sense! Thanks for letting me know

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