Photo Gallery

Home > User galleries > Max > Random lamp of the day
Return to the thumbnail page FILE 6/33 Return to start See previous file See next file Skip to end
RLOD#28 (2020.06.06) 1995 Claude Obsta HI The Obsta is a special neon discharge lamp aimed at obstruction lighting applications. Created in France in 1939 by Fernand Courdil at Claude Paz & Silva (Georges Claude is the inventor of the neon discharge tube), this lamp features a helical burner, a coaxial gas reservoir, and hollow cathodes. This design ensures a service life in excess of 100 kh, suitable for hard-to-reach locations where maintenance is particularly difficult. A fully sealed lamp construction with an IP66 rating guarantees a reliable service under all weather conditions. Interestingly, the lamp circuit is protected from intense electric fields (e.g. nearby lighting strikes and HV lines) by a metallic mesh around the discharge tube, which acts as a Faraday cage. This also blocks any electromagnetic emission from the neon discharge, thus preventing interferences with communication equipment installed in the vicinity. The HI (Haute Intensité) variant shown here was introduced in the second half of the 1970s for very tall structures (industrial chimneys, communication towers, etc.) and was phased out in 2007, replaced by a fully integrated variant with an electronic driver (the STI), and then by LEDs. Keywords: Lamps

RLOD#28 (2020.06.06) 1995 Claude Obsta HI


The Obsta is a special neon discharge lamp aimed at obstruction lighting applications. Created in France in 1939 by Fernand Courdil at Claude Paz & Silva (Georges Claude is the inventor of the neon discharge tube), this lamp features a helical burner, a coaxial gas reservoir, and hollow cathodes. This design ensures a service life in excess of 100 kh, suitable for hard-to-reach locations where maintenance is particularly difficult. A fully sealed lamp construction with an IP66 rating guarantees a reliable service under all weather conditions. Interestingly, the lamp circuit is protected from intense electric fields (e.g. nearby lighting strikes and HV lines) by a metallic mesh around the discharge tube, which acts as a Faraday cage. This also blocks any electromagnetic emission from the neon discharge, thus preventing interferences with communication equipment installed in the vicinity. The HI (Haute Intensité) variant shown here was introduced in the second half of the 1970s for very tall structures (industrial chimneys, communication towers, etc.) and was phased out in 2007, replaced by a fully integrated variant with an electronic driver (the STI), and then by LEDs.
2020-06-08_Philips_DL3521745.jpg 2020-06-07_Philips_HPV02_60W.jpg 2020-06-06_Claude_Obsta_HI.jpg 2020-06-05_GE_150PAR21FL21B.jpg 2020-06-01_Philips_6004S.jpg
Lamp/Fixture Information
Manufacturer:Claude (CITEL)
Model Reference:Obsta HI 00653
Lamp
Lamp Type:Neon low pressure
Filament/Radiator Type:Nonthermal discharge in neon and argon
Base:Plug
Shape/Finish:Tubular clear, with metallic mesh
Service Life:100+ kh
Burning Position:Vertical (set by the application)
Electrical
Wattage:68 W (system with HV leak transformer)
Voltage:230 V (system)
Current:0.87 A (system)
Physical/Production
Dimensions:392L x 48Ø mm
Factory Location:Reims, France
Fabrication Date:March 1995
Application/Use:Obstruction lighting
File information
Filename:2020-06-06_Claude_Obsta_HI.jpg
Album name:Max / Random lamp of the day
Keywords:Lamps
Filesize:351 KiB
Date added:16 Dec 2025
Dimensions:800 x 1200 pixels
Displayed:311 times
URL:https://trad-lighting.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=1070
Favourites:Add to Favourites

Comment 1 to 5 of 5
Page: 1

Tuopeek   [Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 20:41]
That’s an interesting design with the Faraday cage. Not seen that before. I found a complete neon obstruction light on eBay a number of years ago but it arrived with the neon smashed as it wasn’t locked in its socket and had been rattled inside during transport. Have thought of making a tube for it as they are no longer produced. However, a spiral of neon tube glass is slightly tricky for my amateur skills. I am surprised more were not in Faraday style cages as they can become a RF noise generator. Intentionally manufactured neon, and similar, tubes designed to generate RF noise can be found for old military equipment. I think they tended to have one thermal cathode. Apparently, a fluorescent tube can be used for the purpose. Maybe try that at some point.
Ria   [Wed 17 Dec 2025 at 00:49]
Another fascinating lamp, never seen this before Very Happy
Max   [Wed 17 Dec 2025 at 08:06]
I've always wanted one ever since I first saw them when I was little. However, their use is quite niche and they are certainly not designed to fail, so it took several decades before I could lay my hands on one of them (but boy, was I happy when I finally got one).

Tuopeek - Gas discharges can be a strong source of EMI indeed. I was recently involved in a project that dealt with that issue in xenon flash lamp systems. You'd think that it would be the sudden capacitor discharge that would cause problems... it turned out that the lamp emits powerful EMIs in the trailing edge of the current waveform, well after the peak, as a result of a plasma-cathode phenomenon (charge oscillation in the cathodic sheath). The issue was resolved by disconnecting the lamp below a certain minimum current level. I also remember that this was an issue with xenon-MH automotive lamps, especially those of the mercury-free kind (same underlying cause but cyclic due the AC current feed, and during startup when xenon still dominates the plasma operation).
Sammi   [Wed 17 Dec 2025 at 13:35]
You really have some beautiful lampses in your collection. Love Mind Blown
Max   [Wed 17 Dec 2025 at 19:57]
I'm quite happy with what I managed to collect over the years indeed Cool

Comment 1 to 5 of 5
Page: 1