DIYbanter - View Single Post - NE-2 neon bulbs

N_Cook

On 09/11/2017 09:10, wrote:
Another thread on here mentions the NE-2 neon bulbs. I remember those
going back to the 60s. They have never changed, but worked well for
testers or indicators if you did not want brightness.

But I always wondered, was there a NE-1, or a NE-3? I always wondered
why they are called NE-2? I have never seen any other number after the
NE-.

One thing about them, if they were used for continuous use, such as a
nightlight. Eventually they get weak and die. They usually flicker
first. I had a nightlight with one of them that eventually did no longer
light, but if the room's lights were turned on, then it would light. I
recall showing that goofy thing to a friend and telling him it was
retarded. We got some good laughs out of that thing...

I have a trusty old Coutant bench ps. For perhaps 15 or 20 years the
neon mains-on indicator has never worked, unless it is pitch black dark
in the room and then it would regularly flash on and off. If something
had gone functionally wrong with it at some point I'd have fixed that
and also replaced the neon. It looks fine , not like the blackened
things (but still working) I've seen as electric-fence very HV indicators