Re: novelty bulb

[chuck britton <Britton@NCSSM.EDU>]

At 1:54 PM -0700 7/24/02, William Beaty wrote:
> It's like a large version of a neon pilot light.

>  The base of these bulbs becomes warm, so they probably have a
> current-limiting resistor in the base.

       yup - since the 'resistence' of the ionized gas is mighty low
- a current limiting R (or a ballast of SOME kind) is required. (see
below)

> >  3. there is no discharge 'ray' between the orange electrodes at their
> >  point of least (4 mm)separation.
>
> I think that a "ray" would exist if you could remove the series resistor
> and crank up the current to a very high level.  But I'm not sure.

       Take my word for it - removing (or just 'forgetting' to
provide a current limiter) makes an innocent little Ne-2 explode with
the sound of a twenty two. When making a nightlight for a newborn
daughter - one should NOT forget the  resistor!!