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Too Cold for Neon?

How to avoid winter dimming of neon signs

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This month’s topic is intended for those readers who live in parts of the United States and Canada, where winter months are damned cold.

When temperatures fall below freezing, outdoor neon signs can turn ugly. Argon/mercury-filled tubes dim in some (or all) parts; they may flicker or show delayed starting. On the other hand, red, neon-filled tubes usually remain unaffected. But what actually causes such dimming problems?

Gas physics

Every type of matter has a condensation point (at a given pressure), where it changes from a gaseous state to either a liquid or solid state. For example, water vapor condensates at atmospheric pressure (1013 mbar) at 212

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