Outdoor Neon Signs Guide
An Introduction To Outdoor Neon Signs
Outdoor neon signs are a brilliant way to advertise. Whether you need to draw attention to your newly opened business, add some bright and colourful signage to an outdoor event, or simply direct your customers to different areas of your establishment, outdoor neon signs can serve an endless array of applications.
These signs can also be applied to all sorts of industries and contexts, which is why the use of this traditional light signage is so popular – whether you’re a musician looking for some funky lighting at your next concert, or a restaurant owner hoping to spruce up your boring old ‘no smoking’ sign, outdoor neon lights certainly deserve your consideration.
Outdoor neon signs also raise a few frequently asked questions, which we intend to tackle in this brief guide. Keep reading to learn a little more about Carousel Lights and how we can light up your life with our much talked-about outdoor neon signs.
Know Your Neon Signage
Before we get into indoor versus outdoor use, you need to first understand the difference between two types of outdoor neon signs that we offer at Carousel Lights. In the custom lighting and signage industry, outdoor neon signs generally fall into two major categories: traditional and LED. You may hear people speaking about ‘real neon’, which is the traditional kind, whilst ‘fake neon’ or ‘faux neon’ refers to the LED alternative. The difference is in the type of science or technology used to create the artificial lighting. We’ll explore the basic distinctions below.
Traditional Glass Neon Signs
When we speak about ‘traditional’ exterior neon signs, we mean the real deal, which uses actual Neon or Argon gas to create light. What does that mean? Well, real neon signs are made with hand-bent glass tubes that are filled with gas. First, we get our hands on glass tubes which we heat and bend in-house. Then, we place electrodes on either end of the tubes and vacuum pump the air out of them.
Next, we use an electrical charge to remove any impurities in the tube, after which we fill the tube with Argon or Neon gases (which are inert and 100% safe). The electrodes are then sealed and those sections of the glass are complete. Once turned on, the inner gas is placed in an electrical field, and it’s this electricity that causes the gas to glow, creating that unmistakable neon effect that is so sought after. Neon and Argon, when electrified, glow in red and blue colours respectively.
LED Neon Signs
Although LED neon signs have ‘neon’ in the name, the truth is that they are not really neon at all. Whether it’s LED neon flex or LED Neon Ultra®, neither contain the chemical element: Neon gas. When we talk about ‘neon’ in the industry, we actually mean any kind of light that has been designed to create a neon effect. But these are simply semantics, and both ‘real’ and ‘fake’ neon produce a similar recognisable glow. Where traditional neon is made with glass tubes filled with real neon or argon gas, LED neon makes use of LED strips which are housed in silicon or PVC tubes or use simple LED flex.
Neon Ultra®
We offer two different types of LED outdoor neon signs, one of which is called Neon Ultra®. Neon Ultra® is a premium type of signage that uses solid opal acrylic and high-efficiency LEDs to give off that signature LED glow. Fit-out contractors, designers, and architects usually prefer this type of LED neon, as it is very robust. The acrylic used is also recyclable, making it more desirable in some cases. Touring productions in theatre and music often used this kind of LED neon. This is more of a premium option and is more expensive than Neon SuperFlex.
Neon SuperFlex
The second type of LED outdoor neon signs we offer is called Neon SuperFlex, a custom-made signage product that uses LED strip lights made right here in the UK. For our Neon SuperFlex signs we print out a 100% scale drawing of your drawing and then fix lengths of LED flex to acrylic to replicate your shape. A low-voltage transformer sits between the mains power supply and the LED neon flex, bringing your design to life. This is a great value neon-effect sign as it’s the cheapest neon that we offer.
Outdoor Neon Signs: Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the questions we get asked the most frequently by our prospective customers when it comes to bespoke lights and outdoor neon signs. If you have any further questions you need answers to, feel free to get in contact with us and one of our dedicated team members will be happy to assist you.
Can You Put Neon Lights Outside?
As we have now discussed, there are real neon lights and LED neon, the latter of which is sometimes referred to as faux neon or fake neon. So, whether real or faux, can neon lights be used outdoors? The short answer is yes, absolutely all neon signs can be placed outside. We just need to know in advance as it means we’ll make them in the appropriate manner.
Is It Okay To Put Neon Signs Outdoors?
You can absolutely put neon lights outside if your provider has assured you that said lights are suitable for the outdoors and can withstand the elements. Traditional neon lights have been used outdoors for years, but it’s always best to check with your provider just to be certain. At Carousel Lights, our traditional and faux neon signs can both be used outside and stand up to all sorts of weather conditions.
Can Neon Signs Get Wet?
The level of water-resistance can vary between neon signage, but most outdoor neon signs can handle a bit of rain water with no consequences. With that being said, you can’t submerge your neon signs for whatever reason, waterproof or otherwise.
Weatherproof Outdoor Neon Lights
At Carousel Lights, we produce custom-made neon signs, which means we need to know, upfront, that your signage will be used outside. This helps us ensure the final product is suitable for the outdoors and will not be damaged by weather conditions while exposed to the elements.
While most neon lights are fine to use outside, we like to know upfront so that we can install the correct transformers and ensure the correct weather-proofing is used. Most of the tubing used in neon lights may be designed to weather the elements, but it is the attached transformers that make all the difference. Some transformers should not be exposed to the outdoors, and thus need to be protected with a kind of housing to safeguard electrical components, wiring, and the likes.
If your business requires outdoor neon signs specifically, we will most likely use our Siet neon transformers which are outdoor-rated and do not require protective housing to live out in the garden. For indoor neon signs, we make use of Hansen neon transformers, which are small, electronic, and usually better suited to interiors.
Does Neon Use A Lot Of Electricity?
Of course, each individual neon and LED product is different, and each comes with its own wattage and level of energy consumption. Generally speaking, LED neon is more energy efficient as it runs on a lower voltage than traditional or real neon and thus can be cheaper to run overall. That said, it all depends on the individual product.
Outdoor Neon Signage & Energy Consumption Concerns
If you are struggling to decide between real and faux neon lighting, it is always best to speak to your provider and ask for a consumption comparison. At Carousel Lights, our experts can advise you on which type of outdoor neon sign will be more energy efficient to run, depending on the type and size of signage you require.
Are Outdoor Neon Signs Battery Operated?
Our outdoor neon signs are not battery operated and instead plug into a transformer that connects to your main power supply. This is because our outdoor neon signs require a continuous source of energy. The light boxes we offer, on the other hand, can be operated via battery but this does add significantly to the cost.
Make A Bold Statement With Outdoor Neon Signs
Now that you know the difference between traditional neon and LED neon lights, let’s get into the various types of neon wall art we sell across both categories.
Light It Up With Neon Art
For decades, artists have been finding new and creative ways to use neon lighting in their designs, artworks, and exhibitions, incorporating both real neon signs and the LED kind. This type of wall art has become known as ‘light art’ or ‘neon art’ and has taken off in recent years. We have had the pleasure of working with some renowned names in the world of neon art, including The Royal Academy and Science UK, who we helped to bring their respective visions to life. We’ve produced neon for some of the World’s most famous artists and celebrities but lots of them swear us to secrecy!
Say Your Piece In Neon Writing
One of the most common and well-known uses for neon lighting and outdoor neon signs is neon writing. Since neon was invented, it has been used time and time again to create signage for all kinds of different establishments, from clubs and bars to real estate and large corporations.
If you need an outdoor neon sign for your business, we can work with either a script or blocks style font in various colours and sizes. The entire process can be customised according to your needs, so rest assured your vision will become a dazzling reality when you work with Carousel Lights.
Simply tell us the font you would like to use, the colours you want to see, and the size, shape, and style of the sign, and we will handle the rest. We are well known for our high-quality customisations – whether you’re aiming for an art installation, wedding decoration, or simply some funky additions to your home, with Carousel Lights, the possibilities are virtually endless.
Large Outdoor Neon Signs: Let Carousel Lights Illuminate You
Now that you know everything there is to know about outdoor neon signs, let’s help you get to know Carousel Lights. We are committed to providing exceptional quality lighting and a high level of customer service – which is precisely why we’re the leading supplier of outdoor neon signs in the entirety of the UK. With years of experience under our belt and a dedicated team with a wealth of expertise, it’s no wonder that thousands of customers trust us with their lighting needs.
We offer our services across a wide range of sectors, which include sports and entertainment, commercial building and development, retail, and much more, with diverse clients including event managers, influencers, architects and set designers – to name a few. From stadiums and event spaces to hotels, theatres, and residential interiors, Carousel Lights can (and has) done it all. We’ve serviced numerous major brands in the history of Carousel Lights, from L’Oreal to Disney to Nike, and everything in between.
The team at Carousel Lights has been going strong for 30 combined years, and we are very proud to say that we’ve been selected for multiple industry awards in that time. We were even publicly recognised by No. 10 Downing Street for our part in supporting the NHS during the coronavirus epidemic. As a family-run business, these achievements are a great source of pride – but it’s our sterling reputation amongst our broad customer base that means the most to us.
Do not hesitate to reach out today and commission the perfect outdoor neon sign for your purposes. Big or small, real neon or faux, we are an established provider in the UK and an award-winning business that can help you elevate just about any space with our custom neon signs.
Call us at 01372 662299, or email [email protected] to speak to one of our expert consultations and brighten up your space with our neon signs.