Is a neon sign damaged if there are dark tube sections dimly lit?
When a neon sign is first turned on, it takes fifteen to thirty minutes for the sign to become fully bright. Also, neon is hand bent. This normally causes small variations in the tube diameters which affect brightness. If the problem persists, the sign may need to be “bombarded”. That is, a neon shop worker temporarily attaches a higher voltage source and lights the neon sign for a few minutes to redistribute the interior tube coating, or correct any internal mercury migration. That usually solves the problem.
