Originally posted by unisys12:
I am not over familiar with the neon's, but couldn't you control the brightness through the use of a variable pot? Then when you get the brightness right, just measure the amount of resistance and add the proper amount of resistors inline and cover with elec tape or shrink tubing.
to answer this directly, neon is basicaly on or off. the voltage applied does nothing until it reaches a threshold, at which point the gas in the tube forms a plasma which allows conduction. The electrons then bash into the heavy molecules in the gas and emit large amounts of light very efficiently. It's similar to HID.
sorry if that was long winded or confusing
