Old Son Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 I have three lights on my AC panel, one shows power on and the other two need to be lit to show correct polarity. One of the lights have failed and I would like to replace it. The neon has a resister built in and I cant see what colour bands it has on it. Also, are these neon's fit all or do I need a specific size to fit into my existing red enclosures mounted in the panel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUMPY Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 (edited) They all fit in a 1/4 inch hole, don't worry about the resistor it's part of the lamp Cable colour indicates voltage Red =230v Available here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ONE-240v-NEON-Indicator-panel-mount-choose-colour-NEOx240-/183610656221? If you use led ones they will give false indication if there is more than a volt on the earth which is often in marinas Edited September 12, 2021 by Loddon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Son Posted September 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Thanks Loddon, much appreciated. The link you sent does not have red units but I've found a different supplier and asked them to confirm my neon's ate the same as theirs. Is it worth buying a spare? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUMPY Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 I would but then I have boxes of "spares" in my workshop 😎 In reality it might be years before you need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Old Son said: I have three lights on my AC panel, one shows power on and the other two need to be lit to show correct polarity. One of the lights have failed and I would like to replace it. Is it possible that the polarity is now incorrect, rather than the neon being knackered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Son Posted September 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Hi Jen, I get the same result when I am on Inverter and on two different shore connections. Can I ask one last question on this subject? The two lights at the bottom show the polarity is correct. The light on the right actually flashes most of the time. It has done since I've owned the boat, some 11 years and the vast majority of that time the boat is connected to shore power. Could this be a fault with the neon? I have checked the connections and they are tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 1 minute ago, Old Son said: Hi Jen, I get the same result when I am on Inverter and on two different shore connections. Can I ask one last question on this subject? The two lights at the bottom show the polarity is correct. The light on the right actually flashes most of the time. It has done since I've owned the boat, some 11 years and the vast majority of that time the boat is connected to shore power. Could this be a fault with the neon? I have checked the connections and they are tight. yes, its how they fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Son Posted September 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Thanks for all your responses. I will also replace the flashing neon and hopefully I'll have three working red lights for the foreseeable future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st ade Posted September 13, 2021 Report Share Posted September 13, 2021 Out of technical interest (and not necessarily at the OP) - presumably the two "When both lit" are L-N and L-E, what's the need for another "power on"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Nibble Posted September 13, 2021 Report Share Posted September 13, 2021 9 hours ago, 1st ade said: Out of technical interest (and not necessarily at the OP) - presumably the two "When both lit" are L-N and L-E, what's the need for another "power on"? Further, if that is a neon lamp (and it looks like it) how is it polarity sensitive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted September 13, 2021 Report Share Posted September 13, 2021 3 minutes ago, Sir Nibble said: Further, if that is a neon lamp (and it looks like it) how is it polarity sensitive? I wondered what the power applied one was for too. The polarity sensing is by 2 neons, wired line to neutral and line to earth so that the polarity is correct when both lit. I don't like the idea as it puts several milliamps onto the earth wire, not the best idea with a boat in water! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUMPY Posted September 13, 2021 Report Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) Mine are on the mains input and are wired with an orange one L-N and a red one N-E so only one lit under normal circumstances and when the red one is on its bad. There is also a second orange one post Inverter/charger to show there is power there when not on shore line. All the distribution I have built for industry over the years uses orange for power on and red for failure/danger. There is probably a standard about it somewhere. Edited September 13, 2021 by Loddon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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