120VAC pilot lamps are now led...

[Externet]

Hi all.
A couple of years ago, I installed neon pilot lights in all my baseboard heaters, water heater, thermostats... to know their status at any time.

Now I found colored neons are hardly available, as these are in the market:

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http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/LED ... lbs-550078

http://www.ecnmag.com/articles/2012/01/ ... ansformers

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... rchID=4005

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... ?pid=61837
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Some are very small to fit circuitry in their base; is there a new compact method to power them from mains ?

Miguel

[Robert Reed]

ThomasaNet-
Wow-Bayonet base? Any one priced a holder for those recently, its very expensive.
Others-
The neons have these beat trifold in power reduction. Why do they have the nerve to categorize these as GREEN! Don't know how they drop AC resistively (as advertised) as it would take a hefty power resistor drop AC and to dissipate all that heat,certainly wouldn't fit in that tiny package.

I have always used DIALIGHT products for panel indicators (neon) in my AC powered designs
They did and still do come in a variety of colors. Do not know current pricing though.

[Externet]

Power dissipation may be brought down, for a small current as

Phase
120V--------------------|>|--------K------------------/\/\/\/\/-----------------------LED------------------------neutral
ACRMS

At point 'K', we have 60VACRMS, Choosing a 15K resistor for 4 mA RMS, its power is 1/4 Watt RMS.
With not much margin, a quarter watt resistor (plus a 1N4007) could be shoehorned into the base.

4mA does produce a respectable illumination with the newer high efficiency leds.
Now, the reverse voltage protection for the led...

-Unless there is another method that I do not know to drop the voltage and fits compact in the base-
Miguel

[Lenp]

There are many neon indicators, and in colors if you are looking for an 'indicator'
Look here for a starter! http://www.mouser.com/catalog/catalogusd/645/120.pdf

[Robert Reed]

You have done your math right. I suppose (1) 1/4 watt resistor and (2) 1N400x diodes could be squeezed into that housing.Would be poor engineering though and more like a product you would expect to find at you local Walmart

[CeaSaR]

Look at AllElectronics.com. They have neons...

CeaSaR