Indicator bulb trying to find the data on these bulbs

[be80be]

Indicator bulb trying to find the data on these bulbs maybe neon I don't have many so I'd like to get them to light the first time

 

[Visitor]

If it is neon, the resistance across it will be very high when it's not operating. If the resistance is low, less than a few ohms, it's probably incandescent.

If the resistance is very high or open circuit, it's likely neon.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

It looks like an INS-1

**broken link removed**

Edit - 65V operating, at 0.5mA

Data in this article:

INS-1 - Tiny neon bulb

 

[Visitor]

Nice call rjenkins. It's a nixie tube. There's some discussion about them here, including a link to a Russian datasheet.

 

[be80be]

I was going through some stuff I have and found them I was thinking neon
They basically open 0 resistance

 

[Visitor]

Nixies need about 170VDC to fire.

 

[be80be]

Well 120 volt Ac doesn't light it

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Well 120 volt Ac doesn't light it

Did you use a high value (100's of k) series resistor? (or you 'could' have instantly blown it?).

But assuming they are nixie?, and not neon, then you might not have enough voltage to strike them.

 

[be80be]

yep 220k

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

yep 220k

Get more voltage on it then

Stick a voltage doubler on your low voltage mains.