Neon illumination system

Abstract

The invention is a source of illumination including a lighting tube requiring converted electrical energy in order to provide the illumination. First and second electrical connectors are provided for receiving low voltage DC energy. An energy convertor receives the low voltage DC energy from the first and second electrical connectors and converts it to the converted electrical energy. Electrical leads are coupled to the energy convertor and to the lighting tube for applying the converted electrical energy from the energy converter to the lighting tube. The first and second connectors are electrically coupled in parallel with each other for selectably applying the low voltage DC energy to the energy converter by way of either of the first and second converters. The lighting tube is a gas discharge tube and the first and second electrical connectors are disposed at opposite end regions of the lighting tube. Further electrical connectors are disposed at the opposite end of the tube and connected to the first and second electrical connectors by electrical lines extending within the source of illumination. The energy convertor converts the low voltage DC energy into high voltage, high frequency energy.