So I’ve got a rather large neon sign, of which half is burnt out. It’s powered by two 5000v transformers, of which, I assume one is burnt out. So after figuring out which one it is, I’ll replace it. I did some real quick looking around on ebay and noticed I couldn’t find any 5000v transformers. My question is, can I use something slightly higher or lower. I’ve found 4000 and 6000 volts but no 5000v. What about the other ratings on it like amps, should I keep that the same or is a little higher/lower ok. I forgot to look at the amps when I was cheking them out but I noticed they are quite large transformers, about half the size of a cinder block or so. The last time I changed a neon sign transfomer it was a 9000 volt transfomer and about the size of a brick. This was for a smaller (but three color) sign. Anyways, if at all possible, I’ll find one that’s exactly the same, but if I can’t, what should I look for?
Try to match the voltage as closely as possible. Overvoltage can lead to excessive current and overheating, shortening the life of the tube, and undervoltage puts strain on the transformer and may not be sufficient to ignite the tube. Plus or minus 500 volts or so should be fine. Current rating should be equal to or greater than the original.