Product Overview
Chicago Miniature NE-68 Neon Circuit Component & Voltage Reference Lamp
Condition
Sold each. Unused new old stock. Markings legible: CM NE-68 stamped in green. Clear T-2 glass envelope with dual wire leads.
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Product Overview
Chicago Miniature NE-68 is a cold-cathode subminiature neon circuit component and indicator lamp featuring a T-2 tubular glass envelope and flexible wire leads. Designed for low-current circuit duties including voltage regulation, relaxation oscillation, and high-visibility status indication, it operates with an initial DC breakdown voltage of 60 to 90 VDC and a maintaining level of 52 to 65 VDC.
Key Features
- T-2 tubular clear glass envelope construction
- Cold-cathode dual parallel electrode design
- Initial DC breakdown voltage: 60 to 90 VDC
- Initial DC maintaining voltage: 52 to 65 VDC
- Design operating current: 0.10 mA to 0.30 mA
- Dual flexible tinned wire leads for point-to-point or PCB soldering
Applications
- Bench technicians calibrating legacy test instruments, relaxation oscillators, and voltage regulation stages.
- Tube audio and vintage electronics restorers replacing aged neon indicators and trigger lamps in historic gear.
- Electronics hobbyists and makers designing low-power relaxation flashers, analog synth triggers, or high-voltage visual indicators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the NE-68 require a series ballast resistor in indicator circuits?
Yes. When powered from DC or AC mains supplies above breakdown voltage, neon glow lamps require an external series ballast resistor to limit operating current within the rated 0.10 to 0.30 mA range and prevent premature burn-out.
What is the difference between an NE-68 and a standard indicator neon bulb?
Unlike standard indicator-only neon lamps, circuit-component neon lamps like the NE-68 feature tighter tolerances on breakdown and maintaining voltages, making them suitable for active circuit roles such as voltage regulation, timing oscillators, and triggering.
Can the NE-68 substitute directly for 5AC or GE5AC neon lamps?
Yes. The NE-68 shares electrical ratings and T-2 wire-terminal envelope dimensions with the 5AC and GE5AC designations, allowing direct drop-in replacement across matching circuits. The price per piece steps down with quantity, and the price-break table on this page shows each step.
Before microcontrollers handled timing and zener diodes took over reference rails, a tiny glass envelope full of glowing neon did both jobs with pure physics. Solder this one in and watch that warm orange glow go right back to work.
