Neon bulb logic elements link?

[shoppa_classiccmp at trailing-edge.com]

Eric wrote:
> I've just looked at the specification for Chicago Miniature Lamp
> neon bulbs, and it looks like they don't have anything suitable.
> The problem is that the specifications for the "maintain" and
> "breakdown" (start) voltage ranges are too wide, and often there
> is overlap.

This doesn't rule out the use of commodity neon lamps.  It's always
true that V_breakdown > V_maintain.  The specs are just written loosely.

I've built several neon lamp gadgets over the years (I think you saw
my 5-neon-in-a-sequence-flasher in fact) and if you start with a bunch
of bulbs from the same batch you'll end up with matching way better than
you'd expect from just the spec.  Whether or not they're good enough
for a given logic circuit may drive you to hand-match etc.  The same
thing is done with semiconductors, you know :-).

Tim.