Izibane ze-neon zigqamile, iityhubhu zeglasi ezikhanyayo okanye iibhalbhu ezizaliswe ngumaleko omncinci we-neon okanye ezinye iigesi ezinqabileyo; zizibane zokukhupha igesi ebandayo yecathode. Ityhubhu ye-neon yityhubhu yeglasi evaliweyo ene-electrode kuzo zombini iziphelo, ezaliswe yigesi-yoxinzelelo oluphantsi. I-voltage yamawaka aliqela e-volts isetyenziswa kwii-electrode, i-ionizing igesi embhobho kwaye ibangela ukuba ikhuphe ukukhanya. Umbala wokukhanya uxhomekeke kwirhasi kwi-tube. Ukukhanya kweNeon luguqulelo lwesibane se-neon; Igesi ye-neon, igesi enqabileyo, ikhupha ukukhanya oku-orenji okuthandwayo -kukukhanya okubomvu, kodwa ezinye iigesi zivelisa imibala eyahlukileyo, njenge-hydrogen (ebomvu), i-helium (epinki), i-carbon dioxide (emhlophe), kunye nomphunga we-mercury (blue).
Izibane zeNeon ziinzwakazi zesixeko; busuku ngabunye, xa kurhatyela nezibane zikhanya, izibane ezimibalabala zeneon zihombisa isixeko ngobuhle obungaqhelekanga.
