Editing Neon lamp (section)

===Limiting current===
Once the neon lamp has reached breakdown, it can support a large current flow. Because of this characteristic, electrical circuitry external to the neon lamp must limit the current through the circuit or else the current will rapidly increase until the lamp is destroyed. 

For indicator-sized lamps, a [[resistor]] typically limits the current. In contrast, larger sized lamps often use a specially constructed high voltage [[transformer]] with high [[leakage inductance]] or other [[electrical ballast]] to limit the available current (see [[neon sign]]).