Coin-Door Lamps Blowing

FrizzleFried

Well-known member

Donor 2011
Joined
Mar 20, 2007
Messages
54,193
Reaction score
5,245
Location
NAMPA, Idaho
The coin-door lamps keep blowing in the Wizard of Wor... strange thing is I test +12 at 11.96 at the power supply... and I know it uses that circuit as I managed to short the circuit when I attempted to test at the socket once and it blew... anyone know what it could be? It also blows the left one first then the right one follows...the lamps appear to be running REAL BRIGHT as well!?
 
you are using the correct voltage lamps, of course.

i had this problem on a Dynamo when i assumed 6v lamps and after going through a few i finally metered the circuit and realized i needed 12v lamps. but the symptoms were identical to yours.
 
Yes... I am a dumbass... I am using 44/47's which are 6v it seems... durrr... What is the recommended bulb?
 
That vintage of Midway game uses #1895 miniature lamps which are 12 volt. Available at any auto parts store and sometimes even in the automotive section of grocery stores.

The 1895's are commonly used in aftermarket side marker lights and sometimes dashboard lights.
 
Brain freeze!

Screw the numbers - in a pinch go to Walmart automotive section and buy either bayonet or wedge 12v bulbs.

If not in a pinch, order a box of both from Bob Roberts the next time you make an order. That's what I did.
 
there's a noticeable heat difference between the 194's and 168's. i got a trackball illumination kit from Bob for my Centipede and the glow wasn't real bright with the included 194, so i picked up a 168 from my local electronics store and tried that. much brighter, but it makes the trackball warm to the touch where the 194 did not.

i think the 168's may produce enough heat to damage some plastic parts or coin door inserts, so i've stuck with 194's for all my wedge 12v lamps everywhere else.
 
for wedge bulbs, 168 or 194 bulbs. i have a truckload of led 194 bulbs. look sweet in coin doors.

had me laffing at the use of 44 bulbs. and i've done that. hell, yes, they were bright for their limited life. twice the wattage. i've also thrown 12 volt dc bulbs into 6.3 volt sockets, and think, is this a dim candle?
 
Last edited:
there's a noticeable heat difference between the 194's and 168's. i got a trackball illumination kit from Bob for my Centipede and the glow wasn't real bright with the included 194, so i picked up a 168 from my local electronics store and tried that. much brighter, but it makes the trackball warm to the touch where the 194 did not.

i think the 168's may produce enough heat to damage some plastic parts or coin door inserts, so i've stuck with 194's for all my wedge 12v lamps everywhere else.

Go with the 168 LED and you will not have the heat problem at all.
 
I've gotten the one from Happs and they work really well. The reason I went with Happs is they have a built in resistor. The other places I checked could not confirm a built in resistor and reports by other users had their leds blow after a short amount of time.
 
I've gotten the one from Happs and they work really well. The reason I went with Happs is they have a built in resistor. The other places I checked could not confirm a built in resistor and reports by other users had their leds blow after a short amount of time.

There is a guy on byoac - divemaster - that is a hobbyist level distributor for Happ. Your shipping will be substantially less by going through him, and you can order only a few bucks worth of stuff at a time.
 
There is a guy on byoac - divemaster - that is a hobbyist level distributor for Happ. Your shipping will be substantially less by going through him, and you can order only a few bucks worth of stuff at a time.

Where do you think I got them from?

Although, now that I think about it, it may of been ponyboy.
 
Back
Top Bottom