DDR Marque Lamps

ArcadeTechGW

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Donor 5 years: 2012, 2022-2025
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I've been working on a DDR (Konami) game, 6th mix. I fixed the worst problem (somehow, the top speaker harness was disconnected).

While I was up there, it was hard not to notice the two dead marquee lamps - they were Japanese lamps (metric size), so I ordered them from someone on epay, and he sent along the FL-20SSW18s.

I installed them, and nothing. I'm suspecting the starters have gone (FG1E), but I'll check power to the displays first.

Does anyone have experience with these? What is the most popular failure mode - the starter or the ballast or what?

Natch, it's a beautiful, Japanese ballast as well. This will be fun.
 
Lamps first, starters second, balast third.

Technically it's recomended to replace the starter at the same time as the lamp. In the real world that does not matter much.

Any reputable light bulb supplier should be able to get you both the starter and the ballast.
You could also just convert it to regular lamp / starter / ballast combo.

Also, if its the push in style of fixture (vs twist), I've had the ends lose spring tension over time.
 
if the speakers were disconnected, id make damn sure these ballasts actually have power to them as well. Id try starters next if your power is ok.

You could always say f-itall and get one/several cheapie under cabinet light fixtures, install, done.


http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

The last one if your basic 18 inch, $10 light. Easy to find bumbs for, easy to throw away when the ballast dies. I have no idea how big a ddr marquee is but you could stick several of these togther if needed, just depends on how much room you have.
 
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The starters were a weird one that I can't get locally - by the time I went through shipping, they cost almost as much as a new electronic ballast.

So, I'm installing new, e-ballasts in the head. I'm tired of messing with these old POS magnetic ballasts. I'm around 10 butt splices and 4 screws away from lighting this back off again.
 
A quick trip to Menards netted me two new e-ballasts. I cut out the starter wires, and wired them up, and viola! Let there be light!

So, I start looking at the old ballasts.

100 volts.
50 hz

No wonder they smoked. I checked the AC in - 120 v AC, solid, 59.99 hz.

Darn things don't like to be run at 120% of rated voltage!
 
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