Installed a Black Light White Bulb in Space Invaders...

joetechbob

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Installed a Black Light White Bulb in Space Invaders...

I wasn't very impressed with the "depth effect" on my recently acquired Space Invaders, so I switched out the existing Black Light Blue bulb with a Black Light White bulb (as I read was intended)...And wow! What a difference.

Unfortunately, one side effect of this is that the plastic around the edge of the moon is slightly visible (as-well-as some of the defects on the cardboard background). Is this normal when the BLW bulb is installed? Did I just buy too bright of a bulb?
 
I'm curious to hear more about these bulbs. I recently bought a blacklight bulb replacement for my Asteroids Deluxe, and I'm not really all that impressed with how it turned out. It just doesn't seem all that bright...

I even pulled the 2-way glass out, sliced up my fingertips pretty good, cleaned both sides of the glass, and it STILL isn't really "jumping out" at me like some of the machines I have seen. I think my Space Invaders Deluxe bulb seems brighter...
 
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For those who don't want to read my long-winded post, this is the bulb I picked up (couldn't find one locally): http://www.amazon.com/GE-35884-F15T...ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1339091623&sr=1-1
>

Well, basically what happened is that I had read on brentradio.com (http://www.brentradio.com/SpaceInvaders.htm) that SI originally used black light "white" bulbs instead of black light "blue" bulbs. I hadn't really gotten into black lights yet, so I did a little research and found that basically black light "white" bulbs don't have a filter like black light "blue" bulbs, do. This filter gives black light "blue" bulbs their blue appearance and effectively limits the amount of visible (non-UV) light that they emit--black light "white" lights look basically like regular bulbs due to their lack of a filter.

I checked my SI machine and I had the "blue" variety installed. This made the moon glow, but I got very little from the cardboard back drop--basically the little white galaxies glowed, but that was it. Without the well-lit backdrop, the game basically had more of a "projected on a wall" look to it, verses a much more dramatic hovering/hologram type of effect like I had seen in other reflected games like Omega Race.

Before ordering the "white" variety I tested my theory by placing my phone with its camera flash fixed on alongside of the black light "blue" bulb. *Big* difference even with just that little bit of extra light.

With the black light "white" bulb installed my wife even said "wow"--the game actually looks like it's hovering in the middle of the cabinet. The effect will pair quite nicely with the Asteroids machine I'm going to park SI next to :).

P.S. I also sliced the sh*t out of one of my fingers when cleaning the mirror. Where's the warning label on that thing! ;)
 
The confusion comes into play because Black Light bulbs are just that. Black Light. They are listed as BL.

But BL bulbs put out to much visible light as well as the <450nm light..
So the BLB or Black Light Blue bulb was created. It filters nearly all the >450nm thus you only see the <450nm light.

So Black light is Physically White and you won't find them at the local hardware store.

Black Light Blue is Physically Purple/Dark Blue and you can over pay for them at almost any hardware store.

I've personally put BL lights, in Battlezone, Asteroids Deluxe, Omega Race, Space Invaders Deluxe, it provides better viewing of the art, and more depth and color.

Black light bulbs.
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/54486/F-15T08BL.html

Black Light Blue Bulbs.
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/93/F-15T08BLB.html

Your regular Florescent bulb.
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/1067/F-15T08D.html

I tend to go with 1000Bulbs because I can pick them up local.

Hopefully this clears up some confusion, or at least creates more.
 
So question. On my SI, the light is so "white/bright" toward the bottom that it's hard to see the player's ship. Does this mean I have the wrong bulb? (I realize I could dig in myself but taking the lazy way out and asking first. Sorry.)
 
There is a bit of a hot spot right there at the bottom of the moon.
I am completely guessing. It is possible the moon itself is letting more light through due to years of exposure to the light. reproductions don't seem to be available at the moment. I would fashion a little cardboard shield or put a piece of black electrical tape on bulb area facing lower part of moon.
 
My newly acquired Taito SI had a purple blacklight in it. Someone told me i needed an aqarium light. Best place to shop local on the cheap? Hardware store, aquarium store, target?
 
My newly acquired Taito SI had a purple blacklight in it. Someone told me i needed an aqarium light. Best place to shop local on the cheap? Hardware store, aquarium store, target?

Just get the Arcadeshop one. It's perfect. Direct replacement. You will be happy!


Fwiw I tried an aquarium light. It sucked. Way too bright.
 
Just get the Arcadeshop one. It's perfect. Direct replacement. You will be happy!


Fwiw I tried an aquarium light. It sucked. Way too bright.
It's for a Taito UR, I don't know if they used the same bulb.. I had a link somewhere for a drop-in, I'll look for it.
 
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