Kangaroo/Atari marquee light

smonroe

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Bulb worked some of the time. Replaced the starter and bulb and it worked great for about a week, then died. So I replaced the ballast. Still nothing. Did the bad ballast blow out the bulb or should I look at replacing the sockets? Fuse? What am I missing?
 
Bulb worked some of the time. Replaced the starter and bulb and it worked great for about a week, then died. So I replaced the ballast. Still nothing. Did the bad ballast blow out the bulb or should I look at replacing the sockets? Fuse? What am I missing?

The problem is that ballast has been trying to start that bulb for so long it is probably wore out.

I have seen this many times and if you don't replace the bulbs (the ones with some black on the ends and will not light right) very soon they will eventually kill the ballast.
 
The problem is that ballast has been trying to start that bulb for so long it is probably wore out.

I have seen this many times and if you don't replace the bulbs (the ones with some black on the ends and will not light right) very soon they will eventually kill the ballast.

In my experience, you KNOW when a ballast goes out : they stink like crazy and fill the room with a powerfull odor, even the small ones. If it didn't smell when you took it out it was probably fine.

Brian.
 
No odor, but I have been removing the overlay on the pc10 (which stinks) so ard to say. If replacing the bulb doesn't work, what's the next step?
 
I've always just hit Home Depot and buy a GE 18" plastic under the cabinet light for about $10-12 and just splice that in. Seems to work very well.

Anthony
 
Replace the whole fixture, be done with it.. Home Depot, Walmart, whatever.. I used to try and fix the original ones, wasted way to much time and effort..
 
Replace the whole fixture, be done with it.. Home Depot, Walmart, whatever.. I used to try and fix the original ones, wasted way to much time and effort..

Really? I would expect them to be about the same amount of effort, and probably similar costs. So why not keep the original?
 
Really? I would expect them to be about the same amount of effort, and probably similar costs. So why not keep the original?

fix it once and be done with it. The older ones are old with frail sockets. If you replace it now it should be good for 30+ years and replacements should be available. Probably lighter too.

Things get old, wear out and break.

If it is an easy fix, I would keep the original. If it is something you need working now, I would replace the fixture, take original and place in a shed to look at later. After tripping over and moving several times, I would take to the metal scrap yard.
 
I had trouble finding the plastic sockets, as they get dried out and crack easily.. Ballast and starters were easy to find.. Just remember replacing almost all the parts and wiring just to have the socket break on me.. So that's why I just buy a new fixture..
 
I had trouble finding the plastic sockets, as they get dried out and crack easily.. Ballast and starters were easy to find.. Just remember replacing almost all the parts and wiring just to have the socket break on me.. So that's why I just buy a new fixture..

Yeah, I understand.

BTW, Bob Roberts caries replacements for the sockets. Two for $2.50.
 
After replacing the ballast, went ahead and checked voltage. Everything looked good, so I put in a new bulb. Boom! Hasn't been that bright ever. So I'm concluding the ballast was going out, and took the bulb with it. Learned something new...

Interesting debate about refurbish vs. replacing. Always a hard question to ask.
 
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