Lets talk marquee light fixtures.....

That80sGuy

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Ok.. I recently aquired three games with non-working marquee lights. Upon opening them up and inspecting the fixtures..I find them pretty much toast. Any advice on going to Lowe's or Home Depot to purchase replacement fixtures?
 
Ok.. I recently aquired three games with non-working marquee lights. Upon opening them up and inspecting the fixtures..I find them pretty much toast. Any advice on going to Lowe's or Home Depot to purchase replacement fixtures?

Just replace the starter, ballast, and bulb. I do on any game I'm keeping.. those parts are so old, and if they still work are usually on the brink or flaky.
 
While I agree that the walmart job is definitely more cost effective... I guess thats one area where I like to be original... New Ballast, Starter and Bulb is the way to go... Home depot has the ballast... Lowes does not.
 
Well, I've use the $8 under-shelf unit from Home Depot many times at work, and it does do a decent job, but is NOT as nice and bright as the originals.

The ballast is the obvious thing to check first. If it is shorted, the new bulb will flash immediately and then go bad, along with the starter. Find the two wires coming off of it (with power off) and do an ohm-check across those two wires (with the bulb out). It should measure about 25-ohms if good. Under 20-ohms or over 30-ohms and you should replace it. Home Depot carries them for $6.

The next thing to check is the FS-2 starter. You can buy a 2-pack at Home Depot for like $2, so just get some and try them out.

Finally, a bulb is an easy get. F15T8's or F14T8's are the most common sizes. The originals probably had T12's, but you don't see them much anymore and the T8's work just fine.

Now, if it's in a Nintendo game, just get the $8 under-shelf unit. The starters in the Nintendo marquee fixtures are weird and run about $28 to replace, if you can find one...
 
Have you had a Walmart fixture fail in your cab? I've got 6 on location, and none of them have failed.

Yes. Just had another one fail in a Nintendo cab I got from someone (I would never put one in myself). When a new game comes in to my arcade I replace the starter and the bulb (only if I see any blackening on the ends), and on rare occasions the ballast (keep those old bulbs around for testing the ballast!). Never have any marquee trouble after that. I cringe every time I see someone has pulled the original fixture and hacked one of those cheap Chinese specials in there.... You are not doing yourself any favors. Faster, easier, and often cheaper to fix the original. Hear me now and believe me later. :D
BTW, I'm looking for a Nintendo fixture....
 
Yes. Just had another one fail in a Nintendo cab I got from someone (I would never put one in myself). When a new game comes in to my arcade I replace the starter and the bulb (only if I see any blackening on the ends), and on rare occasions the ballast (keep those old bulbs around for testing the ballast!). Never have any marquee trouble after that. I cringe every time I see someone has pulled the original fixture and hacked one of those cheap Chinese specials in there.... You are not doing yourself any favors. Faster, easier, and often cheaper to fix the original. Hear me now and believe me later. :D
BTW, I'm looking for a Nintendo fixture....

You weren't running the fixture off the 100v outlet, were you?

*ducks to avoid flying bulbs*
 
+1 to that. Cheaper, more reliable, better lighting. Trust me, if these $7 fixtures were around BITD, they'd already BE in all the cabs we see now.

they are cheaper, but not more reliable. Its the same idea, but they just hard wired them the starter (and ballast?) in. They have them in gravity hill. Of the 3 I have, 2 have failed.
 
Huh. Well, maybe I got lucky. My fixtures had individual starters and ballasts inside them, just like the ones I found inside my cabs. Aside from all the cosmetic plastics, they appeared the same.

I think the total cost was like $8 or $9 with sales tax. Perhaps it was a different fixture.
 
You weren't running the fixture off the 100v outlet, were you?

*ducks to avoid flying bulbs*

I've ran a 120v fixture off of the 100v outlet, and it will come on, but seems iffy sometimes.

That said, I realize buying an el cheapo fixture at Wal Mart or Lowes is easier than finding a ballast these days sometimes - you may have to order one as Lowes no longer carries them..but, you still have to mount (hack) it into the cabinet, splice it in - I don't see how that's easier that replacing the original parts in a few minutes, with wire nuts. Keeping it original seems way easier, I think the thought of undoing those wire nuts intimidates some.
 
Ok.. I recently aquired three games with non-working marquee lights. Upon opening them up and inspecting the fixtures..I find them pretty much toast. Any advice on going to Lowe's or Home Depot to purchase replacement fixtures?


If you replace the starter and it works, I'd leave it in there as the starters are very cheap. If it's a bulb or ballast thing tho. . .

1. I typically replace them with an all-in-1 fixture. Lowe's and Depot have them. Run about the same $ as a bulb or a ballast so it just makes sense (unless you want to keep the game all original).

2. Installation is easy enough - just cut off the plug and any molex for the original fixture. Tie the two wires to the wires that supplied the power for the original light.

3. ???

4. PROFIT!!! :D
 
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You can run the 120V fixtures in the Nintendo cabs if you tap off the 120V line on the transformer. Don't just use the 100V plug.
I ordered and replaced the original bulb and starter once and it was way too pricey!

And if your ~$7 Walmart fixture craps out (none of mine have), just take it back for an exchange. DONE.
 
If you replace the starter and it works, I'd leave it in there as the starters are very cheap. If it's a bulb or ballast thing tho. . .

1. I typically replace them with an all-in-1 fixture. Lowe's and Depot have them. Run about the same $ as a bulb or a ballast so it just makes sense (unless you want to keep the game all original).

2. Installation is easy enough - just cut off the plug and any molex for the original fixture. Tie the two wires to the wires that supplied the power for the original light.

3. ???

4. PROFIT!!! :D

I'd rather just have to mess with 4 wire nuts and 2 screws for the ballast and it look original. No need to even strip or clip a wire.
 
Well when I said they were toasty.. I mean the original fixtures..the plastics are brittle. Normaly I would just get a new bulb ..starter..and balast, but I think this is a case of taking the easier route.
 
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