Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man Pinball - how to reduce glare on the playfield from the backglass

keithsarcade

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
8,875
Reaction score
160
Location
St Peters, Missouri
Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man Pinball - how to reduce glare on the playfield from the backglass

Just thought I would post this for those who arent happy with the lone (and bright) flourescent tube that illuminates the backglass and puts a bright and annoying glare on the playfield. Basically I simply removed the flourescent tube and the fuse for it. I bought a 6 foot rope light to put in its place.

The first photo shows how I have it mounted to the metal door behind the backglass using zip ties. This is all you need to produce a dim and even light to the backglass. Youll notice I had to hack a groove into the backbox on the lower left corner (where the rope light goes behind the door). This was needed to allow clearance to open the door without having to remove the rope light.

The next 2 photos are 2 different options for getting power to the rope light. I did the latter of the two. There is a service outlet near the coin door. You can simply plug it in here and be done with it. The only problem with using the service outlet is that it is always on, even if you have the game turned off. So if you use that outlet, the only way to turn the rope light off is to unplug the machine alltogether. I wasnt happy with that, so I hacked an old extention cord I had and tapped it into a 120v source near the ballast from the original flourescent tube (second photo). This option will turn the rope light off with the rest of the game.

Last photo shows the finished product. Success, a dim and evenly lit backglass with very little glare on the playfield. Photo was taken without flash. The rope light also produces virtually no heat, another plus.
 

Attachments

  • mrmrspac25.jpg
    mrmrspac25.jpg
    88 KB · Views: 29
  • mrmrspac27.jpg
    mrmrspac27.jpg
    96.4 KB · Views: 24
  • mrmrspac24.jpg
    mrmrspac24.jpg
    78.1 KB · Views: 24
  • mrmrspac26.jpg
    mrmrspac26.jpg
    89.7 KB · Views: 32
Last edited:
I had a customer complain about this with a South Park pinball. it also uses a single fluorescent bulb that caused glare on the glass.

I solved it by getting one of those plastic bulb sleeves that is black on one side and clear on the other. Typically it is used to maximize light in one direction while minimizing it the other. I put it over the bulb, then turned the dark side to the translite. The light shines on the PCBs, and reflects back in a diffused manner that gives the entire translite a soft glow, and no more glare on the glass...
 
Back
Top Bottom