neo geo lights?

coinopjunkie

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Not sure what they are called but I'm resurrecting a neo geo that is suppose to be a 6 slot but has a 4 slot board in it right now. Everything was dead when I got it "everything" worst machine I have bought. So after replacing the power supply, z80 and a full cap kit on the board I've got a playable machine that sounds great. Now I'm moving onto the marque, I have never touched a neo geo before this not even in an arcade so I'm wondering what this six slot marque is suppose to do. I assume by looking at it and the fact it plugs in the board that each game lights up as that game is selected? Any way mine does nothing no lights at all. I followed everything to what looks like a power supply it has a humm or high pitch sound while hooked to the arcade power supply, I removed it and quickly found two resistors that were burnt and for the heck of it replaced the 2 caps and the resistors, I still get no lights any idea how to test these? any common failure parts to look at? any help would be appreciated.
 
Your assumption is correct. The panels behind the mini-marquees are electroluminescent panels and unfortunately die after a short amount of time. As far as I know it is not possible to get a replacement for a decent price so most people just put a standard light in there and light up all 6 of them at once.
 
There is supposed to be a place to buy panels from... it's listed over on the neo-geo.com forums.

For my 2 slot cab I'm looking at building a panel lit by LEDs.

RJ
 
That is what I was thinking

Could we make or modify this board to turn on leds and switch like they did originally? I know the power supply had problems is it likely that all six panels are bad?
There is supposed to be a place to buy panels from... it's listed over on the neo-geo.com forums.

For my 2 slot cab I'm looking at building a panel lit by LEDs.

RJ
 
That's what I want to try to do, but I don't have the board in my cabinet. I have to find one.
 
Neo Geo light

Been many moons since I had a 4-slot upright....but it had issues with the four marquee panel lights - anyone ever thought of a solution using el-wire?
 
looks like

it looks like the people selling the replacements on the neo geo forums are out of business. I wonder what would look better the el bulbs are led bulbs? I would think as far as the converter it would need little to no modification as leds are extremely low voltage as well just have to modify the marque to put the leds behind and shine through some white plexi is that how you were thinking? Are is there a better way? I wish I had my cabinet with me I left it about an hour away in storage I'd like to test my converter sounds like it may be working from what I read the squealing I heard is a working converter with no place to send it's power.
 
Most often those EL panels themselves are burnt out. I found if you have it hooked up but your EL panels are dead then it will produce that high pitched whine.

Several people have purchased the EL panels from glowhut.com, but it isn't cheap, but it is a very quick and easy fix (just be sure to buy the white panels).

Many others just go through and purchase a regular florescent tube and cute out a cavity in the top and backlight everything at once. Much cheaper.
 
Hello, I just got a 4 slot Neo Geo as well. I'm working on repairing a memory error first.

After this is done, I'm going to look at the marque.

I've got access to my 4 slot, one friends 2 slot and my friends 6 slot. I'm part of a hackerspace and we've got a laser engraver that can cut acrylic and some geeks with LED love. I'll see what it will take to make a LED based replacement that is low cost.

I thought they just all lit up. So only the single game being played lights up? I've never seen a machine with a working EL panel.

I notice the boards are 2 gang, and probably stack 2/4/6 for various machines.

It looked like it wouldn't be hard to make a drop in replacement for the top area without any cabinet modification, but I could be wrong.
 
Sounds good

Six slots are 2 boards with 3 el lights. I wonder if the leds will get to hot though? I know leds are generally cool running but I know overheating was an issue when the were making replacement bulbs like can lights.
Hello, I just got a 4 slot Neo Geo as well. I'm working on repairing a memory error first.

After this is done, I'm going to look at the marque.

I've got access to my 4 slot, one friends 2 slot and my friends 6 slot. I'm part of a hackerspace and we've got a laser engraver that can cut acrylic and some geeks with LED love. I'll see what it will take to make a LED based replacement that is low cost.

I thought they just all lit up. So only the single game being played lights up? I've never seen a machine with a working EL panel.

I notice the boards are 2 gang, and probably stack 2/4/6 for various machines.

It looked like it wouldn't be hard to make a drop in replacement for the top area without any cabinet modification, but I could be wrong.
 
I would hope not.

Thanks for the info on the 6 slot. I noticed that the 4 slot has 2 EL boards, and each one is different. One is 1/2 and the other is 2/2.

I just pulled the inverter out and totally did a run down on it, so I've documented it so I can re-implement a new driver board that runs LEDs instead of EL panels. I'm going to talk to a friend or two then see what I can order from the local plastics place and see about LED side lighting a piece of white 1/4" plastic the size of the insert. If that works well then what I have in mind is using 2/4/6 of those. I want something totally serviceable.

I'm trying to find pictures of units with working EL panels. Most of the pictures I find with them illuminated look like people removed the panels and just put a florescent tube behind them or something. All 4 are on.

How bright were the EL panels originally?
 
ELD panels here.

A6 panels here --> http://glowhut.com/a6-size-electroluminescent-back-lightpanellam6.html

Also a video of mine before I changed panels.. Notice panel 3, thats a bad panel.
http://www.koskimaki.se/res/Arcade/repair/ng/ngpre.MOV

I have some spare, working power supplys if you need one...
ng1.jpg


And I even have one of the EL Boards for a 6-slot. Don't know if it is 1/2 or 2/2 but I can check.
-Edit- looks like 1/2.
ng3.jpg
 
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