What's with the Centuri Marquee lights?

LyonsArcade

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Anybody else ever had the problem where a Centuri game (Vanguard, Phoenix, etc.) would crash and freeze when it turns on, because the light pops on?

I've had three now that do that. The power switch up top is wired into the marquee light, and when you first turn it on if it's been sitting cold, it'll freeze. If you turn it off and back on, everything's fine.

Also if you don't have a bulb in the marquee holder, it'll turn on no problem.

Anybody ever figured out how to fix that?
 
Sounds like they are pulling too much current on start up. It could be the ballasts/starters they spec'ed, perhaps? I'd try wiring in a modern electronic ballast fixture and see if that doesn't fix the issue. They are much easier starting compared to the old tar ballasts.
 
Funny to see this thread today. I fired up my Vanguard last night and it froze. Power off and on and it came right up. Haven't had it happen with my Time Pilot or Phoenix. I'll have to double check, but I think there is a line filter on the AC. Kalamath is probably right about too much current draw on start up.
 
I believe I've had this happen on several occasions, although most of the time my Phoenix fires up fine so I certainly haven't been able to link it to the marquee light. I'm definitely interested in following this thread in case anything definitive is figured out.
 
If it is a fluorescent bulb it's your starter. I had a pin do this. The game would fire up but the bulb took about 10 seconds to fire up and when it did it reset the game. New starter and never had another problem.
 
My Vanguard freezes up sometimes on startup and sometimes after its been on for a while. It doesn't happen all the time so I have always just turned it off and back on. Now you have me wondering if it's the light. I'll have to pull the light and see if the freeze ups go away.
 
Funny to see this thread today. I fired up my Vanguard last night and it froze. Power off and on and it came right up. Haven't had it happen with my Time Pilot or Phoenix. I'll have to double check, but I think there is a line filter on the AC. Kalamath is probably right about too much current draw on start up.

I also have a Vanguard, Phoenix, and a Time Pilot. The Vanguard was pretty bad about a freeze at boot. The Phoenix would on rare, rare, occasion act up. Nothing out of the Time Pilot. I moved the Phoenix to a circuit different than that of the Vanguard. I was wondering if they were sensitive to the drop/stabilization/noise on the circuit at power up. In my case, fingers crossed, everything powers up fine. Unless I have to re-arrange, and re-introduce the issue, I am going to let it be.
 
My Phoenix has the same problem. I've had the marquee disabled for a while to avoid the problem. Definitely not the starter. Tried a few with the same results.
 
My Phoenix does this as well. As the marquee struggles to start, it creates noise on the AC line, which then messes with the power supply causing the PCB to glitch and lock up.
I should probably try a new ballast in there to see if that helps at all. An AC filter inline to the marquee would probably solve the problem though.
 
We had that problem with a Phoenix back in the early 80's when I
worked for Fun 'n Games. We tried different ballasts, starters and ultimately
fixtures and that initial flicker always froze the game. We ended up putting
in 2 lamp sockets and 25 watt bulbs.

The one in Yestercades, NJ now has sockets with CFL bulbs.

JD
 
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