Marquee lights

Jizaboz · Post by **Jizaboz** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:43 am

Replaced the bulb. Replaced the fluorescent starter. What else could it be? I feel the components get warm, but no light.

Should I just replace the whole fixture with a new aquarium light fixture?

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 1:06 pm

Throw the entire thing into the garbage and make sure that I'm sitting at the bottom of the dumpster pleading for you to do it.

Tdarcos · Post by **Tdarcos** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:52 pm

There may be issues of size or the fact an aquarium is by definition a wet area but could a low-wattage CFL be used? CFLs have the advantage that the ballast is part of the bulb's screw thread and thus have a brand-new ballast when you replace it. Which means you can use it anywhere an incandescent could be installed.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:56 pm

Tdarcos wrote:There may be issues of size or the fact an aquarium is by definition a wet area

Oh my god.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:25 pm

Tdarcos wrote:There may be issues of size or the fact an aquarium is by definition a wet area but could a low-wattage CFL be used? CFLs have the advantage that the ballast is part of the bulb's screw thread and thus have a brand-new ballast when you replace it. Which means you can use it anywhere an incandescent could be installed.

Good question. A CFL bulb wouldn't work in this case because you want a nice, even line going all the way across the marquee. There's at least one design I know of (the Dynamo-style cab) that uses two bulbs and it looks like shit. SOURCE: my Robotron board is in a Dynamo cab and I can confirm it looks like shit.

Now, you might be able to get away with a row of LEDs, especially since white LEDs now shine brighter than most stars at their core, but picking up a $15 bracket is easier.

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 4:19 pm

I was never one for authenticity when it comes to parts you can't see. I think I paid around $20 (give or take) at Home Depot for a replacement fixture and bulb and then just ran the wires from it to the power supply. I lived with so many broken things on my machines that just getting one marquee to light up felt like a win.

bruce · Post by **bruce** » Sat May 02, 2015 9:11 am

White LED strips are super cheap now, though. And easy. Cut off the length you need (you need to do it in 3-LED chunks, but the strip is marked) and then put 12V DC across it. Done. And they usually have adhesive backing anyway so you can just stick them straight to a surface, like the inside top of the marquee box.

Bruce

Jizaboz · Post by **Jizaboz** » Mon May 11, 2015 2:18 pm

Thanks for all the input, guys. I'll let you know what I ended up doing once I get the more critical (monitor chassis) stuff done.