John's Arcade Forum - Classic Arcade and Pinball Collecting and Restoring Discussion Forum - RETRO MAME - Nintendo Vs Forum

Arcade and Pinball Discussions => General Arcade and Video Game Discussions => Topic started by: pimppride on April 23, 2014, 10:56:00 pm



Title: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: pimppride on April 23, 2014, 10:56:00 pm
recently my UDOT marquee ballast is buzzing a hell of a lot louder then normal

I am sure they aren't that hard to tech an repair but I was thinking of a more silent update like going with some type of LED bar replacement, this should brighten up the marquee as well...

any thoughts from those with larger collections that might have already tried this...


Title: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: iankellogg on April 24, 2014, 07:11:52 am
If i had to guess for issues, you are going to see hot spotting, which is where the light isn't spread evenly over the marquee. Brightness might also be an issue. for the neogeo marquee replacement the guy went with some specialized plastic diffusers that are basically required.

I think you could probably get away with using 3-4 led bars spread out and hopefully the hot spotting won't be too bad.


Title: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: John's Arcade on April 24, 2014, 08:48:08 am
recently my UDOT marquee ballast is buzzing a hell of a lot louder then normal

I am sure they aren't that hard to tech an repair but I was thinking of a more silent update like going with some type of LED bar replacement, this should brighten up the marquee as well...

any thoughts from those with larger collections that might have already tried this...

I'd just replace the whole fixture. I do not like LEDs behind marquees.


Title: Re: Re: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: Tighe on April 24, 2014, 10:46:22 am
recently my UDOT marquee ballast is buzzing a hell of a lot louder then normal

I am sure they aren't that hard to tech an repair but I was thinking of a more silent update like going with some type of LED bar replacement, this should brighten up the marquee as well...

any thoughts from those with larger collections that might have already tried this...

I'd just replace the whole fixture. I do not like LEDs behind marquees.

You don't have to replace the whole fixture, you can buy T8 LED bulbs that fit right in.  

http://www.eledlights.com/t8-4ft-led-tube.html?T8-4FT-LED-tube-pid7.html#.U1kxtVVdWtZ


Title: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: pimppride on April 24, 2014, 02:03:48 pm
I don't think a LED bulb replacement will rid my ballast noise issue

the lighting currently works fine, it could be brighter... I just want to limit background noise from the ballast of the lighting itself, the ballast is most likely going to go out soon ( stop working ) 

this is similar to what I have visions of in mind...

(http://d114hh0cykhyb0.cloudfront.net/images/uploads/ORB-54WS-35-led-truck-light-angle.jpg)

a light bar on a dimmer controller so I can fine tune the brightness... with the marquee being 3D lenticular its a little different then a standard glass marquee

I am thinking an LED solution will brighten it up a little...


Title: Re: Re: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: John's Arcade on April 24, 2014, 02:29:11 pm
recently my UDOT marquee ballast is buzzing a hell of a lot louder then normal

I am sure they aren't that hard to tech an repair but I was thinking of a more silent update like going with some type of LED bar replacement, this should brighten up the marquee as well...

any thoughts from those with larger collections that might have already tried this...

I'd just replace the whole fixture. I do not like LEDs behind marquees.

You don't have to replace the whole fixture, you can buy T8 LED bulbs that fit right in.  

http://www.eledlights.com/t8-4ft-led-tube.html?T8-4FT-LED-tube-pid7.html#.U1kxtVVdWtZ

LEDs behind marquees is not good. If the ballast is hosed, replace the whole fixture. Or, get a new ballast at Home Depot. I just replaced one in my Kitchen. :)


Title: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: pimppride on April 24, 2014, 05:59:04 pm
John - ill take your advice an replace the ballast... I'm sure you've toyed with LED & marquees enough that its an educated opinion, seeing how many arcades are in the basement...


Title: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: John's Arcade on April 24, 2014, 06:10:05 pm
John - ill take your advice an replace the ballast... I'm sure you've toyed with LED & marquees enough that its an educated opinion, seeing how many arcades are in the basement...


Funspot had LEDs behind a Taito game at Funspot and it looked like ass!!! LOL! I'm just not into the very cold look of those LEDs. It's personal preference, though....


Title: Re: Re: Re: loud ass marquee on UDOT - LED update ?
Post by: Tighe on April 24, 2014, 06:54:55 pm
John - ill take your advice an replace the ballast... I'm sure you've toyed with LED & marquees enough that its an educated opinion, seeing how many arcades are in the basement...


Funspot had LEDs behind a Taito game at Funspot and it looked like ass!!! LOL! I'm just not into the very cold look of those LEDs. It's personal preference, though....

It all depends on the spectrum output of the led. There are LEDs now that put out a spectrum very close to florescent. If you want them to look cold they will, but if you want warmer light you can get that too.

They don't have ones that match incandescent bulbs yet.