apparently it's called a 'ballast' or something?

[cooldan]

ok so TSPP was making a racket and it was coming from the backbox. when the fluorescent bulb came out, the noise stopped - and eventually i tracked the noise down to the ballast thingy in the top right of the backbox, with some help from @skweek

so i thought first, just in case, i'll try replacing the bulb and the starter. did that, no change. it's definitely that ballast thingy. here it is


and here is is in the representation in the manual, with all numbers and stuff in it



so here's my question: i could buy one of these from PH for £28 delivered, and no doubt the same from PM if i could search his poxy website (@pinballmania - dude, you really need to fix that!), but i am a cheapskate and like to do things cheaply if i can still get the job done safe.
so, knowing all the watts amps volts specs etc, can i buy these things off ebay, will they do the job?

i could get this delivered from Belgium for £18 plus whatever the import people chuck on top - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flipper-P...4?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_123&hash=item2ec7f491aa

but this one is £8 all in - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tridonic-...ighting_Lamps_Lighting_SM&hash=item3a9b15080f

and wtf is this thing? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fluoresce...UK_BOI_Lights_Lighting_ET&hash=item23446529d3

and this? http://www.bltdirect.com/erc-18-wat...5binUn8P8an0OPxCEnHX7OR19TVKy-UPv_hoCKHbw_wcB

and in fact all this lot - what am i actually looking for? http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=ballast stern&_from=R40|R40|R40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR5.TRC2.A0.H0.Xballast fluorescent&_nkw=ballast fluorescent&_sacat=0 just something that says it will power an 18W bulb? is my pinball machine basically 120V inside, and is that what's powering the tube? can i not just power the fluorescent tube from something else easier?

cheers guys. i have zero skills with electrics so please don't give any advice that a monkey couldn't follow. i want to buy the cheapest replacement or working ballast that doesn't sound like it has a nest of angry hornets in it, all using their own mini rabbit vibrators while they watch One Night in Paris or something.

 

[Calimori]

I would be guessing but I think it needs to satisfy 120v 50/60Hz and the diagram says 13W so your 18W bulb might be under powered (not a worry if it works).
The 120v AC is the key bit as us EU people use 240v.
Your first ebay item is correct but expensive. Your second is 240v, your third is 50v DC.
The BLT link doesn't say Volts but it is UK/EURO so lets expect 240v.

This search may be less likely to blow stuff up "ballast fluorescent 120v AC 13W" but I can't see any in the UK :-(.

 

[pinballmania]

Click into the long list of parts from the home page and hit ctrl+f. Search away. Or drop me an email. £26.95 delivered.

You could **** about buying something cheaper that'll end up not working or not fit well, or needs adapting to 120v or you could just buy the right part and be done.

 

[Paul R Owen]

You know it makes sense Dan - life's too short

 

[cooldan]

/sigh

ok Andy, you are quite right of course. don't send it yet though as no doubt i will enjoy adding stuff to the order. oh, and sorry for calling your website poxy. it's not, it's fandabidozee

 

[johnwhitfield]

err, dan are you ill. There's an image of a girl getting covered in something and yet it's not your obvious default position. You are slipping I'm afraid

 

[chris b]

you could scrap the whole tube thing and get an led conversion from dredds for around the same price

 

[bartron]

******** to the Ballast buy this and be done
http://www.pinballnews.com/learn/ledbackboxlighting/index.html
only slightly more expensive.

 

[bartron]

 

[Poibug]

Now that's WRONG<WRONG<WRONG

 

[cooldan]