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.
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.