Stern florescent backbox light hardly working

[Mfresh]

In the last day or so the light in the backbox of my Metallica has gone down to about a tenth of the normal brightness. Any ideas what's wrong? Is it just the tube itself, or something more?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[chris b]

could be the tube but more than likely the ballast

 

[Mfresh]

Thanks Chris.

 

[chris b]

If the ballast is on it's way out
You might be better replacing the whole thing with a dreads led back board if he does them for metalica

 

[Dave2084]

Anyone tried one of these?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261632597460

It would require some remedial wiring but the question is will it distribute the light over a wide enough area?

 

[aaronhicksuk]

I'm pretty sure you won't be able to use one of them as its designed to run from 240v. As pinballs are from America you'll need a tube designed to run off 110v.

You might be able to source something similar from the states though.

 

[Dave2084]

I realise that hence the 'It would require some remedial wiring' ... what I want to know is of these devices when fitted will light the translite up properly.

The ballast currently fitted is dead so the game will most likely have the lamp converted to 240v anyway.

 

[andy]

To change the subject slightly, if you are just replacing a duff fluorescent tube with another of the same (which I realise isn't the case here) I had thought that a standard UK one would work with 110v, and it was just the ballast that was voltage dependent.

Is that correct or am I mistaken?

 

[Mfresh]

Well I ordered a standard 2 foot 18W tube, size T8, off ebay, and got a nice Osram branded one, and it works perfectly. Didn't seem to be any issue with 110v v 240v.

So if your flourescent tube goes, seems like its easy to get a replacement for about a fiver.

 

[cooldan]

same here, i bought a £5 one from Wickes and slotted it straight in when i had a Stern bulb go bad

 

[PinballDaze]

I sell these, but don't post them.Pick some up at a show or will be at some events. £3 each too.
Dave
www.pinballdaze.co.uk

 

[pinballmania]

To change the subject slightly, if you are just replacing a duff fluorescent tube with another of the same (which I realise isn't the case here) I had thought that a standard UK one would work with 110v, and it was just the ballast that was voltage dependent.

Is that correct or am I mistaken?

Correct

 

[Dave2084]

A tenner used to get a whole assembly from B&Q ballast starter and tube, not changed one in a while so will have to see when I get round to going there.

 

[Dave2084]

Went to B&Q today. £10 got me a complete 2ft striplight fitting.

Fitted the tube, starter and ballast to LOTR, did the 240v mod (which is reversible and non destructive by the way) and we have light