Betson Big Choice Claw Machine: Help With Flashing Lights Around Marquee

[Shanefrom302]

I recently purchased a used older model Big Choice Claw Machine and the flashing bulbs around the Big Choice Marquee are not working. Someone who owned it before me seems to have disconnected the wires and the wires were not simply cut, they have female terminators on the end. This makes me think there must be a lighting board or somthing these wires plugged into. There are a total of 4 wires brown, white, black, red. I have attached a picture below. The guy I bought it from replaced the overhead light with a standard light you can buy at walmart and I wonder if during that time he removed the marquee light board too. I attached pictures showing were he connect the existing wire to the new light wire. Another picture shows 4 empty screw holes where a board may have been. The manual does not make any mention of this board. Does anyone have a big choice or worked on them that can confirm a light board does exist. Would I be able to just hook these up to power and the work again or do I need this mysterious light board that I am not even sure exist??? Help! thanks!


I am not sure the exact model or year of my Big Choice but it has joystick control and rotoary knobs for chaning claw strength and game mode (4 different modes) and my machine does not have sound or led display.

[mgb]

Bryson is pretty good with tech support. Have you tried contacting them?
  Yes chaser lights would normally go to some kind of control board with
transistors on it.

[Shanefrom302]

I have not contacted Betson yet, I 've seen a lot of other guys posting their response from Betson as being it's an old machine over 30 years old and no longer supported. I should still call and see what they say.

Thanks for the suggestion and also the mention of a lightboard!

[RandyT]

If you have a multimeter, put it on continuity check mode, and see how the wires relate to the bulb sockets.  If I were to guess (and mind you, I am) it looks like either power or ground is common to all of the bulb sockets, and the remaining wires are connected in banks to the other side of the sockets to form a 3-step marquee lighting animation.  If this is the case, there was surely a control board which did the switching to achieve this.

[Shanefrom302]

Thanks Randy T! your guess makes total sense and I will get a multimeter and see whats happening.

If any one reading this has an old machine for parts I would like to buy your light board!

[Teknotoyz]

The lights used can be found here:   http://www.actionlighting.com/60v-t-5-5-cabochon-turbo-replacement-midway-brand-pack-50bulbs-203bt55-60v/
or you can pay $1.25 each on Ebay...
Anyway, they are 60v 10w bulbs using the E14 base.

The sockets are wired so that every third socket is on the same circuit.
I think I have a few of the controller boards, will have to go look.
Very likely they will need rebuilt, but heck, something to start with is better than nothing!!

I also have the manuals.

[Shanefrom302]

Teknotoyz, I would love to pick up a lighting board from you! How much? I was lucky to have the manual included with my machine but not much mention of a light board. Thanks for replying to the post!

The lights used can be found here:   http://www.actionlighting.com/60v-t-5-5-cabochon-turbo-replacement-midway-brand-pack-50bulbs-203bt55-60v/
or you can pay $1.25 each on Ebay...
Anyway, they are 60v 10w bulbs using the E14 base.

The sockets are wired so that every third socket is on the same circuit.
I think I have a few of the controller boards, will have to go look.
Very likely they will need rebuilt, but heck, something to start with is better than nothing!!

I also have the manuals.