Help Wiring lighting.

[Demon-Seed]

Hello,
I am after a way to light bulbs for my coin door. I read one descent page, does anyone have any links or how toos? looking for step by step for a goof like me.  Looking for info on how to do the lighting thing..... any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Jim

[Onji]

Watch this.

This is a video review of coin door lights from retroblast.com, but he shows you how to solder the wire, and hook it to your pc psu etc
this is what helped me out alot. Here is a direct link:

[Demon-Seed]

Great link! I need to buy a few of those bulb holders but happs has a min purchase price.. anyone help me out? need maybe 8?

[Ken Layton]

Coin door light hookup has been talked to death. Maybe it should be put in the FAQ.

[StephenH]

The first suggestion is to note the voltage and amperage (current draw) of the lights.     Then, you need a power supply suitable for that.  A higher voltage will burn the lights out faster.   A lower voltage will make the lights dimmer or not light at all, depending how far off you are.  Additionally, you need a power supply that can deliver the current required, and if possible slightly more to not overload, and take in your wire resistance.   For incandesent light bulbs, it does not matter if the voltage is AC (Alternating Current) or DC (Direct Current).

Some suggestions for a power supply:

PC Power Supply - if the lights need 5-6V or 12V, you can run from a PC Power supply by connecting to an unused disk drive power connector.  Again, check the amperage to make sure you are not exceeding your power supply's capacity.

You can look in your junk box for adapters that are no longer used from older electronic devices, toys, answering machines, and the like.   Again, make sure the voltage and amperage match.

You can go to Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, and other places for transformer power adapters.   Again, make sure the voltage and amperage match your lights.

[RayB]

Great link! I need to buy a few of those bulb holders but happs has a min purchase price.. anyone help me out? need maybe 8?

Radio Shack.

[SirPeale]

Great link! I need to buy a few of those bulb holders but happs has a min purchase price.. anyone help me out? need maybe 8?

I was certain Happ got rid of their minimum order.

Still...shipping would be hurful here.

[Demon-Seed]

I was thinking trying the technique with um molex connector. But could I just get an ac adapter of some sort?

[DanteBK]

I'm in early, early stages of cab building, but I just got my Opti-Pac in the mail and was looking it over -- couldn't you splice off the 5V port in that to run some 5V lights? Would it overload it? Wouldn't that be easier than opening up the computer and splitting off the PC Power Supply (for wiring-phobes like me anyway)?

[RayB]

Wouldn't that be easier than opening up the computer and splitting off the PC Power Supply (for wiring-phobes like me anyway)?

PC power supplies come with LOTS of extra power outputs for drives (usually enough for 6 or more). No need to split open the PS, you just feed off one of the plugs. Solder the wiring right into the plug, or strip the plug off...