Lighting marquees

[jck_strw]

Hi

I'm using one of those 18", 15W fluorescent "workshop" lights for my marquee light.  I finally got my marquee artwork last night and I hooked it all up and turned on the light...and was less than impressed.  The lightning looks a bit dim, especially at the ends (my marquee size is roughly 5"x28"). 

I took the cover off the fluorescent light and it stills seems a bit dim.  Most of these workshop lights are all 15W.  I could try one of the direct wire ones (and then figure out how to hook that up) which run ~20-30W.  What else are people using?  Anyone hookup one of those direct-wire jobs (3 wires, white/black/green, seems simple enough, but I've never done any electrical work)?

Thanks in advance for the tips.

[Trimoor]

I highly recommend cold cathode fluorescent lights, CCFL.
They are 12" long, extremely bright, run off 12V PC power supply, produce pure white light, no flicker/buzz, last 30,000 hours, and are still very cheap.

SVC CCFL

I don't believe you can run a standard fluorescent bulb without a ballast or starter.

[jck_strw]

Thanks for the link.  Is this something I have to wire or does it come pre-wired? 

[Stingray]

Mine seemed a little dim too, but I took a low tech approach. I lined the area around and behind the fixture with aluminum foil. Brightened it up considerably. Sounds goofy, but it worked like a charm.

-S

[Trimoor]

The CCFL lights are pre-wired.  Just plug it into a computer power supply.  If you need help, just ask me.
Also note that the single bulb models actually support two bulbs (they don't say this, but every one I've used does).  It might be cheaper to buy a single bulb model and a spare bulb than a dual bulb kit.  If in doubt, buy a dual bulb model.

Aluminum foil for a reflector doesn't sound strange at all.  It's very reflective, and diffuses the light slightly.  I did the same thing using self-adhering mylar. (I had it lying around.)

[MAME nut]

OR........paint the area WHITE   

[RayB]

I might try CCFL myself, but it's hard to find that stuff, priced reasonably. A florescent fixture on the other hand, is cheap and found in most hardware/home stores....

The advantage of CCFL though is it won't create any heat and it runs on much less current...

[LordDamo]

Hi

I'm using one of those 18", 15W fluorescent "workshop" lights for my marquee light. I finally got my marquee artwork last night and I hooked it all up and turned on the light...and was less than impressed. The lightning looks a bit dim, especially at the ends (my marquee size is roughly 5"x28").

I took the cover off the fluorescent light and it stills seems a bit dim. Most of these workshop lights are all 15W. I could try one of the direct wire ones (and then figure out how to hook that up) which run ~20-30W. What else are people using? Anyone hookup one of those direct-wire jobs (3 wires, white/black/green, seems simple enough, but I've never done any electrical work)?

Thanks in advance for the tips.

Ive got one of those direct wire jobs. Works a charm. My cabinet is 26" wide, and so is the light.

My first thought when reading your post was that an 18" wide light is of course going to be dim on the ends of a 28" wide marquee. Maybe you should get a wider light. The one ive got came from a referbish of a local bank(was in a pile of stuff they were throwing away), and has a cool white bulb, dead easy to wire up. I used an old power lead off a fan that was burnt out.

Hope this helps some.

[SteveJ34]

Ya, as suggested, you can pick up a 24" single bulb fixture for $10.00 at home depot, bulb is another $6-8. You can easily wire to 120v outlet or power source.

If you really want bright, you can get a 2 bulb fixture for about $20.00 but that is probably overkill.

This has worked well  for my Lusid design upright as well as several "marquee light boxes" I have built as presents for nephews and friends.

[Trimoor]

SVC CCFL

Once again, I recommend this place.  They should start paying me for advertising.
Dual white CCFL kit $5.99
You can even get ultraviolet bulbs if you want.

For a 28" span, put the two bulbs end to end.  They are 12" each and should fit nicely.

[SirPeale]

You definitely need a reflector behind the bulb.  Possibly something to diffuse the light as well.  Real arcade marquees have white on the back to help diffuse the light.

[terryd]

Is a UV light the same as a black light?  Will it make white colors glow?

[Trimoor]

UV is blacklight, and will make fluorescent items glow.  You can buy fluorescent paints and inks in any colors, but my mat mania marquee will not glow.  Lots of plastics glow though.  Many fabric bleaches cause clothes to glow too.

Ask at MAMEmarquees if they do fluorescent printing.