Fluorescent vs. Cold Cathode

[Flinkly]

ok, so i've been thinking about this alot, and don't have enough experience or information to come to a conclusion.  i'm interested in using a white cold cathode tube to light the marquee for my cabinet.  price heat, and simplicity in a computer based arcade cabinet are the pro's for cold cathode, but light and the common-ness of fluorescents make me want to take that route.

I just want to evenly light my marquee.  i can plug into a socket or pc power supply, so that's not an issue, and i know all about ballasts and such, so working with fluorescents isn't a downside.  i guess it would just be nice to cut down on heat, and maybe power consumption, but i don't even know which uses more.

thanks guys for your shared experiences and opinions, hopefully this will help alot of people.

[Abomination]

I had a cold cathode lying around and frosted a piece of plexi to light my marquee and it wasn't very bright at all, I only had the one tube so maybe that was it but I was not impressed.  I then went to home depot and bought a 2 tube 24" assembly (I had to assemble and add my own plug) for like 15 bucks (without the bulbs).  Put that sucker up there and WHOA that puppy is bright.

I just don't see how you could get that kind of light from a cold cathode myself /shrug plus the assembly for the florescent wasn't to bad cost wise.

[Mr. Bubblehead]

I use a single 18" lamp assembly purchased from a local home improvement store for $15 in my cabs, mounted about 6" behind the marquee.  The lighting is even and bright, and no problems with heat.

[Ken Layton]

Jamma/A.M.O.A. cabinet standards for marquee (header) lighting call for a single 18" F15T8 fluorescent light fixture mounted 6" away from the artwork.

[Flinkly]

thanks guys, that's what i wanted to hear.  the few people on this board who have used cold cathode lights for marquee related things have never seemed to shed enough light or difuse it well (which i think goes back to the creating enough light).

i guess i'll get a single flourescent close to 27 inches and throw that puppy in there.  what about wattage? i'll be painting it white in the marquee area, so it'll spread my light and reflect it well.

[Mr. Bubblehead]

i'll be painting it white in the marquee area, so it'll spread my light and reflect it well.

Just so you'll know, I have tried painting the inside of the marquee area white, I've tried using reflective silver aluminum, and I have also done nothing to the inside (bare wood).  I can't tell the difference, the flourescent light is so bright it really doesn't need any help.  The marquee diffuses the light very well.

[markrvp]

I've had two different fluorescent fixtures burn out in less than 9 months (one burned out in 1 month).  Are they getting too hot?