Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: Need help with lighting  (Read 1364 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

ever1458

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 23
  • Last login:October 12, 2010, 03:29:42 pm
Need help with lighting
« on: June 18, 2008, 07:18:50 pm »
I'm building a mame cab and decided to light my marquee by buying a 18 inch Flurescent light from happs. I expected their to be a plug on the end but its just two copper wires that look like speaker wire hanging from the light. I know nothing about electrical wiring and I really don't want to burn down my house so can somebody please explain to me how to hook this light up. Thanks.

mscromer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 28
  • Last login:March 11, 2009, 12:49:35 pm
Re: Need help with lighting
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2008, 09:22:29 pm »
Are you sure its a Fluorescent light? The wiring you are describing doesn't sound like Fluorescent lighting. Can you post a pic or the model number of the light?

severdhed

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2975
  • Last login:December 14, 2024, 05:01:52 pm
  • RIP Dinosaur Hippo
Re: Need help with lighting
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2008, 10:19:08 pm »
it has been my experience that arcade marquee lights require 110v ac current, at least all of the ones that i have do. you would be better off to post some pics though to be sure.  if that is the case, the easiest/cheapest way to do it is to buy an extension cord, cut the end off, splice the wires together with some wire nuts or something and plug it in.  if you don't feel safe doing that, you can get cheap florescent fixtures at walmart for under $10 that are ready to plug into the wall.
Current Projects:      Zak-Man | TMNT Pedestal | SNES Pi | N64 Odroid
Former Projects:     4 Player Showcase | Donkey Kong | iCade

mscromer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 28
  • Last login:March 11, 2009, 12:49:35 pm
Re: Need help with lighting
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2008, 10:57:08 pm »
Or just buy this from LED light strip from groovygamegear.com for only $18.00 It plugs right into your computers power supply and comes on when you power the computer up. Very simple to install and very,very small compared the a fluorescent light. here is a pic of mine installed. I added all the aluminum tape to reflect more light.

ever1458

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 23
  • Last login:October 12, 2010, 03:29:42 pm
Re: Need help with lighting
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2008, 09:05:51 am »
Yes, it is definately a flurescent light. It looks like I will have to do what severdhed mentioned to get this to work as that is what I originally thought.  Thanks for the help folks. I wish they would have mentioned at happs that this didn't have a standard plug with it.

FYI, the box didn't even have a name, just something generic like overhead cabinet light. The model number was TL3011 15W

DaOld Man

  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5165
  • Last login:August 23, 2025, 09:14:19 pm
  • Wheres my coffee?
    • Skenny's Outpost
Re: Need help with lighting
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2008, 10:06:20 am »
I have always bought the 10 buck fluorescent light at walmart.
Cheap, easy to mount, and quick to get a replacement when it fails.

scotthh

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 254
  • Last login:June 06, 2012, 10:03:42 pm
Re: Need help with lighting
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2008, 10:06:37 am »
The Happ Fluorescent Light Fixture has "Two wire leads for connection" not a NEMA plug. You should be able to get a 2-prong "replacement" plug (similar to one of these from Cooper) at a hardware store for a few dollars or less. They usually have a simple instruction sheet supplied with them. Most either use screw terminals or self-piercing terminals that make the connection when you press the parts together. If your lighting fixture has two separate wires as opposed to lamp cord, you'd be better off with the screw terminal type.