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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: pinballwizard79 on January 01, 2012, 06:16:02 pm

Title: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: pinballwizard79 on January 01, 2012, 06:16:02 pm: So I'm a major dork & bought a cool aluminum pressed stamped "Back To the Future" replica license plate complete with reflective DMV stickers & all to mount to my Cruis'n World sit down racing arcade.

I want to jump further into the dork vortex & encase it inside a neon illuminated license plate frame like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASMAGLOW-NEON-GLOWING-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAME-BLACK-LIGHT-/220899080438?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item336e9c78f6 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASMAGLOW-NEON-GLOWING-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAME-BLACK-LIGHT-/220899080438?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item336e9c78f6)

Any advice on how to power it? Maybe I could snake a wire to the power supply & patch in our would it catch on fire >:D

Ideas are welcome, thanks!

PW79
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: BobA on January 01, 2012, 06:24:03 pm: Power it from a drive connector with 12V DC. Cars are usually 13V or so DC so it should work fine.
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: pinballwizard79 on January 01, 2012, 07:15:01 pm: Cool, thanks for the info.

So are you talking about one of these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-2A-US-Plug-Power-Supply-Adapter-transformer-connector-LED-light-Strip-/280754859604?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415e4b2e54 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-2A-US-Plug-Power-Supply-Adapter-transformer-connector-LED-light-Strip-/280754859604?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415e4b2e54)
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: Malenko on January 02, 2012, 09:11:24 am: I believe he means a molex connector from your computer power supply, but what you posted would also work.
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: pinballwizard79 on January 02, 2012, 06:25:25 pm: Yeah that would be perfect except this is a dedicated Cruis'n World but when I make a PC racer once like Gbeef (or buy his lol) that will mos def be the way I will go.

So do you think I can splice into any thing in the interior of the arcade cab to have it all come on at once?

Thanks guys

PW79
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: Nephasth on January 02, 2012, 06:54:44 pm: Yea, wire it up to 12V from the cab's power supply.
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: Mario on January 02, 2012, 10:40:11 pm: Is it real or fake neon? I believe real neon would require a fairly high amperage to initially light it, and a PC/cab's power supply may not be powerful enough, or it may blow. If I were you, I'd either try it with a spare power supply, or use a separate supply.

Mario
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: Malenko on January 03, 2012, 08:36:46 am: Quote from: Mario on January 02, 2012, 10:40:11 pm
Is it real or fake neon? I believe real neon would require a fairly high amperage to initially light it, and a PC/cab's power supply may not be powerful enough, or it may blow. If I were you, I'd either try it with a spare power supply, or use a separate supply.

Mario

its most likely a cold cathode
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: pinballwizard79 on January 07, 2012, 05:12:33 pm: I'm a total noob with dedicated arcades.

They have a 12v power supply?

Really?

So I can just grab the wire, splice into it & then habe both game/license plate powered?

Are we talking about the marquee fixture wire or something different?
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: BobA on January 07, 2012, 05:43:24 pm: x2 says this will power any light they sell.

12 wall wart (http://www.x2industries.com/lighting-accessories-110-volt-ac-to-12-volt-dc-amp-home-lighting-adapter-p-193.html)

The one you listed earlier is cheaper and has 2x the amperage at 12V.
Title: Re: How to power a neon license plate frame?
Post by: yotsuya on January 09, 2012, 08:57:06 pm: Inspired by your post, I picked up a small neon motorcycle frame off eBay. I just hooked it up to the 12v on a PSU, and it lit right up! Looks great, too! Gonna use it on my jukebox project.

:cheers: