Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Buy/Sell/Trade - non-retail => Topic started by: rampy on July 29, 2002, 02:53:03 pm
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FYI: I found a source for cheapo fluorescent light fixture...
Walmart sells Lights of America brand "under the counter" fluorescent light fixture for like 7 bucks... I have no idea if it's any good or bright enough... but when I get to that point in my project that's the one I'm gonna buy...
seems cheaper than what most people are paying at home depot/lowes etc... so I thought I'd pass along the "find"
Need to save the money for more important things like the keyboard encoder, joystick, and buttons etc =P
rampy
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I saw those too last week.
They are a good deal for only $6.96. The thing that sucks is they are entirely plastic, arn't they? I would like some solid metal to screw thru to mount it to the cabinet... I would worry if you move the cabinet or shake it the plastic will eventually break. But metal ones are more expensive.
If I got one, I might just remove the parts (bulb, 2 holders, starter and ballast) and mount them directly to a board and screw that in place, and paint it all white for more reflection.
But if you don't care about "original", you can't beat their price... I know.. I've compared to Kmart, Target, Home Depot, Menards and a few other regional stores, and $6.96 can't be beat for an 18" fixture.
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I ended up buying a portable (battery powered) one and installed it. The beauty of this one is that it requires 12V to power and I just pulled that from my PC power supply. The benefit is that I don't need to use an extra outlet for it. The drawback is that it's not as strong of a light because it uses the thinner tubes. Still, it's satisfactory and I don't have to rely on a power strip to power everything on - it automatically lights when the PC is turned on.
I bought it at Home Depot for around $10.
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I bought one 3 years ago and it works fine. have moved the cab all around the gameroom and it has never come loose. haven't had to replace the bulb yet either. Did wire it to a power strip.
didn't think it would be bright enough so I took off the plastic cover over the bulb. too bright, put it back on, still took bright (my marquee was printed at kinkos) so I put white butcher paper behind my marquee and that made it look better.
Good luck
Bill