Lighted Retro Arcade Sign

[mmg1design]

I bought one of those arcade signs (from hobbylobby) the last time someone mentioned them in here, and I found a set of lights that work well with it. If anyone else is looking for lights, you can consider these. They use a standard x-mas light bulb, but have a housing that makes it look like a clear G30 light bulb (but not as big).

The quality of light looks warm and retro, exactly what I was looking for.  I found the light set at target on one of their xmas products, it even comes with the right amount of lights; 50 light bulbs. Check out the pics and my blog http://www.mmg1.info/blog/retro-arcade-sign-with-light-bulbs/ for more info.

Cheers!

[Mitkraft]

I saw these signs on ebay from a local seller and my wife also mentioned that she saw them at Hobby Lobby.  I was thinking about getting this one as well as a theater one from the same guy.  Thanks for the light idea.  That is WAY better than the fake lights!

[SavannahLion]

I would cut the wires and make a chaser circuit.

[mmg1design]

I saw these signs on ebay from a local seller and my wife also mentioned that she saw them at Hobby Lobby.  I was thinking about getting this one as well as a theater one from the same guy.  Thanks for the light idea.  That is WAY better than the fake lights!

I don't think you will be dissapointed with the sign, it looks really nice, but just be ready to drill 50 holes. It took me a couple of hours to drill and make small notches so that the light locks into place. I think if I had to do it over, I would just drill a bigger hole and hot glue it on the backside.

[DaOld Man]

Nice job!

[thomas_surles]

Make sure only to buy when metal decor is 50 percent off (every other week)

[yotsuya]

That looks awesome, my friend!

[ChadTower]

I would cut the wires and make a chaser circuit.

They make chaser strings too.  No need to bother with a circuit.  Just use a string that does what you want.

[Sarver Systems]

What are the dimensions of this sign?

[PL1]

10 1/2" x 27"

Link.


Scott

[SavannahLion]

I would cut the wires and make a chaser circuit.

They make chaser strings too.  No need to bother with a circuit.  Just use a string that does what you want.

From the Blog:

However, yesterday I found a cheap set at target… of all places!. It wasn’t just a set of lights though, it included a sign of its own that reads “HOPE”.

I got the impression that the OP took the string off of yet another sign? Or was it one of those crappy plastic frames that just holds the lights in place?

[mmg1design]

I need to look into the a chaser circuit, I think that's a great idea. I wanted to put a link to the set of lights I used, but it looks like its not listed on the website. Instead, here is a pic of the box so you can identify it.

The light set comes with 50 lights, and the Arcade sign has 49 printed "lights"; so you will end up with one light that doesn't get used.

[ChadTower]

I got the impression that the OP took the string off of yet another sign? Or was it one of those crappy plastic frames that just holds the lights in place?

That may be true but there's no reason you couldn't use any string of lights that has 'bulbs' that look good.  Or just wire up the lights yourself and reap the chase controller off of an Xmas string.

[SavannahLion]

I got the impression that the OP took the string off of yet another sign? Or was it one of those crappy plastic frames that just holds the lights in place?

That may be true but there's no reason you couldn't use any string of lights that has 'bulbs' that look good.  Or just wire up the lights yourself and reap the chase controller off of an Xmas string.

  Whatever works...

I was thinking if you build your own, you can get exactly the behavior you want. No compromises.