New Fluorescent bulb working sort of, doesnt come on after re-powering *FIXED*

[mrclean]

OK, so I bought a brand new Fluorescent for one of my games and here is the problem it somewhat works. If I turn the game on the light does not illuminate the marquee, unless I fiddle with it, once it's on it stays on and no problems while the game is running / while im playing. But then If I power down the game, fire it back up the light won't come back on, unless I fiddle with it. So the Fluorescent obviously works but I shouldn't need to fiddle with it, I don't get it. Any one have any clues ? NON-MAME this is for a dedicated machine.

[Ed_McCarron]

New?  Return it.  Sounds defective.

[mrclean]

I think it has something to do with the starter, ballast or connectors, I don't think it's the actual Fluorescent . I could be wrong.

[Kevin Mullins]

Probably the starter..... the ballast either works or its dead.

I'm assuming when you turn the machine on the lamp will have just a little glow at each end, but not actually coming all the way on. (?)

Quick check would be to turn the machine on, pull the starter...... does the lamp come on?

[Ken Layton]

The FS-2 starter is probably bad. Replace it with a brand new one.

[mrclean]

actually I noticed that If i "turn" the lamp slightly it will glow a little bit and not fully illumintate, but when twisting around a bit it lights up nice and bright, and continues to do so while playing the game. Then I power down the machine.. fire it back on and the light doesn't work unless I jitter / move it around.

[Level42]

Are the tubeholders/contacts the original one's ?
If so, they're rusted or making poor contact because loss of spring pressure.

Get new holders.

[mrclean]

Does homedepot sell the fs-2 starter, and the holders ?

[Kevin Mullins]

Does homedepot sell the fs-2 starter, and the holders ?

Starters.... yes, normally.

Holders.... depends on which ones you have.

[SirPeale]

I'd definitely try a new starter.  Sometimes starters are bad right out of the box.  Sometimes they're only "kinda" good, which is what sounds like is going on here.

[Ed_McCarron]

I'm still having trouble with 'brand new' and 'starter' in the same sentence.  They even use those things still?

[mrclean]

they did back in the day aparently. I replaced the starter, and connectors and new lamp and now nothing. I'm in a worse position then I started 

Where can I buy a brand new one with the connector on the end with the molex ? It looks like a 6 pin, but only 5 are being used.

[SirPeale]

Did you try those things one at a time, or just jump in and replace them all at once?  I would have replaced just the starter to start, then tried the ends if it didn't.

If nothing is working now, I suspect user error.  Double and triple check your work.  These aren't complicated devices.

[Kevin Mullins]

I imagine some wiring rearranging is in order. (namely the ballast) (?)

[mrclean]

ok it's two wires basically white, and black are the only ones that I pulled from the original connectors, I saw a nice spark when I pulled out the white wire which also blew a fuse, got those replaced and the game works fine. I'm curious maybe I killed it (the ballast / light fixture). Where can I get a brand new one from with the molex connector on the end? Are the wires supposed to be opposite ends as in black wire in the back, white in the front on the left connector and the reverse for the right connector; black in the front and white in the back?

[Kevin Mullins]

Can you throw a pic up of what you are working with ?

[SirPeale]

You may have blown the starter when you were doing stuff.  When ballasts go they usually go violently.

[mrclean]

Ok, as of now it seems to be working!  I completely took everything apart again and reassembled it. Not sure if it's normal the FS-2 starter is clear and I see if flicker on upon firing up the machine.

Now baskin' in the glow, until of course my other issues spring up. Thanks everyone!

Again if anyone has this issue, I replaced the FS-2 starter and also bought new connectors.

[Kevin Mullins]

Not sure if it's normal the FS-2 starter is clear and I see if flicker on upon firing up the machine.

The flicker is normal.

Did you find an actual cause to your original problem or the problem after you replaced everything?

[mrclean]

To be honest I think it was the starter, and then when I took everything apart I must have had a loose connection. But it seems to be working now so I'm happy about that