The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: ncflagg on December 28, 2007, 10:56:40 am
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I have a Neo Geo 4slot and the lighted marquees don't power up all the way. If you are looking you can see they power up a little bit but not all the way. Thoughts?
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I think I've heard that the 4-slot marquees are trouble. But I'd be interested to hear some ways to repair them. On mine only two of the for light up but there is power to all four. That's the extent of my testing on my unit. I'm not sure if the light pads (whatever they are called) burn out or what.
Anyone know about thesae things?
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Those games use "electroluminescent panels" to light up each mini-marquee. Those EL panels dim considerably over time and are very expensive to replace---when you can even find replacements!
Electroluminescent lights have been around since the mid 1960's primarily used as night lights in homes. When they got dim you simply threw them away and bought new ones.
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Thanks ken, I should probably play around with my El's more...to see if I can get the other two to fire up.
If the El's are dead can they be replaced with some sort of LED solution? The game switches from Minimarquee 1-4, how hackable are they? I'd like to pop in a LED or two.
Hmmm...?
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What about ripping a light panel out of a broken portable dvd player? I guess I'd have to test the voltages....
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What about ripping a light panel out of a broken portable dvd player? I guess I'd have to test the voltages....
That might work but I think using one or more regular LED's is a more friendly solution. It would be pretty easy to match up the voltage and then tie them into the power for each separate mini-marquee. I know on my unit that the part of the circuitry that switches the marquee's is functional and there is power for all four. I'll never get around to it but it sounds like it might work.
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If I remember correctly, Neo Geo's electroluminescent panels operate on 50 volts DC!
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Is there a wiring diagram for the EL system on a Neo? I've thought often about making a LED panel to replace the old EL panel, but I no longer have access to a Neo to test.
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If I remember correctly, Neo Geo's electroluminescent panels operate on 50 volts DC!
So if it's 50v (wow!) we can step it down to an LED friendly voltage. LOL, I think I have some 24v LED's for my military vehicle's taillights/marker lights...how would we cut it in half and would this "hack" affect the proper switching?
I wonder if we could split the circuit so each 50v EL is replaced with two 24v lines with an LED in it that would match up to be 50v again if it required it. (this may not be necessary but I'm assuming that the EL panel has been designed to funtcion properly with just the 50v current. If I'm wrong then its much much easier.
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I was going to replace the EL panels in my dedicated 4 slot cab, but I couldn't find replacement parts. The EL panels I have are fine, but the power transformer in between the mobo and the panels made a funny noise. I replaced it with this:
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=90538;image)
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=90540;image)
I added a small 4" fixture to back light the neogo logo too. Coolest side effect is the light refracts down from where the monitor glass is and lights up the control panel in the dark.
I still have the panels, transformer and wiring if anyones interested
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That looks like a pretty decent alternative.
I'm having trouble visualizing LEDs giving enough coverage to light up a panel/ Wouldn't you get a bright 2 inch circle?
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I'm having trouble visualizing LEDs giving enough coverage to light up a panel/ Wouldn't you get a bright 2 inch circle?
Yeah...if you have one LED behind it. I envision LEDs surrounding four sides of a plexi piece, and they're aimed at the edge of it.
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That looks like a pretty decent alternative.
I'm having trouble visualizing LEDs giving enough coverage to light up a panel/ Wouldn't you get a bright 2 inch circle?
Yeah, I also picture this working best with a group of LED's, and possibly something to help diffuse the light.
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I tested the panel connections with my multimeter and got way under 1 volt. I tried testing between two panel connections and got a whopping 160V! Thing is I've been poking around for replacements and found an inverter at
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/INV-10/POWER-SUPPLY-FOR-EL-STRIPS/1.html
for EL Panels that they sell that is only 12V. wtf?
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Is anyone aware of a method to fix replace these panels (under $50)? As long as each light still lights up individually on demand I don't care how it's done.
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Get some LEDs. Use relays to wire them to your power supply.
Ok, great. I read up a little on relays. It seems their general application is to controller high voltage with low voltage. I don't know what the power requirements for LEDs is but the EL panels voltage is high. (50v-160v) What kind of LEDs and relays should I be looking for?
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Ok, just to make sure I've got this right. I will need 4 120V relays and 4 sets of LEDs (of course). So this isn't really a $10 solution? (not that I'm saying it's not a good solution) :)
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Ok, just to make sure I've got this right. I will need 4 120V relays and 4 sets of LEDs (of course). So this isn't really a $10 solution? (not that I'm saying it's not a good solution) :)
Something like this should work: http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=175611
I'd say, maybe a $30 solution, but a great one at that!
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just for the record:
$1.50 extension cord
$6.50 4" light
$12.00 18" light
$20 total extension cord plugs into the power supply outlet at the base of the cab. no hard wiring, easily reversible, looks snazzie