Author Topic: Switching Stern backbox flourescent bulb with LED Tube help  (Read 1266 times)

Offline Toasterdog

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Switching Stern backbox flourescent bulb with LED Tube help
« on: January 02, 2013, 04:55:08 PM »
Looks just like the Stern one, but is a T8 led tube. Can i just plug and play? This is 10w, I believe the factory one is 20w. Thanks

Offline k7

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Re: Switching Stern backbox flourescent bulb with LED Tube help
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2013, 07:00:14 PM »
post a link. without specs, we're all guessing. :)


from what i see, you remove the starter, and you remove the ballast. also, tubes are as bright as the input, and the ones i saw were rated from 85 volts to 250 volts. at 110 volts, it's going to be pretty dim.

let us know how it turns out. i think an LED tube won't spread the light correctly, though.

good luck.
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Offline T-bo

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Re: Switching Stern backbox flourescent bulb with LED Tube help
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2013, 01:20:38 PM »
To switch from flourescent to LED you will need to disconnect the ballast and wire110V direct to the lamp.  The LED tube will contain it's own driver to convert the 110v to whatever the LED is rated for and will generally include instructions.  Keep in mind that when dealing with AC voltage that the white wires are the neutral and black is the hot leg.  Because there is both AC and DC (where black is ground) in the cabinet be sure to test or follow the wiring before making your connections permanant or powering up.
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Offline k7

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Re: Switching Stern backbox flourescent bulb with LED Tube help
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2013, 05:37:21 PM »
To switch from flourescent to LED you will need to disconnect the ballast and wire110V direct to the lamp.  The LED tube will contain it's own driver to convert the 110v to whatever the LED is rated for and will generally include instructions.  Keep in mind that when dealing with AC voltage that the white wires are the neutral and black is the hot leg.  Because there is both AC and DC (where black is ground) in the cabinet be sure to test or follow the wiring before making your connections permanant or powering up.

i love lights, but you know what? you gotta say no to some of the crap china puts out, especially if you're trusting their transformer and messing with 110 voltage input by modifying a high end stern.

try it on a $100 arcade game first. :P
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Offline bobwired1

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Re: Switching Stern backbox flourescent bulb with LED Tube help
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2013, 01:18:36 PM »
I am an electrician by trade. We install these all the time and mostly made in china. like they said, usually have the driver built in so put 120vac directly to the lamp sockets. Hot on one side and neutral on the other. super bright and generally disperse light well enough to backlight.
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