New Life Games LLC
**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Bally Reel Games => Topic started by: Amechanic on March 22, 2017, 03:35:54 PM
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i was just asked to replace the Florecent bulbs in a Bally 5500. I replaced all 3 bulbs and starters. When I turned the machine on, the reels and top feature glass bulbs both came on. How ever the belly glass light flashed and died? I checked the starters, and they are good. I installed a second bulb in the belly glass, but again just a quick bright flash the nothing? Is the ballast bad. I've seen a bad ballast not light the bulb, but never cause a bulb to just blow? I don't see any grounded or pinched wires on the light fixture.. Any ideas...
Gary
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The most likely cause is the ballast. The ballast is used to control the current through the fluorescent tube so if
one goes bad it can cause a rush of current and all you get to see is a bright flash of light. If the ballast is open
then no current will flow and the tube will not light.
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Dan,
So even if this machine uses starters there can still be a power surge? I know the starter was not damaged because I tested it on one of the other two lights.
Gary
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Dan,
So even if this machine uses starters there can still be a power surge? I know the starter was not damaged because I tested it on one of the other two lights.
Gary
Yes, even with the starters in place. The starter (which is simply a timed switch) allows current to flow through the filaments at the ends of the tube. The current causes the starter's contacts to heat up and open, thus interrupting the flow of current. The tube lights.
Since the lighted fluorescent tube has a low resistance, the ballast now serves as a current limiter.So you see, the ballast which is a current limiter, if bad will allow to much current to flow once the switch is flipped. In this case the switch is the starter turns off the tube will blow due to to much current flow.
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Thanks.. Is there any way to test a ballast with a multi meter? Can you check for resistance like a coil? I have a box full of take offs, but I'm not sure of there condition.
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The best method might be to measure one of the good ones in the machine and see what those readings are, measure both
sides and then measure the suspected bad once and you should see a difference. Now pull out the ones you have and select one
that closely matches the reading of your good one.
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I had the same problem with one of the tubes on the door of an E2000, and it turned out to be a shorted starter socket. Those things are about as cheaply made as they can be - there was a strand of wire shorting between the pin slots on the socket.
Replaced socket, all was fixed.
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Well I have found a ballast and starter socket off a old Bally E Series top box light. It should work for what I need. I'll know more next week when I can get back to the Bally 5500
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Ramegoom this is my new problem with this machine. I went to change out the belly light ballast, and yes I took a starter socket. I removed a ballast from a spare top light fixture from a Bally E2000. Now here is my problem. The female crimp connectors on the Bally 5500 light ballast are smaller the a .093 connector. Yet they are bigger then a .062 connector. What in the heck size crimp connectors were used? Is there a crimp connector size smaller the a .093, but bigger then a .062? I have these sizes.
Thanks, Gary