New Life Games LLC
**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Universal Reel/Video Games => Topic started by: Fitr on March 12, 2015, 06:34:11 AM
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Hi - I just got my first slot. It's a double fortune. The other day I noticed after running the game for 6 hours, the light ballast on the front door was real hot. I removed the housing which holds 2 ballasts and starters. The ballast which runs the small tube above the reels has goo all over it. The tube still works at this point but I need to replace this ballast. It says FL 8X1 11w. I am attaching a pic. Where can I buy a replacement?
Or do I need to convert to something else? Thanks for any assistance.
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I believe that "goo" is there for heat dissipation, but I really do not know. Another recent post shows the same thing. http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=4993.20 (http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=4993.20)
And do not know where to get replacement.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable in ballasts can chime in?
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Thank you for the info. Maybe I don't have a problem. I will keep my eye on it. Appreciate your expert advice.
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The goo is in there to help cool the ballast but not leak out.
The ballast will run hotter and hotter till it fails.
So go ahead and get a replacement ballast.
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Older ballasts do run warmer than newer ones that are more efficient, but too hot is not good. It looks like this is an 11 watt ballast, you might make sure someone hasn't switched out the fluorescent lamp or lamps that are connected to it to ones that are rated higher power than 11 watts total. If it just runs one lamp then it will be easy, just check the writing on the side of the lamp and see what its rating is. Someone may have put a 15wt lamp in there to make things a little brighter and the little ballast is having to work harder.
Fluorescent lamps last thousands of hours but they eventually start to go bad. Even though the fluorescent lamp is lighting up if the ends of the lamp are darker it is a sign the lamp has many many hours on it and it begins to use more electricity from the ballast to make light, which overheats the ballast. The fluorescent lamp has electrodes at each end that emit electrons that flow thru the gas causing it to ionize and give off light. These electrodes eventually wear out and give off less electrons. The ballast then tries to force more electron flow and this is why it overheats. So, if your lamp connected to this ballast looks darker on each end consider replacing the lamp.
Also, does the other ballast next to it run hot? If so then the heat from the big one could be affecting the other one. Since it is a new machine to you it might be a good idea to inspect all the fluorescent lamps just to see what you have.
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Lots of good info here. Thank you very much for your help with this issue.