Asteroids marquee light fix...

[retroshaun]

[ukvac] Asteroids marquee light fix...
Hi guys
Real basic electrical question I'm afraid... the marquee light in my cab isnt working. I know its not the tube as I tested it with a working one. So I need to measure voltages to see if theres a problems with the wiring I guess. So - I presume I need to test it at the actual connections / plugs which attach to the light. Question is... how do I do this? Do I simply stick the meter pole into the socket and then the other end to an earth? And if so - whats a good place to find an earth in this part of a cab? Its an Asterods Deluxe by the way.... presumably I measure DC right? Finally, what voltages should I get?

Ta!
Shaun

 

[karlcdoe]

Re: [ukvac] Asteroids marquee light fix...
Hi,

> Real basic electrical question I'm afraid... the marquee light in my cab
isnt working. I know its not the tube as I >tested it with a working one. So
I need to measure voltages to see if theres a problems with the wiring I
guess. >
AFAIK Asteroids uses 110volt for the tube, there's probably a molex
connector in the top where you can measure this. Measure using *AC* scale
you don't need to find an earth, measure across live and neutral.

All of the following should be done with power *disconnected*:
I'm not sure how to test the starter (small cylindrical unit with bayonet
socket) but you can usually test the choke/ballast with a multimeter set on
Ohms scale. The choke is the transformer block with two wires going to
it.They're nearly always open or shorted if they're bad. If your ballast's
shorted it will kill your tubes as well! You can perform basic tests on
tubes by measuring across the two pins at each end on the ohms scale: if you
get an open reading the filament at that end of the tube is broken.

PS Observe safety precautions. Follow these tips at your own risk!

Karl.

 

[retroshaun]

Re: [ukvac] Asteroids marquee light fix...
OK I already swapped the starter for a known worker and nothing. Thats why I want to check I actually have power coming through. I have taken 2 pics of the marquee area, here:

http://www.marino13.btinternet.co.uk/pic1.jpg
http://www.marino13.btinternet.co.uk/pic2.jpg

So - when you say measure across live and neutral - where do you mean exactly? Is this the two connectors sticking out the front of the wood mounting on pic 1? Do I just stick a pole in each and see what I get?

I think I'll do this step before anything else. I doubt its the tube as a known working one didn't produce any output.

Shaun

 

[John Bennett]

RE: [ukvac] Asteroids marquee light fix...
If it's a tube light your using, shouldn't there be a fuse for it? It looks
like you have a fuse in the second picture. Perhaps that has blown?

Dom



DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Dominic Giles (dominic@bitscorp.com)

 

[retroshaun]

Re: [ukvac] Asteroids marquee light fix...
Sorry I may be missing something but I dont see a fuse anywhere! Can you clarify where exactly on the photo you mean?

 

[John Bennett]

RE: [ukvac] Asteroids marquee light fix...
I thought I saw a white round cylinder in center of the second picture where
your tube wires come from. When you look at tube lights in offices, and look
at the housing it's in, you normally see a fuse sticking out the side of the
housing which is white and cylindrical. Can't find a picture of one on the
web, sorry!!

Dom! =P



DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Dominic Giles (dominic@bitscorp.com)

 

[retroshaun]

Re: [ukvac] Asteroids marquee light fix...
The only white tubes are the two starters I'm afraid... unless I went completely blind