converting tron

[leslie]

Hi all ive recently imported a fs tron from the US and with my limited knowledge of electrics hope to convert it to run on 240v , to do this ive have a switching power supply from the arcade shop, and have four ,240v ballast for the t8 lights, im guessing thats all i need for the conversion, or am i missing something? all advice welcome

 

[leslie]

cant believe no body knows.

 

[phillv85]

You'll need to know the voltage your monitor runs off as well. The best option is to use a 240-110v step down on the cab plug.

 

[simonden]

The easiest way to convert Tron to 240v is to buy a fairly high-powered (say 600W) de-cased transformer and put that inside the cab.

There are many members that will have one for sale (Sega model 3/Sega NAOMI transformer).

Trying to change it to run without a decent transformer means:
A new 240v PSU
A new 240v in, 120v out ISO transformer for the monitor (the US standard cab only has 120v in)
2 X new 240v ballasts for the lights (the US standard cab only has 120v in)
A lot of work (versus 5 minutes of putting in a de-cased transformer).

 

[Equites]

Both step-down and switcher methods suck, the only way to do it properly is with a proper transformer suitable for UK.

That's what I did with my US spec Pac-Man, just killed a Pac-Man bootleg and used the transformer from it.

 

[tronads]

I'm interested to hear about your import Leslie, the cost of it, how you arranged it etc.

 

[anj]

i have 240v to 110-120v stepdown that big enough to run that £50 posted its a 750W and you just mount it inside the game connect the orignal 110v wiring to the output and the 240v to the input

 

[guddler]

Anj's solution is by far the easiest when it comes to Tron. My Tron also needs a 12v AC signal as well but I don't know if that is just the cocktail.

 

[edwoodjnr]

Is there a minimum / maximum spec transformer for a Tron? My recently arrived US Tron has a Airlink 500w stepdown and is blowing the 3A fuse, I think the problem may lay elsewhere....

 

[guddler]

Hmm, alarm bells are now ringing in my head !!

I bought an Airlink 500W step-down for mine and it repeatedly blew the fuses. I assumed that during me converting it back to 110v (from a badly installed step-down using a monitor ISO) the main transformer in the Tron had gone bad but now you've got me wondering if there's even the remotest chance it could be something to do with the step down. Though I've no idea what on earth it could be.

 

[edwoodjnr]

yes, without wanting to hijack this thread it blows betwen 1 and 5 minutes, I replace the fuse and the game, monitor and lights are ok again for a short time. If it was a transformer problem woudn't it shut down and not blow the fuse? I will do the unplg and replug thing later but I guess there is no easy way to detect the problem without blowing these (expensive) fuses.

 

[leslie]

re converting tron power supply - changing the subject ever so slightly when my Tron arrived it began by blowing its 3 Amp whilst i was using a step down transformer, so i put in a switching power supply (from the arcade shop ) and the fuse blowing continued ! to cut a long story short i plugged out all the florescent lights and it no longer blows its fuse . Ive brought 4 new ballasts and am in the process of changing them .As for importing from the US , ive done this on two occasions with great results , first contacted seller who agreed to sell to a UK bidder , after winning contacted shipping company (The British shop ) gave them size of machine and its location (zip code) they gave me a price to ship usually between £600-£650 once agreed takes about 6 weeks and its delivered to my door , ive done this on 2 occasions and both times its gone like clockwork ,so if i cant find a machine over here (starwars) ill find it over there and bring it over.

 

[edwoodjnr]

Leslie, that's it !!

Same problem for me, disconnected the 4 tubes and bam, everything working with no fuses blowing.

Can you post a link for getting new ballasts ?

Thanks

 

[tb lilley]

Almost a certainty that any Tron imported from US is using 60Hz ballast. But UK mains is 50Hz. I think this means that the 60Hz ballast will draw more current. If so, 4 x 60Hz ballast may well be what's blowing the fuses.

So .... replace with 110/120V 50Hz ballast.

Link

 

[edwoodjnr]

Thanks James I will get 4 of these and give it a try

 

[guddler]

Mine blowing fuses has nothing to do lighting ballasts since it doesn't have any. Cocktail doesn't use fluorescents.

 

[edwoodjnr]

I am waiting for the ballasts to arrive and playing Tron with the 4 fluorescent lights disconnected. Although it lasts longer than with the lights attached it is still blowing the 3A fuse. Instead of blowing between 30 seconds and 2 mins before it is more like after about 5 - 10 mins.

I have no clue of where to check next, anyone have any ideas?

 

[guddler]

I would be very tempted to call Airlink and see if they have any suggestions...

 

[edwoodjnr]

Tonight I undid the rectifier diodes on the suitcase power supply and ensured that the 8 orange plastic insulators were isolating the diodes. So far everything is ok with Tron working for an hour, fingers crossed....

 

[Judder]

Just an FYI but I have my Tron running original US 60Hz ballasts with a 240V -> 110V step down transformer and it all runs quite happily.



The same is for our Defender which I put a new 110V / 60Hz ballast into as per a previous thread discussions - link below




Link

TB is correct that 110V / 50Hz is what you really want as these are correct for the EU 50Hz power

but my (*limited) understanding is that running a 60Hz ballast at 50Hz may make a buzz but not have huge effects.




Some discussions about that weirdly on a Tanning Machine forum here

Judder2014-09-22 19:03:30