Backbox LED Tube Conversion in a Stern Metallica Pinball Machine

In this video I replace the fluorescent light in a Stern Metallica pinball machine with a Type B LED tube and re-wire the existing fixture to eliminate the starter and ballast. It might sound complicated, but it’s actually very easy. I’ve converted five machines from this era in the past week; the wire colors and locations have been identical on all of them and I used the same bulb. One of the biggest frustrations with fluorescent lights is troubleshooting when they stop working. Is it the bulb? The starter? The ballast? You replace the bulb… still nothing. Then the starter… still nothing. Eventually you realize it’s the ballast and you probably damaged the new bulb cause the ballast was actually bad. Converting to LED type B eliminates that problem completely. LED type A is still better than fluorescent but still requires a working ballast so that may cause you problems in the future. Another downside to fluorescent bulbs is the heat and UV they produce. Over time they can fade the artwork on the translite and make the plastic connectors behind it brittle. By re-wiring the fixture and installing a Type B LED replacement, you remove the starter and ballast from the circuit and won’t have to deal with those failures again. In this video I show exactly how I wired the fixture and the bulb I used. Any Type B LED tube you purchase will include wiring instructions. With the bulb I chose there are 2 ways to wire it. Either power on just one side or on both sides. Stern used un-shunted fluorescent lamp sockets/holders and I chose the method that puts 120V power to only one side of the fixture. Other type B bulbs may be different so check the documentation that comes with it if you use a different one. For this conversion I: • Wired 120V power to one side of the socket • Cut and isolated the wires on the opposite side, leaving that side “open” Because both ends of the fixture look the same, and I wired power to just one side, it’s important to install the LED tube in the correct direction so the powered side lines up properly. The bulb used in this video also has a color temperature switch on one end. That switch side is NOT the powered side—it goes in the open socket. The end without the switch connects to the 120V side. Installing it backwards could damage the bulb. Most LED bulbs will also include a small sticker to place inside the backbox indicating the fixture has been converted from fluorescent to LED, which helps future technicians know it’s been modified. 👍 If you enjoy pinball repair tutorials and real-world arcade tech tips, please like & share! — 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝟖𝟐 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 — ✔️ Over 100 pinball machines and classic arcade games ✔️ All games set to 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 — no quarters needed ✔️ One low admission — play for one hour or stay all day 📍 Located in De Pere, WI — just minutes from Green Bay Want to play 100+ pinball machines on FREE PLAY? Visit District 82 Pinball Arcade — the largest pinball arcade in Wisconsin and a must-visit destination for pinball fans near Green Bay. Perfect for: • Pinball collectors • Arcade enthusiasts • Green Bay date nights • Family fun weekends • Birthday parties & group events Current full game list: https://district82.com/game-list/