Replacing old lights in vintage 70s toy.

Hey, guys. Not sure if this is the right place for this, but I just received an old used up 70s toy ray gun that has the original light bulbs and sound rigging in it, but one bulb doesn't work. I'm not an electrical guy, so I don't know anything about how to wire the electronics in the gun up.

Can someone give me some instruction on how to install a replacement bulb? It's red, if that makes any difference to anything. Is it possible to replace the 2 bulbs that are in it with LED bulbs? Again, I have no idea how hard or easy this would be. But, with a little instruction, I could probably figure it out.

Let me know if you need pix.

You should be able to replace them with an LED. I have done that in the past. Pictures are always a great help. How many and what type of batteries did it use. If the answer is two AA you should be able to do it. Pictures!

How many batteries does it use, and what type? That will tell you what voltage the bulbs need to be. Wiring regular light bulbs is easy, but LEDs are polarity specific. They will work, you just need to get positive and negative right, and again be mindful of voltage.

Robiwon said:

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You should be able to replace them with an LED. I have done that in the past. Pictures are always a great help. How many and what type of batteries did it use. If the answer is two AA you should be able to do it. Pictures!

Here's what I've got to work with. It runs on 2 AAs. Sound and white bulb works. Red bulb is most likely burnt out or the wires connected to bulb are broken. Not sure. But, I WOULD like to replace both with LEDs, if possible.

What advice can you give, guys?

do you have a multimeter?

epilepticsquirl said:

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do you have a multimeter?

No, I don't. I keep meaning to get one. I'll have to get one tomorrow.

Ideally what you want to do is find out what the voltage going to the bulbs is. Knowing that pick the LED you want and the appropriate resistor, if needed, and solder in place. Pretty straight forward, just make sure polarity is correct.

Couldn't he try to replace the red bulb with a Christmas tree light?

Jedifyfe said:

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Couldn't he try to replace the red bulb with a Christmas tree light?

Grinch.

Cut the bulb off. Strip the wires back. Solder a red 3v LED in place. If it doesn't light, flip the leads around. It looks like a typical Xmas light. While your at it I would replace the white bulb as well with an LED. That bulb will eventually burn out too.

I think I have that exact same space pistol somewhere! I wonder if it still works, I had quite a few of them as a kid. Got any pics of a complete one?

DaddyfromNaboo said:

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I think I have that exact same space pistol somewhere! I wonder if it still works, I had quite a few of them as a kid. Got any pics of a complete one?

Here's what it looks like whole. I bought this on eBay last week for a mod project. Figured if it didn't work, no big deal. But a working gun is obviously ideal.

Yeeeesss I think I´ve got that one, too! I love 70ies/80ies space guns!

Robiwon said:

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Cut the bulb off. Strip the wires back. Solder a red 3v LED in place. If it doesn't light, flip the leads around. It looks like a typical Xmas light. While your at it I would replace the white bulb as well with an LED. That bulb will eventually burn out too.

Okay, was able to get some LEDs at Radio Shack yesterday and tested them last night. (They didn't have a white bulb, though. So, I bought a yellow one instead. Whatever.) They both appear to work. I'll sodder everything together and get it back to working order. Then give you guys an update.

Thanks for your help, guys!

Radio Shack does carry white LEDs.

robn1 said:

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Radio Shack does carry white LEDs.

Of course they do, but this particular store didn't have one in the size I needed. They only had some jumbo sized white ones in stock.