Picasso Dealer Sign: LED replacement?

[MoSharp]

I’ve encountered advertisements for the illuminated Macintosh Picasso Dealer signs with a LED light instead of the original fluorescent. I’m looking for information on how to do this replacement for my own sign. I‘ve attached an image of a sign (though it’s not my one.)

Any help appreciated.
Maurice

https://imgur.com/1mQ8UWe

 

[ScutBoy]

This would be good to know...

 

[Stephen]

Interesting problem, there are a few ways to approach it (e.g., convert to USB, use a small power supply).

Are there any photos available of the internals?

 

[MoSharp]

I've taken a bunch of pictures (attached). While doing that I discovered 3 things:
1. Although it's using the original fluorescent bulb power supply, the bulb itself is a newer LED one
2. That doesn't prevent it humming
3. The length of the cavity for the light is 12", and there's enough depth that under-cabinet LED lighting will fit (with appropriate padding)

Of course, having said #3, it's a matter of finding one that doesn't have the bump in the detector bump. A friend from Apple checked with collectors there, and one of them uses this:

Amazon.com

Though it has the detector bump so I'm not sure how the lighting would look.

Basically, I'm still after a good solution, especially one that lets me keep the switch from the original control (see the pictures)

 

[Stephen]

I think the most practical option is abandoning the fluorescent light and ballast entirely. Obviously, this impacts how much you want to keep it "original". Converting this to LED could be as simple as buying a USB / wall-wart LED strip and thin sheet of diffusing material to sandwich between the LEDs and bottom of the acrylic sign — with the extra advantage that most LED strips come with remotes.

If you want to keep it authentic you could try to find an LED fluorescent tube replacement — it sounds like in your case someone has already done that. Last option I can think of is gutting the metal housing and swapping it for the parts of a light strip / power supply.

I might be interested in helping out if you want to go down one of the routes which requires a little more modification.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I've taken a bunch of pictures (attached). While doing that I discovered 3 things:
1. Although it's using the original fluorescent bulb power supply, the bulb itself is a newer LED one
2. That doesn't prevent it humming
3. The length of the cavity for the light is 12", and there's enough depth that under-cabinet LED lighting will fit (with appropriate padding)

Of course, having said #3, it's a matter of finding one that doesn't have the bump in the detector bump. A friend from Apple checked with collectors there, and one of them uses this:

Amazon.com

Though it has the detector bump so I'm not sure how the lighting would look.

Basically, I'm still after a good solution, especially one that lets me keep the switch from the original control (see the pictures)

When I upgraded to LED bulbs in my light fixtures through the house, the dimmable units (dining room, downstairs family room, master bath etc.) hummed at 120hz badly. It was very annoying - drove me crazy. To fix that, I installed Lutron LED dimmers

Lutron LED dimmer

at the wall switch that controlled those offending lights and the appliance hums went away completely. Assuming it isnt the grumpy ballast, I am curious that if you installed an LED dimmer to the switch that controlled the plug the picasso sign is plugged into that it would stop your LED hum and you could use your light in its original state. Anyhow, I agree that retro fitting the unit with a diffused LED is an easy and elegant, wallet friendly solution + you get a remote control which is handy (and a reversible mod if done well).