Rock-Ola Wallbox

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Thu May 10, 2012 11:54 am

I've just bought this on e-Bay for £107. This might seem a lot to US readers, but I consider it a bargain. see below*

The only down-side is that it doesn't have the coin mechanism (although looking at photos of similar wall boxes, everything else seems to be there and very clean) and there's no key for the cash box. I'm not that bothered as I won't be attempting to hook it up to my Rock-Ola 443. I'll keep it in my little "office" and just wire up the 6v lamps and see if the speakers will work off my lap top. I'll put 50 of the titles of some of my spare records in the "flip overs" as I've reached an age, where I can't remember the ones I've changed over in my jukeboxes. It'll stop the "knee-jerk" reaction to hearing something on the radio or TV and wanting to get it, when I've already got it. (it hasn't happened yet, but it could!)

However, just out of curiosity, would it have the same coin mech as my 443, or are they different in wallboxes?
Also how hard would it be to find a key for the cashbox, or if I wanted to open it would I have to drill out the old lock?

* Someone recently paid £102 for this pile of junk

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1963-Rockola- ... 3a7289520d

by **Ron Rich** » Thu May 10, 2012 5:30 pm

Riley,
I don't know RockOla wall boxes, but would assume that a coin acceptor could be found for this --
As for the speakers--you probably will need to wire them directly to the amp--by-passing any internal controls in the wallbox, except maybe the volume control--Get a Service Manual, and both questions should be answered--correctly ! Ron Rich

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Thu May 10, 2012 6:49 pm

Thanks, Ron, I knew it'd be down to the impedance of the internal speakers and the output of the lap top, but I think I can manage to sort that one way or another. The volume controls are just the three push buttons. I'm interested in whether a coin mech from a compatible jukebox would be the same.

I have got a manual, I'll have a wade through that.

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Fri May 11, 2012 8:58 pm

Another question, if someone can help me.
According to the manual, the lights in this wallbox are five #47 6.3Volt.

I've a spare 6volt 200ma mains adapter. Would this be adequate to power the lamps if I connect them up in parallel, or would I need something with more ampage?

by **Ron Rich** » Fri May 11, 2012 11:16 pm

How many 6.3 V at what watt lamps are there ?--You might try it and see if your transformer gets warm--Ron Rich

Rob-NYC · by **Rob-NYC** » Fri May 11, 2012 11:47 pm

Riley, #47's are rated at 150ma/ea you could safe power only one bulb.

Also, wallboxes run them at some value lower than rated to extend their life, generally around 5 volts.

You could use an old cell phone charger. These are usually rated at 5 volt/500ma the output is DC so disconnect the motor. Or simply look for an approx 25 volt tran where 1 amp would be quite adequate if you are not going to use the motor.

Rob/NYC

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Fri May 11, 2012 11:55 pm

Thanks Rob, I was pretty sure that this adapter wouldn't cope.

Amazon do a Universal Mains Power Supply 3/4/5/6/7/8/9/12v - 90v - 240v 1000mA plug in power supply for a few quid, so I might try this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Mains ... 96&sr=8-37

Wouldn't I have to link the lamps in series with a 25volt transformer?

by **Ron Rich** » Sat May 12, 2012 1:12 am

Riley,
What I would do--
Find a "25 volt transformer" and connect it to the "25 volt" input taps, already provided inside the wall box.
This should provide you with illumination power in the same manor as RockOla designed it. (You will need to see the schematic, if you want to see what the did--I don't know, but I guess an autoformer, or resistors were used) Ron Rich

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Sat May 12, 2012 1:22 am

Thanks for that Ron. According to the manual there's a small transformer in the wallbox which supplies 6 volts to the lights from the 24 volt supply from the jukebox. But I've no idea if this would be still functional. If it's been messed about with there's no guarantee that it will work off a 24 volt supply. As I'm not going to get it working and just want it as a feature, I think I'm better off just wiring up the lights from a low voltage transformer.

by **Ron Rich** » Sat May 12, 2012 5:01 am

Riley,
IMHO, you are much better off wiring it as I said--using the provided transformer ( probably an autoformer) in the box.
Ron Rich

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Sat May 12, 2012 8:58 pm

Ron Rich wrote:Riley,
IMHO, you are much better off wiring it as I said--using the provided transformer ( probably an autoformer) in the box.
Ron Rich

Ron, you're assuming the wallbox transformer works, I'm not. I can get the five lights working by re-routing the wires and using an adapter that cost a fiver. There seems no point buying a 24 volt transformer to achieve the same result if I then find the transformer in the wallbox doesn't work. If at any time I or anyone want to try and get the whole thing working again, which I don't, I can rewire it, as I've just cut the wires and taped the unused bits up.

But thanks for your help anyway, it is appreciated.

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Mon May 14, 2012 10:10 pm

Does anyone know the ohmage of the little speakers in this wall box?

I've looked in the manual, but all it says on the parts list is "speakers."

Any help would be appreciated.

by **Ron Rich** » Tue May 15, 2012 1:59 am

Riley,
I would look for that info on the wallbox schematic---or just take your meter and measure them ?
Ron Rich

Rob-NYC · by **Rob-NYC** » Tue May 15, 2012 6:21 am

Dog, from what i recall R-O used 32 ohm just like Seeburg and Wurlitzer, only Rowe used 45 ohm.

If you are connecting them to a common stereo it doesn't really matter because their impedance is so high they can't cause any damage to the amp. Just don't push them too hard 1-2 watts is "it".

if you use a standard meter a 32 ohm speaker will read about 25-27 ohms and a 45 ohm will read around 37 ohms. DC resistance is always about 3/4ths of the AC impedance on speakers.

Rob/NYC

DoghouseRiley · by **DoghouseRiley** » Wed May 16, 2012 5:20 pm

Thanks for your help guys.

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