| Archive for thecentralstation.myfreeforum.org Railway modelling for all Scales and Gauges |
| Teleman |
Constant LED lights for DC !!!!I will make this a sticky as it is what i've been looking for and was trying to find out in the 'has anybody tryed'http://www.pollensoftware.com/railroad/index.html Thanks must go to NClight in Zagreb Croatia who posted the link and has used it himself and says it works well . The best part is that you can use the very small SMC LEDs and power up three of them from one regulator . The small ones are about the same size as a lamp in 00 scale so solder on the wires and paint and you have a working lamp ! Can't wait to try it 
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| poliss |
That's another medal for your chest.
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| Teleman |
Not for me (the medal that is), i was told about it just passing on info thats all
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| poliss |
Ok, Mentioned in Despatches then.
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| Teleman |
Thanks i think it will even be handy for you DCCers out there to
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| poliss |
The light is always on at full power on dcc even when the loco is staionary. Except you can turn it on and off whenever you like.
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| Teleman |
But with this you can use the very small LEDs that only need 3 volts to run .Can't find a picture of one ,but they are very small .
Like the ones on the bike that was on ebay |
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| poliss |
The ones I fitted to my Skoda are only 3 volts I think. That's why they have a built in resistor. The max input on them is 12 volts. (I must film it running, been to busy frying decoders). | ||
| poliss |
5mm Leds are too big for N scale. The circuit still works with 3mm Leds I presume? | ||
| Teleman |
Yes , it will work with any size LEDs | ||
| Teleman |
The smallest ones i could find
http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/46277.pdf 1.5~3~2.2 mill |
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| Teleman |
I've order some of the regulators today so i will let you know how i get on | ||
| poliss |
I wouldn't mind a few of these LED's. Save lots of space in my loco's.
http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=798 |
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| Teleman |
I'm going to try it with 'normal' leds first to see if it works | ||
| poliss |
You don't have to get the angle grinder out to make space for LED's.
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| Teleman |
I've not fitted any , yet , as the voltage on the track is only 6 volts when they run at a scale speed of 25 mph i have never bothered as thats a dim glow from a bulb this is all new stuff to me fitting lamps to locos .
The test one will be Ryans 125 as he has to run that realy fast to get the lights on |
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| poliss |
I just ran my loco again. Tried to film it in the dark but my cams not good enough and all I saw was a black screen. However, with the LED's the brightness is almost the same when creeping as at full speed. The red looks much brighter than white. | ||
| Teleman |
Red leds are brighter , they were the only colour you could get at one time | ||
| poliss |
Bulbs tend to be too dim when loco is run slowly and far too bright at high speed. My ancient Atlas with the Tri-ang Princess type plungers is too bright to look at. I dunno how the driver manages to see out of his cab at night.
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| Teleman |
Then this circuit would be just right for it | ||
| poliss |
The LED technology in the advert might come in useful for model rail use, I can't quite think of one yet. http://www.glassiled.com/content/en/
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| Teleman |
I must have a good read of that ! I can think of a few ways it could be used but not for modelling | ||
| upnick |
If made small enough poliss you could have cinema boards /advertising on the layout 
Have you tried miniatronics leds nice and bright as their big brothers the micro mini ones 1.5mm i have one fitted in the roof of an SW 9 bought off ebay converted to DCC originally purchased in the States well i presume its a miniatronics one they seem to use them regularly in articles i've seen .....got mine here http://www.digitrains.co.uk/PriceList.pdf unfortunatley it seems they dont come clear though just green yellow and red, if in clear i'm sure the clear Tamiya paints would give you and orange
Th plymouth switcher here has three fitted in front/rear/roof mind the body is still awaiting a coat of paint 
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| poliss |
So far I've only used the Maplins 3.5mm 12v with built in resistor. The thing I should be doing next, when I get around to it, is pasting sky wallpaper to my layout lid. | ||
| upnick |
Do you put heat shrink around the led to keep the light in easy tip and it works well. | ||
| poliss |
The lights in my Skoda have to shine forwards and upwards at the same time. If you look at this picture you'll see there are red and white lights at the base of the cab and a big headlight at the top. The top light on my model uses the amazing properties of perspex to turn light 90 degrees. So what I really need is an LED that shines in all directions at once.
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| upnick |
Have you thought of light gathering rod or fibre optics if there is the space Poliss ?
Light gathering rod is in the plastruct stand at my modelshop here in various thicknesses. |
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| Teleman |
I have all the bits needed , so i will get around to making one this week and running it through fibre optic cable which i will hold in place with heat shrink . | ||
| upnick |
Could i place an order for a DD40 AX light unit please Teleman
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| poliss |
All the lights work on my DD40X. Can't fit a chip because I have no idea where the contacts are. (Old version) | ||
| Teleman |
Only trouble is ... whats a DD40 AX ... post a picture of the front/back of it and i will see what i can do |
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| poliss |
Nick's DD40X is the second pic down in this link. Mines the top one.
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/dd40ax.html |
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