An Question that Requires Illumination...

Well lookie what I found on the web...

http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/ledlights1.html

Any other solutions?

 —MM 

I too was fed up with "grain-o-wheat" hell, and went looking for a better solution.  And it is exactly what you are looking for.  You can buy the LEDs from a number of different sources on the internet.  I like the golden white varieties sold by Richmond Controls.  $1.50 each.  For 12-16VDC, typical of most power pack accessory outputs, a 1/2 watt, 1k ohm resistor gives a nice bright output along with a life span longer than you and me......  The resistors you can buy at Radio Shack (or a zillion internet sites) for pennies....

I have also been doing some experimenting with fiber optics, and have been quite happy with the results.  Exterior building lights, street lights, even vehicle head lights.  All using small fiber optics glued into holes drilled in LED lenses.  Better explanations of the "what and how" if you check out the threads (I think there are three) in the "buildings and scenery" forum.  If all you want to do is "light up" interiors, the LEDs are definitely a cheaper and much more dependable alternative to incandescents.  The 5mm diameter LED is a good selection.  Very bright, as well as enough room to drill a hole that will hold 4-6 .5mm fibers.  What is neat about this solution is you get a completely lit interior from the LED, and multiple, scale size lights on the exterior, all from one light......

 I am new to LEDs, but would like to use them to illuminate a set of passenger cars. I contacted Richmond Controls and they recommended a kit that costs $35 per car, and I don't think that includes the metal wheels or axle wipers. Moreover, the kit would have to be modified.

 My question is, if I just buy the LEDs, what else do I need besides the axle wipers and metal insulated wheels? Also, what sort of electrical connection do I make between the axle wipers and the LED?

I don't know if this establishment has branches in the US but here in Canada I get my supplies from www.active123.com anything from micro toggles to led's resistors circuit boards photo etching chemicals solder and wire, heat shrink, you name it they have it for allot less than what you'll pay at Radio shack.

IMHO opinion there are three issues here:

• collecting track power
• transferring power from 'outside' the car to 'inside'
• building the the actual physical lighting

I am in the process of this project as well; part of the overall program is replacing the substandard wheels with FVM 36" wheels. This, along with Richmond Controls wipers (need to order yet) should solve the collection problem.

On my Rivarossi cars the second (electricity in to car) is taken care of by design; metal screw holds truck, wiper attached to screw. Metal post insode car is now live. So I can string my wiring between these posts.

Building the specific lighting I have not even contemplated yet; capability and set up were the first priority, as the wheels are getting changed either way.  Any advice is welcome, and Michael's link may come in handy!

Dennis

England

1. Using DC - you would need to make allowances for changing voltage.

 2. Breaks in contact with power - if your loses contact with the track (insulated gaps, dirt, etc.) the lights could flicker. I'm not convinced that spending serious amounts and/or fitting the capacitor and such is really necessary Find out soon though!

Dennis

....rolling stock from track power can be easily eliminated.  Use a battery installation. One 9 volt battery can light an entire string of passenger cars with LEDs.  The battery can be installed in a baggage/mail/express car at the head end and wired to all the cars.  One on/off switch would control the lights in all the cars, and could be disguised as a manual brake wheel or something else.

Constant voltage, no flicker, no cranky wipers, no dirty wheel lighting problems, easier installation, and et cetera.

Moose