05-08-2013, 01:28 PM
A Chinese seller on ebay offered some time ago 2mm (,078") LED at a very attractive price and low shipping cost. I got a batch of them with the intention to use 2mm LED to replace Athearn's bulbs.
My new CR GP9 became the test bed.
The lamp holes needed to be widened just a touch with a hand driven 2mm drill. The outside end of the hole will not change because it is wider than the remaining part of the hole. I used the holes from the outside as a gauge to solder the two LED at the correct distance into one unit.
The 2mm LED. They are so bright the nominal to low bulb output is just fine
![[Image: file_zps49042616.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zps49042616.jpg)
The LED at the right distance to replace the bulbs. Plug them in the old holes and fix them with a drop of CA
![[Image: file_zpsc80febb8.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zpsc80febb8.jpg)
The converted engine just before the shell goes back. I use small connectors to reconnect the LED to the PCB. The service staff is happy with that feature.
![[Image: file_zps44c4051f.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zps44c4051f.jpg)
Left LED, right bulb
My new CR GP9 became the test bed.
The lamp holes needed to be widened just a touch with a hand driven 2mm drill. The outside end of the hole will not change because it is wider than the remaining part of the hole. I used the holes from the outside as a gauge to solder the two LED at the correct distance into one unit.
The 2mm LED. They are so bright the nominal to low bulb output is just fine
![[Image: file_zps49042616.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zps49042616.jpg)
The LED at the right distance to replace the bulbs. Plug them in the old holes and fix them with a drop of CA
![[Image: file_zpsc80febb8.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zpsc80febb8.jpg)
The converted engine just before the shell goes back. I use small connectors to reconnect the LED to the PCB. The service staff is happy with that feature.
![[Image: file_zps44c4051f.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zps44c4051f.jpg)
Left LED, right bulb
![[Image: file_zps8b4b5e51.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zps8b4b5e51.jpg)
Reinhard