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
![[Image: file_zps8b4b5e51.jpg]](http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/Misc-2/file_zps8b4b5e51.jpg)
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
The LED at the right distance to replace the bulbs. Plug them in the old holes and fix them with a drop of CA
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.
Left LED, right bulb
Reinhard