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Light Install - Printable Version +- (https://bigbluetrains.com) +-- Forum: The Back Shop (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=52) +--- Forum: DCC (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38) +--- Thread: Light Install (/showthread.php?tid=1448) |
Light Install - OBJack - 07-03-2009 Here is my first attempt at a modification, albeit its only minor.
I fumbled around and installed my first set of interior lights into a few passenger cars. First the cars ...new.... and with shiny wheels, but no interior lights. ![]() I had heard about a package that you could install with the LEDs to stop the them flickering as the carriage was moving, so I threw my hard earned on the counter at http://www.dccconcepts.com/ and collected a 6 pack to try out the system. http://www.dccconcepts.com/index_files/DCCflickerfree.htm Opened the pack and enough bits fell out to do a car.. ![]() LEDs, resistors, some springs to put on the axles for electrical pickup, a flicker free unit and some PCB board, in fact the package I bought had enough to light at least six cars. Then, the dexterous bull elephant took the roof off to get inside. ![]() This was a bit of a hassle because of these pipe looking bits on the end, that I'm sure are only there to stop people like me interfering with the original ![]() But that is what crowbars are for... Then came the welding, sawing and hacking to assemble the PCB board ![]() I soldered 2 (or 1 and a half) PCBs together to make the board long enough for the 6 or so lights I will put on it for the car ![]() This is a 4 LED wired into the board with a 1000 ohm resistor to dull the LEDS that I put in the first car I did ![]() Depending on the strength of the light required, you can either use a 1000 ohm, 500 ohm or even no resistor in the process, and not knowing how bright the light would be I opted for a resistor I then dropped the flicker free do-dad down into entry at the end of the car to hide it from view ![]() This flicker free thing can keep the lights on for a couple of minutes after the power is off. and ran the wires thru a hole in the floor for the pickups ![]() and soldered the other two wires to the PCB board ![]() I will hopefully finish tomorrow. Jack ![]() Re: Light Install - nomad - 07-03-2009 Interesting Jack. I have never seen anybody install these before. Do you think they would work in a caboose, using 1 light? Loren Re: Light Install - OBJack - 07-03-2009 nomad Wrote:Interesting Jack. I have never seen anybody install these before. Do you think they would work in a caboose, using 1 light?Loren, I see no reason why not. The L.E.D.s are hooked up in parallel, so 1 light or 10 lights should make no difference. In fact the kit that I got had a few white and red L.E.D.s for exactly that, and as I said before, depending on the brightness of the light required you can of course use a resistor... or not. The output of the flicker free (capacitor?) is 4.5 ~4.7 v, input of 9 ~ 20volts AC, DC, or DCC, and it can store up to 200,000 microfarads ( whatever they are) And it draws very little current, and needs about 2 to 3 minutes on the track to reach full storage capacity.I installed one carriage with a 1000 ohm resistor ( and the light was just visible in the dark, nicely subdued, like it probably should be ) I did the next one without a resistor, so it is noticeable in daylight and I think the third one I do will have a 500 ohm resistor installed, so I can see the difference. Next thing was to get the pickups installed on the axles. But I found the wheels on both side were isolated from the axle, hence no power flowing thru the axle to be picked up by the little springs supplied with the kit.
![]() ![]() plan B... Cut a #5 kadee coupler centering spring plate .....
![]() ..... in half and glue to the underside of the bogey with the spring against the wheel to act as wipers [/align]then solder the two wires to each pick up and.... voila The Dude that welded the wires ( and melted the bogey! :geek: ) No longer works here. The first one I did with four leds and a resistor for a very subdued light, the second one had no resistor and 6 lights which makes for a bit of light seen during daylight running hours 6 lights & no resistor ![]() Re: Light Install - nomad - 07-03-2009 Very good idea for the pickups Loren Re: Light Install - Steamtrains - 07-04-2009 A MOST excellent idea for those pick-ups..!!! I have a couple of engines that could use better pick up via the tender, but have been putting it off just dreading the thought of having to manufacture the pick-ups. I'm gonna get to work right NOW...!!! Re: Light Install - nomad - 07-04-2009 I am looking at my Mantua 0-6-0. Loren Re: Light Install - MasonJar - 07-04-2009 Here's a similar set-up, all ready to go... <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rapidotrains.com/light_ho.html">http://www.rapidotrains.com/light_ho.html</a><!-- m --> Andrew |