Williams Engine Lights

[Blueberryhill RR]

I just wanted to share this information with all of you..........

Yesterday, I talked with the Technician at Williams, about getting some replacement light bulbs for ones that burnrd out in my FM Trainmaster. He told me that all the newer engines and cars, had higher voltage bulbs in them to compensate for the higher running voltage of the Remote Controlled layouts. This will appear as a dim light in conventional layouts. He said that Radio Shack has bulbs that were of lower voltage and to use those. That is what I did. And it worked fine.

Chuck

[brianel027]

Chuck, all the train makers do this. Not only is there the "command factor" to be considered, but the typical transformer starting voltage of 6 volts.

When I first re-entered the hobby and was running the then popular truck mounted DC can motored locos. Even with the circuit board reverse, these locos don't require as much voltage as an open frame AC pullmor motor. Hense the common comment that the early K-Line locos run like jack rabbits. I discovered then that cars like the 1993 Lionel Toxic Waste Car had flashing lights with voltages that were higher and the lights hardly flashed with the locos I just mentioned. So I changed the bulbs to 5-7volt flashing CHRISTmas bulbs and now they're just fine.

Since I have pulled the circuit board reverse units and now run on DC current, I find I can put 6volt bulbs in all my cars and locos and have very suitable brightness. I buy my bulbs at Radio Shack too because I like the amperage draw information also included on the package.... important info for when I make my own headlights and the bulb is close to or mounted in the plastic shell - and I don't want extra heat to prevent melting.

[Anonymous]

Williams locos are very easily altered for constant voltage LED lighting. I remove the light bulbs and associated wiring. I take 10, 6 amp diodes and solder them together,5 in each direction. I then solder the 2 ends together and insulate it with tape installing 3 leads from each end of the assembly.One pair of leads is then wired in series with the motor(s) circuit. This drops voltage to the motor by a fairly constant 3.5 volts . Using the remaining 2 pair of leads they can be wired to 3-6 volt lightbulbs for non directional lighting or LEDs for directional lighting. The LEDs put out very little heat. I use warm white LEDs with a 140 degree view angle,3.4-3.8 forward voltage for Williams cab lighting but you can use the LEDs of your choice. If you use LEDs with lesser voltage simply install a blocking diode in line to that LED.

The circuit has a further advantage in that it eliminates the jackrabbit start effect prevelant in many engines. When 6 volts is applied by the transformer only 2.5 volts gets to the motor. 3.5 volts are blocked by the diodes.

Dale Hz