I have been melting the bulb housings on my lionel double signal bridge and even the black lens housing a little. Im running approx. 14-16 volts. The bulbs obviously seem to be getting very hot. I have to run at that voltage for other accessories to work correctly. Is that too much voltage for the bridge? Seems from the manual it should be able to handle that voltage.
try putting in 18v bulbs they will run a little cooler or look into changing them to led would help maybe like 3 or 4 per light area
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
You could also put a diode in the common wire to reduce voltage
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Do these signals use the modern bulb with the white plastic base (8352 bulb)? If so, those bulbs do run very hot.
I removed the bulbs from their bases and installed LEDs from Radio Shack into the bases. I also installed a diode and resistor into the common wire for each side of the bridge to protect the LEDs.
Jim
You cannot count on an 18-volt lamp to run cooler when substituted for a 14-volt lamp. In particular, the often-recommended number-1445 18-volt lamp replacing the number-53 lamp on the parts list for the Lionel 450 signal bridge (which may or may not be what the original poster has) will actually generate more heat.
Bob Nelson
East Coast Train parts now sell R&G Led bulbs with the correct base for the old 1447-49 432 Etc.
they are focused for outward light output and are drop-in replacement's. the also have 1's for the switches that are diffused to look like the old Bulbs.
Mike
LED replacements for the bulbs are the way to go.
I agree that LEDs are the way to go; they solve a number of heating/melting problems. Just be aware of what it is you're purchasing.
There are a number of vendors advertising and selling "14 Volt" LEDs that are actually stamped "12V" on their bases. Experience has shown these "12V" units do tend to burn out relatively quickly. I can't be sure whether that's due to the voltage rating, the quality, or someone increasing the voltage in an attempt to get the same light output as the LEDs incandescent counterpart.
The message is, "Be sure you're getting what you're paying for."
Frank Silvia
TCA 79-14309
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