Question about Lighted FasTrack

[fifedog]

In reference to LIONEL's new LED lighted FasTrack...

I'm assuming it optimum working power is at 18 Volts.  However, has anyone tried it with conventional power packs?

The wife would like a circle for our North Pole layout next year, but I'm not wanting to puchase a Lion Chief type engine, nor set 2123090.  I like to run our Gingerbread set at a slow crawl, and I also don't want to "overcook" the Gingerbread men.

What say you?

[Flintlock76]

Well, if it's LED's then it's certainly DC power only, AC's going to blow those LED's in a heartbeat.

When I thought the trainboard under the Christmas tree needed a little something extra I bought a candy-cane striped "light rope," you know, the things people put on railings?  Looks darn good around the train board and lights up the train on the outside loop as well. 

[fifedog]

Thanks for the quick reply, Flint. 

[Flintlock76]

You're welcome!

[rrlineman]

the store I do repairs for, Nicholas Trains in Bromall PA, has put 5 of these in their layout. The Layout is powered by the big ZW electronic unit with meters. As far as I know, the setup works with the remotes with no problems. there seems to be none of those cheap wall units . I would suggest checking with Lionel to see if you can use them on a AC layout

[Banks]

I'm reasonably sure Lionel has the circuit built for it to operate on AC. LEDs can operate on AC. The diode allows current to flow only one way.

[lionelsoni]

An LED will work on AC, but the peak voltage must not exceed the LED's specified maximum reverse voltage.  But the typical 5-volt specification limits the safe RMS AC voltage to 3.5 volts.

There are several workarounds:  An ordinary diode can be put in series with the LED, or in anti-parallel, with a suitably power-rated ballast resistor.  A complete bridge rectifier can also be used, or the LEDs themselves can be wired in anti-parallel pairs, each one of a pair protecting the other from excessive reverse voltage.

[Flintlock76]

Banks

LEDs can operate on AC.

I don't know, I'm not trying to start an argument here but in my 30 years of working on copiers every LED I've encountered was part of a DC circuit. (24 volts DC max.)  I've never seen otherwise, and the LED light strings I put up a Christmas have a rectifier to do the AC/DC conversion.

It's probably best to ask Lionel about this or the folks at Nicholas Smith.  I haven't seen that trackage yet so I can't speak from experience.  

PS:  I just saw Bob's post.  Interesting.  3.5 volts isn't a lot to work with.

[fifedog]

Good viewpoints, all. With the interest generating from this new razzle-dazzle track, probably more people will want to know its limitations.

[Flintlock76]

Well it certainly does  sound interesting, I'll say that much.  I think I'll wait until it shows up at the LHS and ask them about the "whys and wherefores" before I try it.