Lighting to my outdoor railway

[Sir Simon]

I need some advise on adding lighting to my garden railway, specifically I have purchased some street

lights and signals and I wite these to the track to provide power, naturally when the locomotive power is reduded to a stop all the lights go out.

Could you recommend a good outdoor transformer that I should run on a seperate circuit to have the lights continually on or offer some additional or alternative advise.

 Most kind, thank you

Regards

Simon

[altterrain]

 Simon,

Power supplies are easy. You can use a cheap 12 volt landscape light transformer like Malibu lights. I use the 4 watt lights to light up my buildings underneath.

 

 

Other options are spare wall plug in transformers ( 6 to 12 volt) from electronic equipment. It doesn't matter if its AC or DC as light bulbs don't care.

 

I have been looking at these street lamps but haven't bought any yet -

http://www.train-li-usa.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=52&products_id=178 

-Brian 

[g. gage]

Hi Simon, like Brian I used a Malibu transformer on my previous railroad in the Sacramento Valley. Also if you have upgraded your train power supply you can use the original for lighting. I'm thinking of using solar here in the Sierra Nevada, we're in a high sunlight area.

Rob

[ttrigg]

What kind of power supply / transformer are you using. Mine have a variable DC for throttle control; it also has a terminal for constant 18-volt AC, and a constant 18-volt DC. It is a 10 amp Bridgeworks. Like Brian said light bulbs don't care if they are fed AC or DC. If you are still using a "starter set" transformer with on one set of outputs, then look into the malibu transforms. If you plan on upgrading your transfomer in the future, the problem just might go away by itself.

[sfcgadget]

Low voltage lighting is really the way to go. I am lighting more that 30 structures at this time. An inexpensive deck light such as Intermatic Deck Light #LD622 ($8.49) from Aubuchon Hardware works well. You can put the whole thing inside of even small buildings or use the wiring harness with bulb holder to fit into a space as small as the inside of an Aristocraft Crossing Shanty or Watch Tower. I even use them this way to have light hanging from under the roof of my passenger station platforms. Hold them in place with a zip tie. Other types of lights can be attached to the main cable using connectors. This whole system is very durable. I use 4 Amp bulbs. Just make sure the transformer/timer is the correct Amp size for the number of bulbs and then a little extra for expansion.