LGB Coach lighting

[chocho willy]

  

   While chatting with David on car bolsters and car lighting, reminded me of my lighting experience on LGB coaches. I have lite all my coach cars with battery powered LED's ( 2xAAA ) and hid the battery pack in the top, cutting out a little of the patrician at one end and shoving the battery holder under it. Added a very small slide switch in the clearstory area that I got at a RC hobby shop. Used 10mm soft white LED's colored with a yellow high lighter pen. Used copper tape, type used to make stained glass windows with, taped on top of a styrene tube and secured the tube in the stock location of the roof where it is designed for incandescent lighting. Soldered wiring from battery holder and switch to copper strips which I had soldered the LED's to. Easy to turn on and off. Accidently left 1 car on for 3 weeks and found it one night with the lights still lit, and still haven't changed the batteries. No wiring shows and no flicker, thought I would share my idea with the forum, Bill

[PVT Kanaka]

Next on my "to do" list!

[chocho willy]

Looks like your bucket list is getting

longer

[ttrigg]

I did much the same with my D&RGW coaches from LGB. "The Boss" said 'NO, too bright, does not look like lantern light.' Replaced the white LEDs with yellow, swapped out the '2 battery box' with a single battery box. She approved, and said it looked more like oil lamp lights. I like the brighter lite, but knew better than to argue the point.

Since the roofs were removable I glued the micro switch to the inside of the roof avoiding cuttin in the switch as you did.

[chocho willy]

  Know what you mean by too bright, the interior bulbs are soft white 10mm and really aren't too bright, seem to get toned down enough with the yellow high lighter and as I had bought 3vdc LED's never thought to try them on 1.5vdc. The back of the observation car , in the vestibule area is lit with a yellow led (bugs you know) had to screw the roof on as it had set out for several years in the sun and was curled up on the ends. But I'm with you I like the cars a little brighter. Of course if the boss stayed at work there wouldn't be a problem, but either way work or home you have to listen to the "boss". The drover caboose I did I was very happy with the lighting in the coach area coming from the stove, if anything it might be a little over board and almost looks like the car on fire but it lights up the interior with a nice red orange flicker. When I get a chance I will mess around with the 1.5vdc voltage and LED's to see what happens, still teaching myself stuff about them. Thanks Bill  

[ttrigg]

"Yellow high lighter" Brilliant idea!!!!! Truth be told, single battery produces just enough light that it only becomes visable just after sunset when there is only 10% daylight left in the sky. On dark overcast days you have to get the old eyeballs within 5ft to tell if the lights are on. Stay with the 2xAAA!!!! I have left HER cars the way she wanted, all of the newer cars have been equiped with yellow LEDs and 2xAAA.

[PVT Kanaka]

chocho willy

Looks like your bucket list is getting

longer

 

Pbbbttthhht!