Lighted Buildings

[Al's B&O]

I purchased a couple of Model Power n-scale buildings with 12-16v bulbs. I am running DCC (Lenz100).  How do I hook up the wires from the buildings/bulbs?  Do I simply connect them to the busses that run around the layout?

 

Thanks. 

[simon1966]

Just the other night I completed running a 12V DC power bus around my layout for the purpose of providing power for lighting and other ancillary devices.  I am powering this from the 12V supply from a power-supply salvaged from an old PC.  From various terminal blocks that I have installed around the layout I have then run lighting wires thru simple SPST switches that I am mounting to my fascia.  I want lots of little switches for visiting kids to turn on and off to activate lights and things on the layout.

[MisterBeasley]

Well, you could, but you really don't want to.

Plain old light bulbs should be run on a separate power bus entirely, preferably from a different power source.  Each bulb will draw a bit of current on its own, so when you add them up you'll find that you are using a significant chunk of your Lenz's 5-amp capacity just running light bulbs.  You want to save it all for locomotives, even in N-gauge.

Although you can adjust the track voltage, you may be running 14-16 volts on your track bus.  While that's within the rated range of these small lamps, you'll find that they don't last long up near the top, and your always better off running them a couple of volts below their rating.  They will be dimmer, but they'll last a lot longer.  In fact, I'm sure it's cheaper in the long run to put 2 bulbs in a building and run them dim than to put 1 bulb in and run it bright.

Although I've yet to wire a single light in a structure, I've already got toggle switches for two separate "Building" light busses, and also one for "Yard" lights.

[jblackwelljr]

Go here: http://webtronics.stores.yahoo.net/2ampmuposup.html

 

I plan on using this power supply with 14v bulbs.  Just run a buss off of this and then connect all your bulbs via feeders.  You can connect an awful lot of bulbs this way and it's relatively cheap.  Good luck.

[Al's B&O]

Thanks for the information on the PS28 power supply.  It's exactly what I needed.  I haven't looked at the wiring for the bulbs. Does it matter how the wires are connected to the PS28 power supply?

[jblackwelljr]

Just hook them up in parallel to the lighting buss - same way you'd hook up your track feeders to the track buss.  If you use 14v bulbs, the most you would supply to each one is 12v, thereby lengthening the life of the bulb.  I'm using Miniatronics #18011420.  Depending on what you're trying to light, you may want something brighter, but so far they've worked fine for me.

[Al's B&O]

Ok, Jim.  I will try it.  Thanks again. You've been very helpful!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

An old AT pc power supply is what I use to power my structure lights. I use small clear Xmas lights. The bulbs are rated at 2.5 volts each. I connect two together in series and put them into the structure and connect the pair to a 5 volt supply line underneath the layout. Other lights, such as street lights are connected to a 12 volt supply line. Both of these are connected to the power supply.

[perisher]

On another note on lighted buildings is it a good idea to paint the inside walls of buildings with a flat black paint to eliminate the possibility of light coming through the walls?Thanks

[MOJAX]

An old AT pc power supply is what I use to power my structure lights.

 

I have a question regarding using pc power supplies. How do you connect up the power supply to your devices? I have several after an upgrade but they all have red-black-black-yellow wires going into the connector. Do I cut the connectors off and which color wires should I use?

 

Thanks a bunch.

MO

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

An old AT pc power supply is what I use to power my structure lights.

 

I have a question regarding using pc power supplies. How do you connect up the power supply to your devices? I have several after an upgrade but they all have red-black-black-yellow wires going into the connector. Do I cut the connectors off and which color wires should I use?

 

Thanks a bunch.

MO

 

They are, in the following order; Red (5.5v+), black (12v-), Black (5.5v-), Yellow (12v+). I left the plugs on mine. I got matching plugs from a computer shop and hooked those up to the wires for my structures. This way, if I should need to replace the power supplt in the future, all I have to do is unplug it and change it out, then simply connect the plugs to the new one.

[MOJAX]

Thanks Jeffrey!

Thats a great idea on leaving the connectors. I'm guessing that you use the 5.5 Black and Red together as well as keeping the 12 black and yellow together?

Once again thanks for answering my questions.

MO 

[Mark R.]

An old AT pc power supply is what I use to power my structure lights. I use small clear Xmas lights. The bulbs are rated at 2.5 volts each. I connect two together in series and put them into the structure and connect the pair to a 5 volt supply line underneath the layout. Other lights, such as street lights are connected to a 12 volt supply line. Both of these are connected to the power supply.

Used PC are a great high current source for power accessories. Be aware though, some newer power supplies require a load resistor installed to function properly. Here's a great article for converting a PC supply to just what we need ....

 http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/POWERSUPPLY.HTM

Mark.

 

[MOJAX]

Thanks Mark.

The pc power supplies I have are 450W and are just over a year old. I guess I need to install load resistors, before using them. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

If they came from ATX type computers, you will need to wire in a load resistor. That's not a requirement with the old AT type supply. The one I'm using is rated at 210 watts and on my old layout was pulling 90+ bulbs with ease.