Lighting a structure

[SpaceMouse]

I want to put lights to a turn of the (last) century craftsman kit structure. I won't ever take it apart so I am thinking about using LEDs. I'm thinking amber colored but I can be talked out of it. 

I'm planning on using a computer power supply so I have the choice of 5v or 12v. If I put more than one light in the structure will I need separate circuits. 

How would you guys do it?

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 The way I do mine is I have several lights per structure on a series circuit. There's 12v going in and that is split up between the lights. If there's 3 lights they get 4v each. On some other structures I have 5v going in to power 2 lights in series. Each light gets 2.5v.

[MisterBeasley]

You would only need separate circuits if you want individual control of each light.  Otherwise, you can put them all together, either in series as Jeff has done, or in parallel, depending on the input voltage and the voltage rating of each lamp.

Remember that a LED requires a "current limiting" resistor in series.

I put a light in my Weimer's Mill kit.  Like you, I don't ever expect to take it apart again, and the bulb is in there, for better or for worse.  Since the mill is meant to be abandoned, I don't have the light even wired up at this point, but I plan to put it on a separate toggle so I can turn it on if I want to.  It's a 16-volt bulb that I drive at 12 volts, so I expect the bulb will still work long after I'm gone.

[Hamltnblue]

 They have LED's that have a wide pattern.  I wouldnt' use standard ones.

[SpaceMouse]

Thanks guys.

MrB,

I have some grain of wheat bulbs. Are you saying that if I run them in series, they will run at half voltage and I can expect them to last quite a while. It also means if one dies all die.

[Seamonster]

SpaceMouse

Thanks guys.

MrB,

I have some grain of wheat bulbs. Are you saying that if I run them in series, they will run at half voltage and I can expect them to last quite a while. It also means if one dies all die.

The voltage will divide between the lights in series, so 2 lights will each get half the voltage, 3 would each get 1/3, 4 would each get 1/4. So 12 volt lights on a 12 volt supply would get 6 volts, 4 volts and 3 volts respectively. Looking at it from the other direction, two 6 volt bulbs operated in series on 12 volts would each get 6 volts, just what they want. Yes, in a series configuration if one burns out, they all go dark. My preference is to use bulbs at a slightly lower voltage than their rating, i.e. 12 volt bulbs on a 10 volt circuit. A 12 volt bulb on 6 volts would be pretty dim, but maybe that's the effect you want. As for LEDs, I don't think the colour of a yellow LED would look right, but that's just my opinion. Try it and see. Also, your garden variety LED shines in a narrow beam out the end and won't work well to illuminate an area. You can get LEDs which shine out the sides and there are a couple of speciality store on-line which sell them.

[bpickering]

MisterBeasley

I put a light in my Weimer's Mill kit.  Like you, I don't ever expect to take it apart again, and the bulb is in there, for better or for worse.  Since the mill is meant to be abandoned, I don't have the light even wired up at this point, but I plan to put it on a separate toggle so I can turn it on if I want to.

Just gotta ask- if it's abandoned, why would you want to turn on the light?

I can think of one use- squatters moved in- but then, wouldn't you want somewhat of a "flickering fire" effect?

[Seamonster]

bpickering

MisterBeasley

I put a light in my Weimer's Mill kit.  Like you, I don't ever expect to take it apart again, and the bulb is in there, for better or for worse.  Since the mill is meant to be abandoned, I don't have the light even wired up at this point, but I plan to put it on a separate toggle so I can turn it on if I want to.

Just gotta ask- if it's abandoned, why would you want to turn on the light?

I can think of one use- squatters moved in- but then, wouldn't you want somewhat of a "flickering fire" effect?

Squatters have moved in.

[mainetrains]

I've tried different ways over the years. AC lights...grain of rice and most recently LED's. All of my future lighting will be done with LED's. I suggest checking out Evans Designs LED's. www.ModelTrainSoftware.com

They over a bunch of different colors in different sizes. What I like best is they can be wired to a 9 volt battery...up to 50 at a time if I remember correctly what their web site says. They also offer a battery strap with switch. You can also run them off AC or DCC power if you wish.

As far as a limited field of light. Their web site says you can sand down the lights to increase the field of light.

Dave