Digitrax DZ123 - 12 Volt Lighting?

[Magnum019]

I run HO & Just the Basic Understanding of Wiring:

I have some 3 & 5mm LED's that are 12 Volt that I want to upgrade from the Mini Bulbs I had for lighting (12 volt bulbs but ma???? I believe)

Would I be able to wire these straight in or would I need resistors so I don't smoke the Decoder (1.0/2.0 amp peak)  I do not know the (ma) value on the 12 Volt LED's.

 

thanks, Cary

[Stevert]

  If they are actual "12 volt LED's", meaning they have built-in resistors, then you don't need to add any additional resistors.

 Otherwise, between about 680 and 1000 ohms, depending on how bright you want them to be.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Magnum019

Would I be able to wire these straight in or would I need resistors so I don't smoke the Decoder (1.0/2.0 amp peak)  I do not know the (ma) value on the 12 Volt LED's.

The load and peak you listed is for the motor control. The function leads, of which there are two are 500mA each.

[Magnum019]

Thanks for the Quick Reply; just off to work in a few mins:

I did test both LED's on the track on HO setting and both worked fine; I never knew I could get a 3mm LED with built in resistor and thanks Jeff    I have no idea what these LED's are rated for (ma) though; should be safe to wire them both up I'm assuming when I get back home tonight.

 

thanks again, Cary

 

[Magnum019]

Well; It didn't work or I SHORTED out the White Front Wire????   Reverse light works fine but when I put the front on; Nothing except  (lights did flicker the first time when I first attatched the front which is when I usually blow a bulb) 

Both bulbs work still but the Front is not working at all; even with the old Bulb (12v 30ma)  and I did doublecheck the wiring? Any ideas or what else could I do to get the Front working??  Power source via the Trucks??????

I also reset the CV value to the original just in case.

thanks, Cary

 

 

[rrinker]

 Are you hooking things up with the loco sitting on powered track? Please don't do that.

If the light on the blue and yellow wire works but the one on the white and blue does not, you've probbaly blown the function. If you tried the old light bulbs then it's not a polarity issue - LEDs though it does matter which terminal goes where. The blue wire on the decoder is the +.

                         --Randy

[Magnum019]

That's pretty much exactly what I did; testing the light with the Loco on the Track!   The longer part of the LED is (+) right?

 

Cary

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Long leg = positive.