Hi all, I have a uestion for you, I'm going to be using the "BeNscale target US & S signals, and I just need to know what resistor value should I use to have the proper lighting, I don't want to use the wrong resistor and burn out my LED's Thanks.
Typically the Led's will draw 20ma each. If your signal system uses 12 volts to light them up, then a 1K (1000) ohm resistor will work. You will need one resistor for each Led. If your signal system uses some other voltage, you will need to work out the resistor value using ohms law. The formua is:
Resistance equals Voltage divided by the Current of the Led (20ma or .020).
If you check this using 12 volts and 20ma, you should get 600. You could use the next standard value above 600, but most of us just use 1000 ohms.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
It would be a good idea for you to read the information on resisters given in the BeNscale site. It is very informative. http://benscale.com/all-about-resistors.html.
Joe
Thanks for the info Joe and Elmer, I have read the resistor table on the BeNscale site, and yes it is really informitve, I went to Radio Shack and bought what I need for this project, so here it goes!!!
Oh yes, I do have one more question to ask, I watched the video that David Popp, "installing the tortise switch motor on the Thin Branch" My question is this, David used a power bus for his switch motor, could I use my DC power pack for power?? its a MRC 200 Tech 4, I was at work and the thought came to mind. Anyway Im really excited to get this project up in the air and rollin' Thanks Again for the help in this matter,
Pete
Yes, you can use a DC power pack to power your Tortoises. Use the track terminals (they are DC) and not the Accy terminals as those are usually AC. You should check the track output voltage and not have it turned up higher than 12DC.
Okay, I think I got it
The LION and the TORTOISE!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS