Does any one have any knowledge on how to make a flashing LED. I have been trying to figure it out. I have an older Bachmann SD-40-2 and it has a flashing LED on the cab roof and I was considering adding some to the rest of my collection seeing as all the prototype picks I have seen have them. any help or info is alway greatly apreciated. THANKS
Are you running DC or DCC? With DCC, you need a decoder that supports the flashing strobe function.
Im running DCC, but was hoping to piggy back it on the headlight function so that it turned on when the lights were on. I have very basic DCC throttle and decoders
With a DCC decoder, the strobe has to be connected to one of the unused function wires, such as the green or purple wire, and the decoder has to be programmed for that particular function wire to become the strobe function. It cannot be piggy-backed with the headlight function.
well isnt that just a blown bulb for me
There are LEDs available with a built-in flashing circuit that could be connected to the headlight wiring, but they come only in 5mm size, which would be too big for a roof-top strobe. These are available in red, green, blue, and white.
As near as I know, no one makes a smaller flashing LED.
Lots of 3mm flashing LED's. Here is one source: http://www.led-switch.com/3mm%20LED.htm There are others including dBay vendors.
Yodarian,
Take a look at this site.....these should work for You:
http://www.moreleds.com/3mmredflashing.htm
Take Care!
Frank
3mm Flashing Diffused Red Leds
FOR HO Scale
What decoders are you using? I have 2 Bachmann diesels with the Tsunami sound value decoders in them. I wired the front LED to the rear LED and changed CV33 and CV34 so the lights are on reguardless of direction of trave. I then wired an LED to the front pads on the decoder where the headlight was and used this for the beacon. I changed CV49 so it would flash. It's easier to do this with a board style decoder. Make sure the decoder has the ability to change CV33,34,49 and 50. Joe
If you have an unused function output on your decoder, attach your beacon LED to that and program it to be a flashing light. Then remap that output to be on the same function button as your headlight.
Now when you turn on your headlight, it will also turn on your flashing beacon.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
He has a Bachmann EZ-DCC, he can't program any CVs, hence the request for flashing LEDs. Yes, it's far more flexible to be able to use any LED and just program the decoder, but the OP can't do this.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I take the easy way out and use Evans Design's Universal Flashing LEDs for transformers (AC, DC, and DCC). It takes the guesswork out of the equation so I can focus on modeling; each to his own ;0) It's a hobby!http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/bl-213-f.html