is there a source for the bulb in the DL-361 ditch light
Bigzeke,
To The Forums...
A better alternative to trying to find a 3volt incandesant bulb repplacement, would be to use a 3volt sunny white LED. You should be able to find one in that size.....I'm guessing the ones You have are 2mm or 3mm. Here is a link For 3mm sunny white Led's...just click on it:
http://www.traintekllc.com/3mm-sunny-white-led/
I had a similar problem trying to find 3.5 volt incandesants, not railroad related though. I just spent a whole bunch of searching to see if I could find replacement bulbs for the DL 361 and could not find anything, even going to Detail West web-site,,, no replacements.
Maybe someone else, will have a source, when they read this.
Good Luck!
Frank
Those bulbs are 1.2mm. There's no way a 3mm LED would even be close to being usable - diameter OR depth.
You don't HAVE to use 3 volt bulbs, Miniatronics make the 1.2mm bulbs in 1.5 volt variety, you would just have to adjust your resistor size.
Even better, but a bit more work, would be to use either the 0402 or 0603 size surface mount LEDs that would fit right inside the enclosure. Seeing as how the casting is metal, you have to be careful the LED doesn't short its tabs against the casting.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Hi Bigzeke:
Welcome to the forums!!
I agree with Mark's suggestion to use 0402 SMD LEDs. If you are not familiar with the nomenclature, '0402' is the size - .040" x .020", SMD is Surface Mount Device, LED I think you can figure out. Mark also suggests using 0603 LEDs but they will be harder to get into the ditch light opening.
The 0402 LEDs are available pre-wired which is a good thing because soldering wires to them is a bit difficult. EBay has decent prices:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/C0402WM-20pcs-Pre-soldered-micro-0-1mm-Copper-Wired-WARM-WHITE-SMD-Led-0402-NEW-/351249772568?hash=item51c81e3018:g:ZCoAAOSwofxUhkv5
If your decoder ditch light output is 3 volts the LEDs listed above will be fine. I would test the voltage first so you don't smoke the LED.
There are a variety of 'whites' available but I would recommend the 'warm white' LEDs. Bright white LEDs are actually blue.
To insulate the LED you can use clear nail polish or epoxy. Just paint the LED and the wires at the LED. A couple of coats of nail polish doesn't hurt.
If the leads are not coloured, the longer of the two will be the positive. You must get the polarity correct. The blue decoder wire is positive.
If you need to make a lens, canopy glue works great. It goes on white but dries clear. You can use epoxy but it may turn yellow over time.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Mark,
I know 3mm LED'S would not fit for ditch lights...I only used that as a example, to give Him a link to the site. They have all kinds of LED's that would work.....You just have to check the size You have and get a replacement:
http://www.traintekllc.com/miniature-wired-603-surface-mount-led-sunny-white/
Scroll down to the use of sunny white Led's for the bulb replacement:
http://www.detailswest.com/NS%20Models%20Page.htm
Take Care!