Can you solder or connect two 12V LED bulbs into a single function output? i.e (F1, F0R and F0R+ etc...) without current overdraw, short circuits or any other negative electrical problems?
Yes. How many depends on the voltage output of the decoder.
For instance if the decoder puts out 12 volts on a particular Lighting connection, you could put up to four, 3 volt LED's in series as long as the current rating was in range. Usually is though.
Springfield PA
davidmbedard Depends on the draw of the LED (you need to know that). David B
Depends on the draw of the LED (you need to know that).
David B
Generally most LED's are rated at 20ma max but look just fine with 10 to 15ma. Most LED's from model railroad sellers are 20ma max. If different, they will tell you.
I do have some 2ma, 3mm green LED's but I use those only for battery powered projects and where a special order.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Except "12V" LEDs have a resistor already fixed which is not adjustable. That resistor is going to set the current draw for the assembly, if it's say 20ma and you want to run two in parallel, that's 40ma and if the function output is limited to 30ma - that's not going to work.
Here's a tip - if everything is in the same units (ma in this case), forget the units. Forget you're dealing with electricity. Just look at the numbers. If my supply is 30, but I need 40, well, 40 is more than 30, so it's not enough. People get too easily flustered by electrical things when a large part of it is simply numbers. If your available supply is 100 and you want to connect 40 - well, 40 is less than 100 so it will work. Simple.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.