This is most likely going to be a silly question but nonetheless, here goes. I am trying to finish up a C39-8 by installing new headlights and ditch lights. I purchased new Athearn headlights which have two wires going into each bulb.
Now when I install my head lights which include two bulbs and four wires, which wires get coupled together to go onto the circuit board. Do I have to intertwine the wires or do I twist the wires like for like.
Will
The lights should be wired in parallel, which means you connect the lights to the circuit board in the same way you would do one light.
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Make sense?
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Silly answer, don't matter. As long as one wire goes to each terminal they will light up. LED's are a different store.
By the way, first time I did it I asked the same question.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
By the way, I would personally use Miniatronics bulbs instead of Athearn bulbs. The Athearn mini-bulbs should last a while, but the Miniatronics bulbs will last longer. They also have thinner wire that will take up less room inside.
Thanks for all the replies, I do have a follow up question. I installed the new lights wired in parallel as suggested. I then put the loco on the test track and turned up the throttle. The lights came on and flickered and then went out for good. What is the problem.
Does anyone know why my lights I assume blew out. Do I need a different type of headlight maybe with a larger gauge wire? The chassis for this kitbash is an Atlas U33C and the old headlight wire was about twice as thick as the athearn headlight wire I was trying to use. Can anyone help thanks.
The mini-bulbs work at 20mA, which works out to about 1.5V. If you put more than 1.5V to 2V through them, they will burn out instantly. How much voltage does the Atlas board put out?
To answer your question about wire thickness, thicker wire can carry more current. For mini-bulbs like you were using, anything more than about 28 gauge is unnecessary. You only really need thicker wire (around 24 gauge) for something like the motor.
To put the mini-bulbs in a 12V circuit, you'll need resistors. The bulbs have their own resistance of about 75 Ohms, meaning you'll need another 525 Ohms to absorb the excess current (525+75=600 Ohms. 12V/600=20mA). The closest available resistors are 510 and 560 Ohms. The 510 Ohms should work well (510+75=585. 12V/585=20.5mA).
Would an LED light source be a solution to this issue
LEDs still need resistors, but if you use the right ones, the LED ill NEVER burn out in your lifetime, and there will never ben any chance of melting the plastic.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Oops, a couple of us got here to late. As you now know the Athearn bulbs are 1.5 volt. If you have extra's just replace them and add a resistor as noted earlier. I'd start with a 750 ohm and go from there depending on the brighness. LED's will last much much longer if the right resistor is used.
Springfield PA
I have been looking on the internet and found plenty of resistors so I will give it a try. Now how are resistors installed to the board, please tell me I won't have to solder them to the board. I am not quite there yet as far as my skill sets and tools to do that.