I'm old school, I guess. I like incandescent bulbs. The color is more appropriate for my layout in the pre-LED era, anyway. Most LEDs are also very directional, so they're appropriate for headlights, but they don't "fill the room" with light the way incandescents do.
I use Miniatronics 16-volt grain-of-wheat bulbs. I run them at 12 volts.
I used to mount the bulbs on the layout base and then just put the structures down on top of them. Lately, I've been more careful about my interiors, so I build the lighting into the ceilings. This puts the bulbs in a more natural position, and generally hides them from view through the windows.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
You can run four and sometimes five in series with a single resistor off of a 12volt supply.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
freeway3gandydancer19I just connect them to a cheap walwart with a dropping resistor. Does each LED require a resistor for 12VDC, or can you wire a group (i.e., in a building) with 1 resistor?Ed
gandydancer19I just connect them to a cheap walwart with a dropping resistor.
Does each LED require a resistor for 12VDC, or can you wire a group (i.e., in a building) with 1 resistor?
Ed
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
Allegheny2-6-6-6 I know this must come up every now and again but figured I would ask. I have a few completed structures that I need to light up their interiors. Now I'm a cheap old sob and can't see spending money for some silly little light bulb mount, I've tried numerous different ways over the years but was wondering how you guys do it. Always interested in how others do things in the hobby but some of the "simple:things" can be the most interesting.Thanks your input is always appreciated.
I know this must come up every now and again but figured I would ask. I have a few completed structures that I need to light up their interiors. Now I'm a cheap old sob and can't see spending money for some silly little light bulb mount, I've tried numerous different ways over the years but was wondering how you guys do it. Always interested in how others do things in the hobby but some of the "simple:things" can be the most interesting.
Thanks your input is always appreciated.
I use LEDs. The PLCC or DIP packages work best, as they have fairly large leads and are flat on the bottom. You can use regular SMD (1206, etc) devices, but they are very small for lighting structures. Make sure you pay attention to the viewing angle - the larger the better; 120 degrees is best; stay away from the 30 degree devices unless you really want to highlight a specific spot.
I just use LED's. Mostly 3mm, but if it is a larger area inside I may use a 5mm type. Mostly bright white or Yellow-glow (the ones that simulate a warm white) I also use a yellow led once in a while. I just connect them to a cheap walwart with a dropping resistor.
Depending on the building, and whether the windows are clear or frosted, depends how I mount them. I mount them to the building ceilings mostly, but the object is to light up the room or building so the light source does not show when looking inside the building.
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.