The probable reason my LED didn't flash (or blink) properly is that I destroyed a portion of the blinker circuit when I connected it to the DCC rail power without rectification.
Substituting another LED on the DC supply showed complete dark between blinks.
Live and learn
73
Bruce in the Peg
How much voltage are you running through it? If more than three volts or so, add a 1K ohm resistor in series to one of the LED's legs. Also, are you sure you have it wired up correctly? Probably so because I don't think it would light up at all if the polarity was reversed.
Good luck.
http://www.ngineering.com/bridge_wiring.htm
Works for single LED or car lighting. A bridge rectifier, 470ufd cap and a 1k resistor should do the job.
No resistor, and you will get one blink.
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.
Thanks Randy. I just connected it to a DC power supply and found out that it really does not blink, but only dims for a while then a short burst of brighter light.
Radio Shack has bridge rectifiers for about 2 bucks
Springfield PA
You can rectify the DCC track power and then feed the LED - you would need at least a rectifier bridge per LED, but that might be easier then replacing the toggle switches with ones with an extra pole to switch the LED on and off, plus a power supply.
--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 bought a flashing LED to indicate when my programming track is in the program mode. Since my eyes are marginal, I thought the flash would alert me better than a constant light. The circuit I was to use, had the LED powered from the track. Aparrently these LEDS require DC only to blink.
Now, I either have to provide DC to the programming toggle or just use a plain LED.
More wires