Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Proto 100 RDC LED Headlight Replacement

1019 views
2 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Proto 100 RDC LED Headlight Replacement
Posted by alloboard on Friday, March 16, 2012 2:03 AM

     I installed a Digitrax SDH164D in a Lifelike Proto 1000 RDC-1. I connected a 3mm sunny white LED with a 1K 1/4 ohm resistor on the anode (positive) side of the LED. I connected the blue wire to the anode and white wire to the cathode by twisting the stripped harness wire to the leads. I noticed that the LED does not go off completely when I turn it off with the F0 function on my Digitrax DT402D throttle. It goes off completely only when I hold it tight on the cathode side where the white wire is connected to the cathode. Perhaps I should solder it. Does anyone know why the LED does not go off completely?

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Friday, March 16, 2012 5:30 AM

Install the LED properly, get it working and move on.  It would have taken less time to solder the joints than to type the question.  If you are simply twisting wires together then this may explain many of your problems.  Nothing beats good technique, solder, heat shrink tube,or other good insulation technique.  

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Friday, March 16, 2012 6:46 AM

Yep, time to learn soldering.  And there are a number of sites - written AND with video or diagrams - that will show you how to do it properly.

Simon is correct.  A good soldering job can be done in less time than it took for you to type out your post.  And it's VERY reliable.  You'll eventually want to pick up heat shrink tubing and Kapton tape, if you plan to continue to do your own decoder installations.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!