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!

Locomotive LED installation

1239 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Thursday, September 5, 2013 11:16 PM

RRaddict
I need some information on how to install LED lighting in DC locomotives. I have the right size LED's 3V. I was an O scale guy and would just wire these up with a resistor to the track power and ground. Is it any different with HO

Nope, exactly the same.  Electricity is electricity regardless of the scale of the model train.  

As a prior poster noted when wired directly, once the LED comes on, it will get brighter as the amount of current increases.   IF you don't mind a lower top speed the LEDs are fairly easy to make a constant intensity using a few more diodes and putting them in series with the motor.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 111 posts
Posted by tallcapt on Thursday, September 5, 2013 9:11 PM

Here's another good article...

http://www.ulrichmodels.com/prostores/DCC_Topics/LED_Technical_Article.PDF

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Thursday, September 5, 2013 4:27 PM

KEV,

Check out your other thread,,about F-7's,A&B...I posted a link there,for you to read and includes LED's..

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    June 2011
  • From: Way out West
  • 440 posts
Posted by RRaddict on Thursday, September 5, 2013 9:11 AM

Thanks I appreciate it very much I can do it. I have no DCC yet.

Kev

Can't stop working on the railroad!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by JoeinPA on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 2:18 PM

Let's start at the beginning. DC or DCC? Richard covered DC pretty well.

Joe

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • 805 posts
Posted by narrow gauge nuclear on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 2:18 PM

If you are running normal DC in HO it is just like O gauge.  Just a sutiable dropping resistor and the LED are all that is needed.  Mind the polarity of course for forward and reverse light motion. The light will not come on until you have about 2-3 volts on the rails and will brighten as you increase voltage.  Selection of the resistor will determine how bright the LED gets versus your track voltage.  The LED will get brighter faster than an old incandescent which was rather linear with voltage.

 

Richard

Richard

If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed

  • Member since
    June 2011
  • From: Way out West
  • 440 posts
Locomotive LED installation
Posted by RRaddict on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 1:54 PM

I need some information on how to install LED lighting in DC locomotives. I have the right size LED's 3V. I was an O scale guy and would just wire these up with a resistor to the track power and ground. Is it any different with HO

Kev

Can't stop working on the railroad!

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!