I have an older Proto 2000 NKP Berkshire in which I am ready to install DCC and sound. I can't find the sheet of info on coping with the lighting I remember seeing in the box - does anyone have one they could scan and send? Since Walthers took over P2K there is little support documentation on line.
I presume it has miniature incandescent bulbs, but don't know the voltage, don't know if I could sub in LEDs, or if resistors are needed, etc. I plan to install a TCS WOW sound decoder, and 4 cell phone speakers (.58" x .43" each) wired two in series in parallel with two in series to give 8 ohms.
davidmbedardmuch better to use one big speaker than 4 little ones
Well, that has pretty much been my feeling in the past, but I've heard pretty good sound coming from one such speaker, and with the driver area of four of them, I think it's worth a try - and as the cost is pretty much about 1/4 of cone speakers, why not. For other projects I'm considedring, the cell speakers are pretty much the only way to go: when I get a Hornby America S-100 0-6-0, one or two in the cab ceiling will fit a lot better, and if I cobble a Jordan Mack 18 tonner onto a Kato power truck for a stone yard HOn30 line, it's absolutely the only way to go.
Hi, BF&D
Here's what I have on my trusty old L-L Berk... (I fixed the photo links. My PC at work has all the icons for linking. No such luck at home!)
This much I CAN attest to... GET RID OF THE INCANDESCENT LAMP! I melted my beautiful NKP headlight and was fortunate that Walthers could scrounge one up for me (sans number printing), free. This was some six or seven years ago.
I did a simple decoder install, kept the original headlight lamp (forget what resistor I used) and after two trips around the layout the bulb was hanging out the smokebox front and the headlight was gone! I was disappointed to say the least.
(My P2K 0-8-0 is showing a soft spot just ahead of the stack from the same cause) Go with LEDs! No heat, good color and brightness with the right one, very little current draw and they will out-live us both!
Hope this helps, Ed
Thanks, Ed - that's just what I wanted. What resistors did you use with the LEDs?
Steve
gmpullman This much I CAN attest to... GET RID OF THE INCANDESCENT LAMP! I melted my beautiful NKP headlight and was fortunate that Walthers could scrounge one up for me (sans number printing), free. This was some six or seven years ago.
OMG, I thought that I was the only one. I, too, have an older Proto Heritage NKP Berkshire.
A couple of years back, the incandescent bulb burned out, and I unwittingly replaced it with a 12 volt bulb, not reailzing that the original was one with lower voltage. Before I realized my mistake, the plastic housing melted, numberboard and all.
Walthers could not provide me with a replacement, so I wound up fabricating my own number board. It looks good, but it does not really replace the original.
From that point on, determined to use LEDs. In the case of the Proto Berkshire, there is no room in the housing for a resistor, so that needs to be installed on the wiring in the tender.
Rich
Alton Junction