Hi all,
I'm getting ready to install a TCS Wow into a BLI K4s. I'm not using the original board, sockets, and speakers. I'll be hard wiring the decoder into this model. I'd like to use the original LED if possible, will I need to install a resistor? If so, what ohm value should I look for and should it go inline with the blue wire, white wire, or both?
Thank You in Advance,
Alvie
Hi, Alvie
I did a similar install in a BLI 2-8-2 that was originally a BlueLine engine. I placed a 1K resistor on each of the white and yellow wires coming off the WOW101 harness. Sometimes the lighting functions allow for both the front and rear headlight to be lit at the same time therefore it is best to have one resistor for each LED.
http://www.dccwiki.com/LED_Lighting_and_Resistors
All the original BLI wiring was black but I traced them and came up with the following diagram:
So you would want to put your resistor on the center wire going to the tender plug.
IIRC the K4 has a 7 pin tender harness plug.
I hope that helps, Ed
Hello Ed,
Thank you for the wiring diagram. My K4 only has a 6-pin plug. There's no wire for a chuffed on it. The motor wires definitely correspond to those on your chart. As it turns out, the light is a 1.5v bulb. I have 1k Ohm resistors to use, and think I'll just use the bulb until it dies.
Alvie:
Why put yourself through the hassle of having to take the locomotive apart again when the bulb does die (not 'if')? If the locomotive is apart now install the LED and you will be able to avoid the "...I wish I had done that when I had the locomotive apart the first time...." syndrome.
All the best!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
cats think well of meAs it turns out, the light is a 1.5v bulb. I have 1k Ohm resistors to use, and think I'll just use the bulb until it dies.
You might have an earlier release of the K4. I'm pretty sure mine is LED but I'll check later to be certain.
If you are sure it is a 1.5 v. lamp you might want to use a value closer to 560 Ω. A 1K might make the lamp too dim.
[edit] Wouldn't 'ya know... my K4 was sitting under the coal dock within arms reach as I was typing my reply.
Mine is a micro-lamp, too.
As Dave points out, a conversion to LED wouldn't be all that difficult with a pre-wired SMD LED. The headlight housing just pulled straight up and the lamp wiggled out the back. The smokebox front only requires careful prying, I used a plastic disposable knife. Plenty of room in that smokebox, you could place the resistor right in there.
Sorry for the blurry photo, the battery pooped out right after that one shot and I wasn't handy to a charged one. You can see the bulb right in front of the stack.
Good Luck, Ed
I think I'll go for an LED then. It looks easy enough to put in and will last way longer than the mini-bulb.