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Kato light board, and replacing amber LEDs with white

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  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 25, 2018 11:06 PM

Thanks Metro Line,  I'm doing HO, and I use Digitrax. 

Woodone's post was what I needed to try this, I did, and it works fine.

Although, the first try, I had the headlight in backwards, so I had to resolder it.

I tried following the path on the board, and then figured that the + side of the led should be on the + side, or engineers side of the loco.  Wrong!  Laugh

What a difference it makes.

Thanks for the reply.

Mike.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Under The Streets of Los Angeles
  • 1,150 posts
Posted by Metro Red Line on Sunday, February 25, 2018 10:27 PM

mbinsewi

I then asked if it was possible to snip off the amber lights, and solder on white lights.  He kind of gasped, and said "you mean you're going to alter the board?" He went on to explain that he could not advise me what size, or a procedure, as far as changing the lights.  He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with it.

 

LOL OMG...if you ever get into DCC, don't ever tell him you're about to install a decoder, because he just might have a heart attack. 

What scale are you? I do N scale. If the light board already has a resistor installed, then snip off the original LED, save for a bit of the legs, and solder in an SMD LED (make sure the polarity is correct). I've done this recenty for a Fox Valley GEVO that has a notoriously dim amber-colored stock head/ditchlight.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, February 23, 2018 10:39 AM

Well thank you, Jerry!  Thumbs Up

Mike.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Friday, February 23, 2018 10:19 AM

Good, If you goof one up to the point of no return- PM me i have several of these boards that i could send to you- even change the LED's for a very small fee.

Postage mostly.

Jerry AKA woodone

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, February 23, 2018 10:00 AM

Thanks woodone.  I have a variety of LEDs on hand.  I'm just moving cautiously, so I thought I would ask before I leaped.

Mike.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Friday, February 23, 2018 9:22 AM

I do it all of the time. I replace with a 3MM warm white LED. 

Check a DCC supply shop they should be able to help you pick one out.

Unsolder the old LED (Check for the flat side of the LED) Then make your replacement the same length and put the flat the same wayand solder.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Kato light board, and replacing amber LEDs with white
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, February 23, 2018 9:12 AM

Next lighting project, some of the Kato C44-9W's I have bought at shows, have amber LED's on the light board, one for head light, one for reverse. The two LED's supply the light via light pipes to the front, ditch lights, and rear.

I called Kato USA yesterday to see if they had a replacement board with white LED's.  The answer was no, sold out, don't if we ever will them.

I then asked if it was possible to snip off the amber lights, and solder on white lights.  He kind of gasped, and said "you mean your going to alter the board?" He went on to explain that he could not advise me what size, or a procedure, as far as changing the lights.  He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with it.

So, I'm throwing it out there to get some feed back before I do the "bulb-indectomy".

Has anybody done this?

Mike.

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