Adding Ditch Lights to an HO scale Loco

[simon1966]

I have been having fun with my new DCC setup. Several locomotives now have decoders in them. I have stuck to basic stuff so far, but would like to add some lighting effects. Aside from a decoder that can drive them, what do I need, and how would I go about putting ditch lights onto a diesel. I will probably put them on an Atlas GP (Wabash).

Can you just go out and purchase ditch lights?

Thanks

[der5997]

Simon. I've done this in DC using 1.5 micro mini bulbs and a suitable dropping resistor. The Loco was an Alco C630 (don't lets getinto the 628vs630 thing) I had to drill up just beside the front hand rail stanchions to get the wires through. I think I may have stripped the insulation from one wire to each bulb to save space. It's plastic I was going through, and I was careful about shorts. Anyway, I lead the wires back to where I could connect with the constant wiring circuit in the loco. I had to channel a bit through the metal frame to make room, I think. (It's a long time ago. I fixed the bulbs to the stanchions with tape, and painted everything except the front black. If I were to do this now, I would use LEDs Here's on source http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Leds.htm There are some very tiny LEDs available in white. If I can find the URL for them quickly, I'll put it up here.
For DCC you still need the dropping resistor for either bulbs or LEDs, and you would likely have to do some surgery for chanelling the wires. Otherwise, it's a matter of wiring up the blue and white, I think. The DCC fraternity will doubtless correct me if I'm wrong on that. I hope they do, anyway because I want to learn about this stuff too.[:P]
I was looking in my files for that URL, and found this one. Note it has a Ditch Light section[8D]
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mjmx/lights.htm
There's probaly all you need to get started right there. I can't find the tiny LED reference. Maybe someone else can supply it.
Hope this helps,

[simon1966]

Thank you John, this helps me a lot.

Can you purchase a detail part that looks like the lamp housing for the ditch light?

[pedromorgan]

it might be easier these days to do it with a very fine fibre optic to either side. you can drill 2 tiny holes directly into a white LED that is the right size for the fibre optic. then you only have to worry about a 0.5mm wire to feed through and there is no bulb to worry about. if you heat the fibre slightly you can bent it very easily. i have done this on coaches but never for ditch lights.

peter

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by simon1966

Thank you John, this helps me a lot.

Can you purchase a detail part that looks like the lamp housing for the ditch light?

I think so, but have not looked for them. (Walthers Catalogue at your LHS?)

Peter: The difficulty with fibre optics and ditch lights is, I think, that the light coming from the fibre is just not bright enough even with a lens melted on the end of the fibre. I would go for the direct light source.

Can't find that tiny LED URL anywhere. Oh well, they looked fairly tricky to solder[B)]

[Anonymous]

Cool idea, but before you dive in, let me tell you of my experience[:(!].
About 3 years ago I decided to make the ditch lights on my Kato dash9 really function. I thought it would be easy! I purchased a decoder that would do the effect for me, took the engine apart and removed the light piping that normally provides additional lighting power from the headlights to the ditch lights. After installing 12v GOR bulbs, I powered her up and sent it for a ride. They worked great! But one problem. They got so damned hot they started to melt the stock Kato fixtures![V] Imagine my horror to find a 90 dollar engine starting to melt!![:0]
The fix came in the form of brass tubing and putty to reshape the lights, and playing with resistors to get the voltage to a happy medium between brightness and heat.
Problem solved and lesson learned. Just cuz the instructions say it will work right, don't mean it will! [:D]
Thank goodness 99% of the fleet is pre-ditch light!! (1994?)

[Anonymous]

One question and one comment:

Comment: I don't think ditch lights were around until the 90's on US engines (80's in Canada).

Question: I'm using DCC, does anyone know if its possible to have the ditch lights flashing back and forth, on certain occasions (like when my train is near a RR crossing)?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

One question and one comment:

Comment: I don't think ditch lights were around until the 90's on US engines (80's in Canada).

Question: I'm using DCC, does anyone know if its possible to have the ditch lights flashing back and forth, on certain occasions (like when my train is near a RR crossing)?

The ones I installed on my Dash9 (see prior post) stay on constant, until I hit the horn key on my DCC controller, then they alternately flash. I dont remember the decoder number, but it was a D_______ unit.
(Whew, I didn't say the D word!!)[:-^]

[simon1966]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

One question and one comment:

Comment: I don't think ditch lights were around until the 90's on US engines (80's in Canada).

A key peice of information that I was not aware of. I had assumed that since all these decoders seemed to support ditch lights I should use them! My nominal cut off date for my layout is my birthday in 1961, so I guess I will not be installing ditch lights onto my units after all. Thanks all for the input.

Are there any lighting effects other than Mars lights and head lights that would be appropriate for a late 50's early 60's locomotive?