Thank you all. Very helpful!
If you are looking for a good insulator, kapton tape is thin, strong, and holds well. A 3/8" or 1/2" wide roll will last you a life time. I think I picked mine up at Litchfield Station.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Hi PJ2017:
Welcome to the forums!!!
The best insulating tape is called 'Kapton' and it was developed for use in the space industry.
http://www.litchfieldstation.net/?s=Kapton&post_type=product&tags=1&limit=10&ixwps=1
Sometimes it doesn't seem to stick very well but if you press it hard it won't move.
Also, as was said, LEDs do not heat up so if you need a heat reflector you most certainly have an incandescent bulb. I strongly recommend replacing it with a suitable LED. The LED will last forever. The bulb won't. In fact, next time round I would suggest not spending the money on the rather expensive lighting kits at all and just get yourself some 12v LED strips and a resistor. You can do the whole train for less money than a single lighting kit. Plus, you can add in a keep alive circuit for very little money to prevent the lights from flickering due to power interuptions. If you need more info, just ask.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Yeah, I would expect Kapton tape is the way to go. Good for 500 degrees F, I have just read. As opposed to regular electrical tape, which gets pretty gnarly much over 90 degrees F. Or so it seems when I work with it.
Ed
I don't know how much help this is, but the instructions read:
Fig. 7: Fit the wires from the bulb into the contacts as shown. Wires should not touch. First place short protective foil, then short metal foil under the bulb on the flat side of the light disperser.
Rich
Alton Junction
http://www.fleischmann.de/en/product/12267-9457-0-0-0-0-0-003004/products.html
Not that the picture helps me understand nor the directions: see for yourself
Fig. 6: Firstly the metal foil, over this the protective foil – in long strips – stick to the roof.
Fig. 7: Fit the wires from the bulb into the contacts as shown. Wires should not touch.First place short protective foil, then short metal foil under the bulb on the flat side of the light disperser
Regular electric tape is gummy. Kapton tape, I would describe as bronzish, can be purchased at Tony's Trains or Litchfield Station.
Welcome to the forum
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Sorry, I probably was not clear. According to the instructions, the metallic tape is for heat protection - to protect the plastic roof of the carriage from melting (although I think this highly unlikely to happen).
The non-metalliic tape serves as a layer of insulation between the metallic tape and the LED light assembly. Without the non-metallic tape, the LED light assembly shorts out.
So I need to put something between the metallic tape and the light assembly. That's how I stumbled across the Kapton tape. Make sense?
PJ2017,
To The Forums.....
Are You sure it is for heat protection? Led's produce hardly any heat. Incandesant bulbs yes. It might be for light bleed through reasons.
Take Care!
Frank
I purchased a Fleischmann 9457 lighting unit (http://www.fleischmann.de/en/product/12267-9457-0-0-0-0-0-003004/products.html). The kit comes with two pieces of tape. One is metallic, and is attached to the inside roof of the carriage to provide heat protection from the LED light. The second is non-metallic, and is applied on top of the metallic tape.