Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

LED light boards for N scale buildings

1649 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
  • 776 posts
LED light boards for N scale buildings
Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Thursday, November 7, 2019 9:56 AM

A T-trak (n scale) layout module I am working on will have a lot of small structures, and I am thinking about installing LED interior lights. I am hoping that some company makes LEDs that are mounted to flat circuit boards with wires and any necessry resisters that I can just tape to the inside of the building wall or roof to light up the inside. Does such a thing exist?

If not, does anyone remember an article in MR or elsewhere that might have covered this? Thanks.

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, November 7, 2019 10:06 AM

 You are pretty much describing LED tape, usually used for things like accent lighting (and I'm planning to use this for overall layotu lighting). Usually comes on reels, about 3 meters long, but they are almsot always wired such that you can cut apart in groups of 3 LEDs (the tapes are marked with lines where you can cut).

 There are several people here usign them for lighting passenger cars, no reason why they wouldn't also work in structures.

Individual small surface mount LEDs with wires pre-attached are also available from several places, including low cost Chinese sellers on eBay, you would then run all the wiring to some point of the structure and attach a connector of your choice to allow the structure to be unplugged and removed from the layout. This would likely look better, as 3 LEDs in one room of a structure is probably too much light. You'd just tape the tiny LEDs to the ceiling by the wires. Or a dab of clear drying glue could hold them in place.

                    --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Thursday, November 7, 2019 10:12 AM

Benjamin Maggi
I am hoping that some company makes LEDs that are mounted to flat circuit boards with wires and any necessry resisters that I can just tape to the inside of the building wall or roof to light up the inside. Does such a thing exist?

 

Here is a link to one of the ebay sites I have used in my N Scale buildings.  I like them because they mount easily to the inside ceilings, and the resistor is built in.  The boards are about one centimeter square.

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/str/evemodelusa

York1 John       

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
  • 776 posts
Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Thursday, November 7, 2019 11:44 AM

That is EXACTLY what I am thinking of! Thanks.

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!