"Orange" colored LEDs in KATO C44-9W

[dieselloco411]

I just bought a KATO C44-9W. GREAT locomotive. The only thing I am not happy with are the orange colored LEDs. Is it possible (and simple) to replace these with a brighter color or standard 12v bulbs. I'm guessing that I can just de-solder the LEDs from the circuit board and re-solder the other bulbs on. What is the best thing (bulbs) to use?

[MisterBeasley]

Are these the "golden-white" LEDs that look orange when not lit? I've got some of these. I like them for my 60's era diesels, but there they are recessed and you don't see the orange shells.

If I were to replace them, I'd go find another LED with a color you like better. You can use an incandescent, but you will need to match up the right voltage. The LEDs are certainly wired with a resistor in series with them. Be aware that incandescents run much hotter than LEDs. If these LEDs are mounted right in the shell, you probably want to replace them with different LEDs, because incandescents might actually melt their housings.

LEDs throw a much more directional beam than incandescents, so they are more headlight-like. After putting in a couple of LEDs, I will be replacing all of my headlights with them because the effect is so much better.

[icmr]

I like the "orange" color since it looks like the real lights on a real locomotive.



ICMR MY $2.53

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[Anonymous]

If you have a soldering iron, and know a little about how to use it, you can easily change the LEDs. I have changed the ones in my Kato SD90s with no problems. I used LEDs from Miniatronics. They call them "Yeloglo". They have a nice yellow color, just like a real headlight. They look much better than the orange ones you are talking about, and are much better than the standard "white" LEDs, which tend to have a lot of Blue tint to them. Hope that info. helps.

P.S. If you are running DCC, check out my Railimages page for photos of how to add deticated LEDs to the ditchlights so they can be controlled seperately from the main headlight.