Bob
FWIW, I have used many SMD LEDs for replacing stock light bulbs and they are fairly easy to install. If yours came with leads attached installation will be a breeze.
I use epoxy to mount the LEDs. I managed to find some 90 second stuff which minimizes the time that you have to spend holding the LED in place.
One trick I discovered is to light the LED when you are installing it so you can see exactly where the light is going. If the LED isn't lined up properly it doesn't project much light through the lens.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I just bought some 1.5mm fiber optic that fits in the headlight where the 1.5v bulb was. I have 4 of the Genesis F-3 with dark holes in front. I need to glue a short pc of the fiber to the LED and install. It also works for the 'running' lights but haven't tackled that task yet. I have some SMD' s but haven't tried them; just read about it on this thread. So many tasks, so little time!
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I've read reports of people having the Athearn bulbs burn out in a matter of hours, and others reporting them still working years later. What I've found upon investigation is that those who experience short life with the Athearn bulbs are also running their DCC track voltage too high.
All it takes is an additional 1/2 volt from the factory board and that's more than enough to over-stress and burn out those factory 1.5 volt bulbs.
Guys who are maintaining between 13 and 14 volts on their rails are the ones who do not experience the short life of the bulbs that others do.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Rick, this is me letting off steam!
Paul, you got me thinking... as long as I'm going to crack the geeps open I may as well install Loksound Selects. I have tried every reverb and EQ setting to try to improve them and the horn still sounds like a bicycle horn with a weak battery!
Speaking of investment, Larry, After the new decoders, replacement LEDs and the initial cost of the engines I'll have over $350 each in them!
Thanks for the replys fellas...
gmpullman I'm posting this not so much as a rant (I did buy more Genesis engines even after I became aware of the lousy headlights) but more to just let off some steam.
I'm posting this not so much as a rant (I did buy more Genesis engines even after I became aware of the lousy headlights) but more to just let off some steam.
So, your letting off some steam, over diesel units.... I thought only Alco's were honorary steamers!
Ok, couldn't resist....
Yeah, it is annoying, that we, the purchaser, have to change out flimsy bulbs when, (yes when, not if) they burn out. But, could be a whole lot worse than just light bulbs. Now, if only we could train some of our little PPL's to just go inside and change out those tiny bulbs for us, it would be a whole lot easier....
EDIT: corrected typo.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
My first and most used loco is a Genesis 2012 GP9, with 4 small bulbs. I grew to dislike the Tsunami horn enough to change to my first LokSound select plus different speakers. I found that one or more bulbs had burned out and changed the 4 to SMD 0603 LEDs, which simply glued (Elmers) into the recesses behind the lenses. Not much extra effort and with the LokSound, the LED brightness can be adjusted to your preference.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
gmpullmanAthearn, are you listening??? Ed
If not they should be..So far I have avoid buying any Genesis locomotives due to the headlight bulb issues and the other well documented QA/QC issues.
I would love to have a Genesis DCC/Sound equipped GP9 but,until the issues are resolved I shall pass since this would be a major investment for me..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Remember the definition of the difference between a recession and a depression? A recession is when your neighbor is out of work—a depression is when YOU are out of work.
Well, that's how I feel about my recent discovery that at least half of the headlight lamps on my roster of Athearn Genesis GP-7s & 9s have gone poof! I have read threads on several forums about modelers' distain about having to change out Athearn's flimsy, cheap lamps and I thought , "I'm sure glad mine are OK!"
So, last night I fired-up a group of four GP-7s that I hadn't run in a while and I punched F0 for the headlight and nothing happened. The other engines were MU-ed so the headlights were off.
Then it dawned on me that, sure enough, both bulbs were burned out. In reverse, only one of the twin sealed-beam headlights lit.
Taking inventory, roughly half of the lamps are non-functional. Doing the numbers in my head (including two NKP geeps with Mars lights—8 bulbs per loco!) I will be replacing forty-six individual lamps with LEDs!
I've already done a bunch of F-3s & F-7s that also required decoder installs. That I don't mind since I knew I was going to remove the shell anyway, but when you lay out over $200 for a sound equipped locomotive the last thing you expect is to have to open it up after what I estimate is about 10 actual hours of running time.
Of course, you have to toss out the stock McHenry couplers, also.
There's another thread here about manufacturers finally listening to us. I'd love to speak to the person at Horizon Hobbies that insists on sticking with these cheezy lamps. I have twenty-year-old Proto 2000 engines that have literally hundreds of hours on them and the factory bulbs are just fine, granted they're much larger, but they still work!
I almost reserved a pair of E-L SDP-45s but with the three-strike rule, headlight, couplers, Tsunami sound, I'm keeping my credit card safely tucked away.
Sorry this got a little long-winded... gotta' go—I have work to do!
Athearn, are you listening??? Ed