I found this source for inexpensive warm white LEDs. They are pure white in color, not that funky blue tint. The really great thing is that the casing is perfectly clear when off so they look more like a bulb. They are extremely bright, almost to the point you can't look at them straight on !!! And the best part .... they are dirt cheap. $6.56 for 10, and in quantity, you can pick up 100 for only $29.60 !!!! They have lots of stuff - look around while you're there.
http://www.besthongkong.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=210
Don't let the fact they are from Hong Kong scare you off. I placed my order and received over the next two days, e-mails confirming my purchase, shipping and tracking information. The package arrived in exactly one week. I can't get stuff sent to Canada from the US that fast !!!
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Mark,
From the picture, they look just like the golden-white LEDs. Are the warm-white and golden-white the same thing? If so, you're right - that IS a good price for those. Normally, I see them advertised for over a dollar a piece.
I have GW LEDs on all but one of my locomotives and think that they look and work just terrific. Lights up the back wall.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The golden white LEDs have an ever so slight orange tint to them - these are pure white, absolutely no yellow / orange / blue over-tones. I kid you not, one of those little buggers can easily be used as a small flash-light in a dark room !!! I've installed a bunch of them in various loco-motives, and on high beam, coming at you, they're amazing.
The real selling point for me ( aside from the color ) was the fact the case is water clear. This way, I can use them for street-lights, building lights, what-ever, and they look like a clear bulb hanging there when they're off - not some odd looking orange thing.
Those are good prices for small quantities, and at 12000mcd, they must indeed be bright. I use the bluish whites rated at 17000mcd for my welder simulation boards and that's overkill.
I have no worry about dealing with Hong Kong companies, as long as they ship airmail. Right now I'm l'm checking out some Surface Mount LED that's supposed to be a warm white. Their small footprint will allow them to be mounted in N scale engines and lots of small places. Here's hoping.
Mike Tennent
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943
I've also bought Asian LEDs before. Arrived in like 4-5 days. I was a bit leery of buying that way, but I figured using a credit card, I could, if necessary, put a stop payment to the transaction. The deal went very smoothly, and I would definately buy again.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
If I were to rob one or two LED's from my Christmas string, would the Christmas lights still work?
"I found a cheaper source...the new line of Christmas LED lights. I got 200 for $9!"
I personnally haven't played with the white LED Christmas lights, but I would tend to believe they are all wired in series to be able to operate off of 110 volt line current - removing any from the set would probably cause the rest to not function.
Also, I would tend to believe from what I've seen, the white LEDs in the strings are the more common "blue white" LEDs and may not be desirable as headlights. The blue whites do, however, make a good representation of flourescent lighting for buildings.
Noma brand lights are now available in "Icy Cool", "Pure White", "Warm White".