Recent content by ncmrdispatcher

Pre-wired SMT LEDs are available from ngineering.com, but they are proud ($) of their work! The same folks sell a little fixture to hold the LED while soldering. A friend and I stole their idea and came up with this. The LED goes in the middle clip. In this photo it is an 0603, which...

Blue - Correction: There seem to be at least two lamps on each side under the running board. In the first photo, there is a second lamp in the upper right corner. I don't have a great photo that shows the second lamp on the fireman's side, but in another photo shot a few seconds earlier...

Blue - Depending on the era, you would not see any firebox flicker from 3985. The locomotive was originally build coal-burning, so any flicker would be hidden by the grates and ash pan. It wasn't until well after 3985 was rehabilitated, after being stuffed and mounted for years, that she was...

Mike - Acid flux, containing zinc or ammonium chloride, should never be used on stranded wire. The flux will flow beneath the insulation where it will slowly rot the wire. After creeping under the insulation, it is impossible to wash off. Here's what a common zinc chloride flux, Tix brand...

How many do you want to run simultaneously? Certainly not all 21! Those that are moving are the only ones that matter. All the others draw an insignificant amount of current when just sitting there idling, even if they are making noise. When I was doing some HO decoder installs a typical...

Y3a - You can read about one fellow's approach to O-scale 2-rail on David Stewart's Appalachian & Ohio web site. This is a large layout that is far more ambitious than most. All track is hand-laid, which is something that David particularly enjoys. Turnouts from #6 to #13 are built in-place...

Two thumbs up! Great job.

Doug - Always use a series resistor with each LED. Unlike a regular light bulb, they do not appreciate being driven by a fixed voltage because the current will vary wildly with tiny changes in applied voltage. It is very easy to exceed the maximum current rating, typically about 20 mA...

Bernie - Mark G. offered the simplest solution: just put a 1K ohm resistor (or thereabouts) in series with the LED. An LED tries to limit the voltage applied to it by exponentially increasing the current through it until it melts, sort of like a water tank that starts to overflow (water depth =...

I have purchased goods from Tony's for many years, and I have been extremely pleased with his service and support. I can't say whether Tony's is the least expensive vendor, though his prices seem quite good. No relationship other than as a completely satisfied customer.

In larger scales (I'm in O 2-rail) we often require a pair of decoders with both set to the same address. Here are two common alternatives for doing the decoder programming: PROGRAM BEFORE INSTALL Install one decoder and program it. Prior to installation, program the second decoder. However...

Most DCC systems I've seen require about a 14 to 16 volt AC transformer as does my NCE Powerhouse Pro. The requirements will be spelled-out in the owner's manual. A 12 volt transformer will lower the track voltage a bit; whether that is a problem is for you to decide. A 12 volt DC supply will...

Jim - I'm sorry my answer did not seem entirely clear. Short answers: The Tsunami provides between 12 and 13 volts at a function output, which can vary a bit depending on the particular DCC system you use. The usual (99% of the time) output voltage of any decoder lighting function is 12-13...

Short answer: A 1.5K ohm 1/4 or 1/8 watt resistor per LED produces an intense light with a lot of safety margin in virtually every situation. With larger LEDS (3mm diameter and above) a 1K 1/4 watt can be considered a universal solution. Long answer: An LED wants to be driven by a...

Ken - I use lots of LEDs -- 16 each in O-scale 2-rail GP9s I'm building. These are both 3mm and surface mount (SMT) parts. LED LEDs want to be powered by DC current provided through a series dropping resistor. In 90% of my DCC LED installs, I use a 1K ohm resistor when powering the LED...