LED's for lighting....

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V

V&AL

Fred's Loco Shop Foreman
After waiting over 8 months for my order from Richmond controls (and canceling cause I didn't wanna wait any longer) I've decided to tackle lighting an RDC myself. What I'm planning is a one-way running setup with non-working lights on the "rear". (I know real RDC's are bi-directional with the exception of a few wreck rebuilds, but a model can be turned by hand and halve the wiring mess...).

What I'm planning on:

Steady Ditch Lights
Head lights
Tail lights
would also like to have a "rotating" beacon....

The lights will be battery powered to provide constant intensity lighting. batteries and switches will be mounted in the AC "hump" with removable panels for easy access.

What I really need is a good, reliable source for parts... Any suggestions?

thanks!!
 
I've bought my LEDs from Digikey. There are some nice ones. With white ones, try to search for low Kelvin numbers - the lower the K (5000-6000), the less blue you will get.

These are ones I've used in the past:

T 1 3/4 white LED and 1.6mm SMD round LED. The second one is an ultra small surface mount one which is great for ditch lights.

Mark
 


Contact me at MGWSY@aol.com and I will help you with your problem. I can turn down Golden White LEDs on a lathe and do what you want plus do fiber optics, Etc.

Check out some of my work here.

KatoF40phLightsComparison3.jpg


RDCLED.png


http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/mgwsy1978/Model Trains/Temp/

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/mgwsy1978/Model Trains/Welder Circuit/
 
V&AL,

I can vouch for MGWSY's work. He has done 4 units for me so far and is working on 8 more now. I never knew how good my units could look with working headlights and beacons!! His work is top notch.
 
NICE!!!! what do you use for the rotaries??

I'm doin up a proto 1000 RDC... I'll email ya tommorrow...
 
very nice. I'm a DIY kinda guy. I tried Richmond controls, and got tired of waiting for 8+ months only to be told I was still WAAAAY down the wait list...

this RDC will be a pilot for upgrading the whole fleet as time, money and skills allow... rotary beacons fit most of my fleet...

current plan for the proto 1000:

1 working amber rotary, 1 dummy
2 working headlights, 2 dummy
2 constant ditch lights, 2 dummy.
2 tail lights, 2 dummy

thinkign watch type batteried for power, and the lights wont care what the system is, they can light with no power at all!...
 


MG, those are some fine looking lighting jobs. Locomotive lighting is not one of my strong points so I'm going to keep you in mind for a few of my more "difficult" locomotives.
 
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