Need recommendations on LED headlights for HO locomotives

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

I have number of locomotives, a few old diecast, but mostly older brass like and including the PFM decapod and Hallmark 4-6-0 pictured below, that are in need of a functional headlight. All are plain old DC, some have can motors, but most are open frame. Can anyone recommend a small, economical surface mount LED that will fit any headlight housing, and is prewired and has the appropriate resistor? Also, where I could find/buy said LEDs? If I remember right, I have around a dozen or so locomotives that need lights, plus several more I'd like to upgrade. Thanks.

 

[bnsf971]

For 12vdc, and a standard led, you would need a 400-450 ohm resistor.
I'm unaware of any universal led's that will fit all your engines. It will be a special fit for each.

 

[Smudge617]

You can get pre wired SMDs in various sizes that would likely fit your locomotives, just Google "Pre-wired SMDs"
Being Steam those that are "warm white" would be correct.

Here is a size chart.

Google Image Result for https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/SMT_sizes%2C_based_on_original_by_Zureks.svg

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I found these. Very small and they fit into any headlight that I have.
They also make another one that is about 1/3 the size of this one that can be used for marker lights.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

For 12vdc, and a standard led, you would need a 400-450 ohm resistor.
I'm unaware of any universal led's that will fit all your engines. It will be a special fit for each.

Thank you. The resistor rating is good to know, as I know just enough about LEDs to be dangerous.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

You can get pre wired SMDs in various sizes that would likely fit your locomotives, just Google "Pre-wired SMDs"
Being Steam those that are "warm white" would be correct.

Here is a size chart.

Google Image Result for https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/SMT_sizes%2C_based_on_original_by_Zureks.svg

Thank you, that should be very helpful.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I forgot to mention. Those LED kits I pictured are just two leads. Hook em to a power source of AC/DC/DCC 7 - 19 volts and the in line box on it will sort it out for ya.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

I found these. Very small and they fit into any headlight that I have.
They also make another one that is about 1/3 the size of this one that can be used for marker lights.

View attachment 200891

Thanks. I'll have to look for something like that, as they would probably fit most of the locos I want them for.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

I forgot to mention. Those LED kits I pictured are just two leads. Hook em to a power source of AC/DC/DCC 7 - 19 volts and the in line box on it will sort it out for ya.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

Meant to post an update for you all, sorry I'm late with it. I would also like to thank you all for your advice and opinions on this matter, it greatly helped me to choose the best option for my needs. After going through your suggestions and tips, I found these on ebay, and bought a pack of 20 individual 402 warm white LEDs.

These photos show the results of what I've done so far. Sorry about some of the being blurry, the engines were moving when I took them.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

A couple more that I didn't have room for in the last post.

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Nice job on those...and i just love those steamers.
I was wondering what that dark olive green with black boiler and silver smokebox machine is?
Oh and that decapod, i assume this is the Baldwin "standard", same as Strasburg Railroad #90 (?), or the "Russian decapod"?
I am a sucker for decapods, as i was growing up with them working through my hometown in Poland.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

Nice job on those...and i just love those steamers.
I was wondering what that dark olive green with black boiler and silver smokebox machine is?
Oh and that decapod, i assume this is the Baldwin "standard", same as Strasburg Railroad #90 (?), or the "Russian decapod"?
I am a sucker for decapods, as i was growing up with them working through my hometown in Poland.

Thank you very much! The olive green with black boiler and silver smoke box engine is a Russian decapod, the same decapod pictured in the first post, CM, MT & SL 522. It's a United/PFM brass model, and is one of my "house" engines that has the layout's initials as its road name. Since I was going to take it apart to put the LED in, I decided to repaint it, as it had a lot of paint loss on top of the boiler and cab. You can't see it in the photo, but it was so bad that the brass was showing. I haven't gotten around to re-lettering it yet. Here's some before and after photos.

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

Hello again Colorado midland modeler. Just had a question.

Do you still use a resistor with these lights that you ended up using, or do they not need it?
And which is smaller, the 402s or the 603s?
Thanks.

 

[logandsawman]

I love your steam (and the locomotives, too)! You were not fooling around when you said you were adding some lights...

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

Hello again Colorado midland modeler. Just had a question.

Do you still use a resistor with these lights that you ended up using, or do they not need it?
And which is smaller, the 402s or the 603s?
Thanks.

These actually come with a resistor already attached. They need it, otherwise the track voltage would be too high. The 402s are as small as the they come to the best of my knowledge. The 603s are just a little bit bigger.

I love your steam (and the locomotives, too)! You were not fooling around when you said you were adding some lights...

Thank you! I have a bunch more that I want to put LEDs in, some that don't have any working lights, and some that I'd like to upgrade.

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

Ok Thank you! Just what I needed to know.