Terminal Block Question

[mattm1124]

Good morning all,

Question for you. I bought this terminal block recently. Can I just use a power pack to power this block? If so, what output would I need? I plan on powering a few smaller lights for buildings. Right now, the power packs I have are 12 volts output.

Thanks for any advice.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Smudge617]

A 12v-16v wall wart/power pack would be fine, just ensure if using LED's/SMD's to add correct resistors to them.

 

[D. Soppy]

Any DC power supply will work. For LED's, 5v or 12v will work jut fine. Use a 470 ohm resistor for 5v or a 1000 ohm resistor for 12v in series with the LED.

 

[mattm1124]

Any DC power supply will work. For LED's, 5v or 12v will work jut fine. Use a 470 ohm resistor for 5v or a 1000 ohm resistor for 12v in series with the LED.

Thank you! Are you able to send me links for the resistors? Pretty sure I found them online, but want to be sure.

 

[mattm1124]

A 12v-16v wall wart/power pack would be fine, just ensure if using LED's/SMD's to add correct resistors to them.

Thanks!

 

[Smudge617]

Thank you! Are you able to send me links for the resistors? Pretty sure I found them online, but want to be sure.

No point in me giving you a link for them, I'm in the UK. but your LHS will have them, or just Google

1000 ohm resistor for 12v

They'll look like this.

 

[D. Soppy]

Your LHS will have them, or just Google

1000 ohm resistor for 12v

They'll look like this.

Thank you! Are you able to send me links for the resistors? Pretty sure I found them online, but want to be sure.

I don't have a link for the resistors, but any 1000 ohm 1/8 or 1/4 watt will work. Amazon has kits that come in many different values .If you want your LED a little dimmer, you can go up in value to 2000 or 4000 ohms or higher. For a brighter LED you can go down as low as 560 ohms.

 

[mattm1124]

No point in me giving you a link for them, I'm in the UK. but your LHS will have them, or just Google

1000 ohm resistor for 12v

They'll look like this.


View attachment 156155

These would have to be soldered to the wires, correct?

 

[Smudge617]

These would have to be soldered to the wires, correct?

Yes, then insulate the wires so you don't get a short circuit.
20 second job and your done.

 

[mattm1124]

Yes, then insulate the wires so you don't get a short circuit.
20 second job and your done.

I appreciate the help! Another question. I'm guessing this wouldn't be recommended, but if I'm using a 12 volt wall wart, could I just splice 2 sets of lights to it? I know it would be enough power but didn't know if it was safe to do that.

 

[Smudge617]

I appreciate the help! Another question. I'm guessing this wouldn't be recommended, but if I'm using a 12 volt wall wart, could I just splice 2 sets of lights to it? I know it would be enough power but didn't know if it was safe to do that.

You could, but definitely not recommended, it's simply not a safe way to do it, also you may want to add further lighting at a later date (building or more street lights or something else that needs 12v), so much easier and safer to use a Distribution Board from your LHS or Amazon (their around $5.00), something like this one (I have 4 of them) is ideal .

As you can see this has a socket that your wall wart plugs directly into, or you wire in directly via the two screw-in points next to it.

Are you intending to have manual or electrically operated turnout's ?

 

[diesel]

1000 ohm resistor for 12v

They'll look like this.

Except, the green band will be red. A brown-brown-green-gold is a 1.1M resistor, a 1k is a brown-black-red-gold. Just in case...