I added Christmas lights to my On30 flat car. I used brass nails for stanchions. I still have another flat and a gondola to do. I'll fill this one with small Christmas presents. I was able fit the battery box between the frame and the truss rods.
(https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/424972147_10161507433750522_2881036145720564985_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=C-4-nLYnEykAX9QKKaC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDbFcB0MfneyreoreKKnG_cz4yjZmAQm2N7kUUOUVKqYw&oe=65C2F056)
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(https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/424974755_10161507433840522_127558365158190885_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=enTbf6gHsS0AX8OoMNJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCDBdPZA_nQaFYNn8DjP6XKO0Bz7hS94vnmp1okBtZUcg&oe=65C256D9)
That looks sharp, Terry! Are you using a 9V battery or something smaller?
Great looking car. You're giving me ideas and that's dangerous ;).
They are flat round 3 volt batteries.
Thanks for the info, Terry.
(https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/425572632_10161509090275522_501728612566169936_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=aIxjL7a99UAAX8nqeJt&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA42N3A6zLeOgC_TEMxywKK0iQKn2kBfbXZqW9U0YZ_CQ&oe=65C34215)
If you're inclined, you could add wheel wipers to the trucks, or add a lighted car before/after your gondola and feed your power from there... and use a simple zener diode regular to provide 3vdc. I added this to a LED string in a gondola full of Christmas trees.
The battery works, but if you want to tinker it's not hard to pull power from the track.
I thought about track power but then they would be on all time unless I added switches. The switches now are in the battery holders.
The second car. Gondola with Lemax shimmering Christmas trees lit up. The fiber optic strands light up randomly. I'll put some greenery on it to hide the wires.
(https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/425899961_10161512946315522_3322065951396460302_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=OyypZVidjswAX8oloQ_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDddridBoscIkjIHvIUMOKyOQUbksr98UQbmKDUPEaGaw&oe=65C6CD22)
(https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/424633921_10161512936615522_8812861931102317866_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=Zhp_8ggUgPkAX-3pi8r&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDhhQy-Jyr-5NWMomSM_jXyAo_KNDRWJA7Yh61ZqeWejg&oe=65C55360)
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(https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/425987190_10161512940495522_6129811963300146871_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=vtEfbf031csAX9AAAKl&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBGQmxPveeMZdNeXH9VZ29IZvWcFUbcYVjMltQbUeADNA&oe=65C63452)
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(https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/425723792_10161512942405522_3598640576709069158_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=gHl2Ahvn9Q4AX8VgPWI&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDrtxOz0K5IjIjJGCnIWFcp6gbGRDasToookcLonjga1Q&oe=65C5CF50)
I remembered why I didn't do track power. The lights are 3 volts and the track is 15 volts. What size resistor would I need?
Quote from: Terry Toenges on February 06, 2024, 10:52:30 AMI remembered why I didn't do track power. The lights are 3 volts and the track is 15 volts. What size resistor would I need?
It's hard to tell. If you just want to use a resistor then I'd start with 10K and go down until you get it right. I run DCC, and I pull power out of a lighted passenger car. I used a 3V zener diode to create a voltage regulator. If you wanted to do that and you're running DCC then you'll want a rectifier too.
If you want a zener I'll send you one, PM your address and I'll stick one in the mail.
Thanks. I'm just going tog with battery power. It will be less complicated. I'm only doing three cars.
I have the tree one about finished.I have one with toys that I did today. The one with presents is close to being done.
The present car.
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/392864217_10161543333140522_1574529123462319999_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=G54xqSr7th8AX8Z6G7S&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC7BWXUaAc45MWo8Noa1mopKGDoFyA6B70a2ASrZefrGw&oe=65DBD22E)
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Lit up.
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/428666606_10161543333290522_6175061500770743467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=4PtGI4yb36QAX_nWtL1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBWSdd_GXa5ojDktl5wCsYIqq-zF5UZA4HyBHbArMEGnQ&oe=65DC78FE)
That looks great, Terry! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
The toy car.
(https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429639366_10161545227040522_7820457153161290064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=1A25i7_IeJ0AX_VjFsL&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB8OkrEVPeGqhE4WhPGAPmdc0a6S4-A-ZtIUSSQsJO_JA&oe=65DE7995)
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(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/428619539_10161545227240522_7562992648100326799_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=POm1RAWs0-AAX9saZLj&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AfASPizM0C-tgxrj3pFBlkaMNuj4sDEptaXviFVPK21viw&oe=65DEABC3)
The tree car
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/392799140_10161545229210522_2958360198104771089_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=LwgLypzNhP4AX_VvOZl&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA-QS7j8rI_m-ntdJgD8zk5z2rbpyl4s0ODc8PV_9PYVg&oe=65DDFC8E)
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(https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/428632850_10161545229365522_7015243376948223712_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=cpG1A-k9xssAX_IomFL&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDovsg0AmvgCQQ9i2_XYjoujcKltbiAIkoyUAPvmh4WNw&oe=65DD3FC3)
The whole train
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429668049_10161545230710522_1991879345538825137_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=2uNRLpEybnsAX8ld4ny&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAYOT9vTA7orLkkw53WGpLzGO5Fsd4jilk2wcquPx5BQg&oe=65DD77A8)
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The lighted cars
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/392865580_10161545230955522_7233018674358443816_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=a73e89&_nc_ohc=ljdZBPDBREMAX9L4i1M&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCd2cQ9aus9qYZ_Z2iIzqp7kQH7rZVVRJQ9NxRt1_Iz6Q&oe=65DDB4FD)
Hmm. I can't see any of the pics now.
I don't know hat happened. I can't either.