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led install?

Started by dragonbusa, June 08, 2017, 06:43:19 PM

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dragonbusa

Well I wired up an led in one of my locos, pretty simple cut the old bulb out, install the resistor solder the led in and I'm done. works great very bright. Put the loco in reverse  and no light! HA! led's only work in one direction, wire them backwards and they don't work. I guess I dont need lights to back up any way LOL!

Len

#1
If you want the headlight always 'ON', regardless of direction on a DC layout, there's a fairly simple solution. Just put a full wave bridge rectifier between the track power and the LED and resistor.



You can pick up small package bridge rectifiers at places like Mouser, Digi-Key, etc. Track power connects to the AC (~) inputs. The DC (+/-) side connects to the LED and dropping resistor. Whatever polarity is coming from the track, the polarity to the LED will remain constant.

Len
If at first you don't succeed, throw it in the spare parts box.

dutchbuilder

What is the value of the resistor you are using?

Ton

dragonbusa


dutchbuilder

That's what i am using also.
But if you think even then that the led is  to bright try a 2k2. red red red.

Ton

Len

Since there is a voltage drop through a full wave rectifier, using one to keep the headlight on regardless of direction will also dim the LED slightly.

Len
If at first you don't succeed, throw it in the spare parts box.