Hello all, I am currently working on a diesel project for my logging line, and I am thinking of putting a flashing orange light on the cab roof. Anyone have any ideas for that? I went to radio shack and found a flashing led board and a nice looking orange led, but is there a better idea? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
You might try a Google search for something like "led strobe light simulated scale railroad’. There are a bunch of vendors, such as Ram Products that can probably fit your requirements.
Sine I have a DCC decoder in my engine, flashing lights are just a programmable feature of a decoder output.
So, what is in the engine that could be of use?
What power is being used?
I would prefer a bulb to get non directional light for a roof top flasher.
Most leds are directional, but are brighter for track power users at low voltages and can be smaller. Your choice.
There are many leds with built in flashers available from electronic outfits like digi-key.
You just need a diode bridge and a CL2 device to regulate the current.
I bought a flashing yellow LED. You can make their lighting look more like a light bulb by cutting the domes part of the LED off then buffing up the sides of the LED. It’s not perfect but it does improve the appearance. The owner of the engine wanted a much brighter flasher so I replaced the LED with a light bulb in a plastic lense. It is driven by a DCC lighting controller.
Aaron
If you don’t like the idea of just a flashing LED and you want to make a bit more realistic and complex check out Daves site. http://www.trainelectronics.com/products.htm Or as suggested RAM makes some nice stuff as well
RAM products sells all sorts of flasherkits.