Large Scale Central

I have Two lighting questions

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

The first question is how to wire up these small lights to lite up my ROW. I want to place these lights along my track so I can take pictures from a moving train. The area is too dark for the camera to get pictures from my train. Here is a picture of the bulbs I have. The # of the light is CM125W. I have 20 of these.

Second is : I would like to put a headlight in my live steamer How would I go about it if it is possible. Here is a front shot of my loco

You see that brass star on the boiler front? Well not any more its all red now. A #2 will be going there. Any information would be helpful Thank you in advance David

#2

I’m not certain, but those look like LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), not bulbs. They will be very directional like a spot light. They run from very low voltage and usually require a current limiting resistor.

For your steamer, a single LED and a small battery (AAA or AA will do). I’ve seen batteries placed in tool boxes on the foot boards.

#3

They do look like LED’s and appear to have a resistor in them under the heat shrink tubing.

#4
David Russell said:
They do look like LED's and appear to have a resistor in them under the heat shrink tubing.
Yes, just noticed that. I'd try them on about 3 -5 volts.
#5

I’ll bet you they are 12v… try the low voltage first though!

As point sources, not good illumination for your train unless pretty closely spaced… and you will still have hot spots.

Greg

#6

You think one could be put in the headlamp and run wires to a battery.
Hummm. I’ll give that a try. I’ll goto Radio Shack today and pick up some hardware.
Thanks
David

#7

They look too large to fit in the reflector, try to find a smaller diameter one, and also would look for warm white or golden white… try Richmond Controls…

Greg

#8

Thank for the information.
I was thinking of putting them on light posts and faceing them downward with a round reflector above the bulb.
Hummmm.
On the loco head light, I’m headed to the Shack as soon as I finish here, to see what I can come up with.
Do you have any better Ideas?
Again thanks for all of your input.
David

#9

The LED lights won’t light with batteries , then I tried the power pac/ There was light must be 12V they do light off the transformer on 16V- AC.
Thats good then I can wire them off the transformer with a simple switch. That was the good news.
I didn’t make out at Radio Shack. I didn’t find what I was looking for.
I’ll have to get something on line.
David

#10

LEDs have spiky color spectrums. They may have an (undesireable) effect on the color of your photos…

#11

Joe Satnik said:
LEDs have spiky color spectrums. They may have an (undesireable) effect on the color of your photos…

Definitely agree with that. For night photography, incandescent bulbs will give a nice warm color and even that can be corrected on a digital camera with white balance. Here is a car lit internally with incandescent…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Combine-Before_3_640.jpg)

And the same car lit with LED…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Combine-Both_1_640.JPG)

#12

Well so much for that Idea.
Where can I get the LED for the headlight?
I would like also to get a battery box that I can make look like a tool box.
I also need an on off switch.
I didn’t find anything at the Shack. :frowning:
Oh by the way I got rid of that terrible star on the front of the smoke box. It’s all red now. :slight_smile:
I will place a brass #2 there. When I get decals for the Forney.
David

Thanks
David