Please help. I have LGB #2051 units with the original type “pin” lights, I would like to change them over to “LED” pin lights. I understand that the “LED” bulbs would be much brighter. Does anyone know? Can this be done by just changing the bulb, if they are available?
Thanks much,
Ed Engle
Ed,
the early light bulbs were screw fittings (18 volt). By ‘pin’ lights, are you referring to the glass bulbs with the two thin wire connectors? You need to ascertain the voltage of your units. Later models used a five volt, voltage stabilised regulator. To fit LED’s to an earlier 18 volt locomotive, you would need to fit a resistor (I use around 660 ohm) in series with each LED to prolong its life. Failure to do so will result in instant failure of the LED. If a later 5 volt unit then I have no idea as to the value of resistor required. Early models used a single light at each end, with the light transferred by a clear plastic moulding to the three headlamps. You may need to do a bit of thinking to enable LED’s at each lamp location.
Another issue is that the light bulb emits good light from the side. LED’s don’t. As I recall, most of the pin lights on LGB engines plug in vertically so they emit their light from the side.
Also, you should either use “warm white” LED’s or the blue-white ones and coat the LED with Tamya translucent yellow paint to get rid of the blue color.
You just can’t change the bulb as it can’t handle the current. What you have to do is solder in a 750 ohm resistor. If you send me your personal email I can send you pictures of what it looks like. And yes the bulbs are brighter. I used a 5 mm Led on my LGB Mogul ans that size works very well. Dennis.
If the bulb is a screw in version it is 18 volts.
If the bulb has twin leads and a flat top, it is 5 volts
If the bulb has twin leads and a rounded top, it is 24 volts.
A led at 24 volt usage needs a 1,000 (1K) resistor and a half watt power rating.
For 5 volt usage, 220 ohms is needed as LGB really fed 6.2 volts to smoke and lights.
I mention 24 volts in case engines are modified and run on MTS/DCC systems, otherwise the 750 ohm mentioned is ok for 18 volt analog systems.
Interesting, I thought the light coming out the LGB bulbs on my White Pass diesel were pretty darn bright.
John,
the White Pass #2055 has a 5-volt lighting system. A lot of ‘early’ LGB locomotives had 18 volt systems, thus, to get a reasonable glow, one needs to really screw the voltage up high.
Most LGB engines I have seen put out more than 5 volts, thus making for brighter lights and better smoke in the steamers.
So, a 5mm, 3 volt, 20ma led would need to drop at least 3 volts from a 6 volt supply, and to be safe I used 220 ohms to limit the current below the 20ma.