What is your experience with passenger car and / or caboose lighting? I am trying to locate a circuit that gives more or less constant brightness and includes a battery back-up that keeps the lights on when the track power is turned off. I have seen a circuit that gives a constant 5 volts for powering LEDs, but I don’t know if there is a way to connect a battery into the circuit without damaging things. Any suggestions?
I don’t use ANY track power, so I just have batteries.
I use 9.6v flatpacks, and running 12v (series) markers I haven’t charged them in 4 or 5 months.
The issue with charging is the issue.
How much rate?
How much heat loss?
I just rip out the pickups and use batteries.
Car’s roll better, we don’t use lights in the daylight anyway…
A couple of years ago Jason Slenker was making some kits of exactly what you are asking about. He used to be a regular poster on MLS, but then dropped out of sight. I emailed him at the time he disappeared and he replied, but it sounded like he might be abandoning the part-time business idea. He’s a member of the PA group that sets up the layout on the floor at the entrance to ECLSTS in York every year.
I reviewed two of his kits for him. One was an always on headlight kit with battery backup, the other was the same idea for coach lights with multiple LEDs. Both systems ran off a small circuit board, a computer style nicad battery pack and LED’s. I still have them and they work good. They charge from track power and there is no flicker or lights out when stopped. White LED’s look too blue for non modern stuff though. He sent me an amber LED, but I never tried it. I’ve had the coach in storage for over a year, when I pulled it out a few weeks ago the battery still had a charge and the lights still worked.
I can’t find his website - It used to be JSE Electronics. I’ll post an update if I can find anything.
JR
I found Jason’s website URL, and it’s gone - so it looks like he is out of the business. His last post on MLS was June 2004. I sent an email to the last address I had for him to see if he had any stock left. I’ll post again if he does.
JR
Coincidentally that date was about the same time Sam Kimmery finally stopped cheating folks and called it quits.
I would hate to think they were kindred spirits.
TonyWalsham said:
Coincidentally that date was about the same time Sam Kimmery finally stopped cheating folks and called it quits.I would hate to think they were kindred spirits.
Tony,
I don’t think so. I’ve met Jason and had may email conversations with him. His outlook was almost 180 degrees to Sam K’s. I wrote an in depth review of one of his products and wanted to submit it to GR. He said no because he would not have been able to meet the demand building them up by hand. I think it was just a case of a guy realizing that it is very hard to make money in this corner of the hobby. If you are just looking for a tax write-off, that’s a different story 
Jon
Ram electronics makes a car lighting module with recharging single cell battery backup. Eliminates flicker and allows lights to stay on at stations. Has a regulator, a bridge, the leds and a size N cell if memory serves. Battery recharges from track.