Large Scale Central

Structure lights

General Discussion
#1

I finally installed the wiring for low voltage lighting long the upper level of the layout. So far the only structures in place with lights are at the Cliffside Mine. I used 16v grain of rice bulbs. With the wiring in place, I tried out the lights by hooking it up to my old Buddy L power pack, being careful to turn it up no higher than half power. Eventually I’ll replace that with a Malibu unit.

Anyway, the lights look good, but I noticed that two of the interior lights were not lit. When I touched the bulbs they were very hot, while the bulbs that are lit aren’t hot at all. My guess is that the bulbs must have shorted out inside, somehow. I’ll have to pull them out tomorrow and replace them.

#2

pictures please.

#3

YES - This thread needs pictures !!!

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/content/images/2007/09/18/bodgerandbadger_1_396x222.jpg)

#4

I’m planning to take some pics as soon as I can get the two bad bulbs replaced. Unfortunately I don’t have any on hand, so I’ll have to order them.

#5

Bad Bulb, bad Bulb. Go to your room!

#6
Ray Dunakin said:
I finally installed the wiring for low voltage lighting long the upper level of the layout. So far the only structures in place with lights are at the Cliffside Mine. I used 16v grain of rice bulbs.
Ray, Any particular reason you chose these bulbs rather than use LEDs? Ralph
#7

I would choose bulbs for color. To me, LED’s look too fluorescent for period buildings. They are fine in modern buildings that would have fluorescent lighting. Even the “warm white” LEDs still look odd to me.

I have the same problem in my house with the new low-wattage fluorescent replacement bulbs. The “warm white” looks yellow to me.

[This from a guy with no real buildings on his layout, and the few birdhouses I have are not lit]

#8

The white and warm white do look too modern… They have yellow LEDs that mimic incandescent lighting pretty well.
Ralph

#9

I would have preferred to use warm white LEDs, even if the color isn’t 100% accurate, because LEDs last a lot longer. But there are a couple problems with using LEDs.

First, they’re much larger than a grain of rice bulb, and oddly shaped with rigid leads. That makes it impossible to fit them into any prototypical fixture. If all you’re doing is shining a light inside a building that would be fine, but I have a lot of exterior features to light.

Second, if you’re using a lot of them, you pretty much have to be an electrician to figure out how to correctly wire and power them. I don’t want to fuss with resistors and all that junk.

#10

Ray ,
Being a simple ex design engineer in armament/electronics , my slow mind always thinks of LED wiring as a power source with two parallel rails running off and legs walking the rail . Remember to think of the LEDS as a set of blokes with one leg shorter than the other , all leaning the same way . Or blokes with swollen legs .
I do enjoy my mind’s wandering .

Mike M

#11

I found an extra bulb, and replaced one of the burnt-out bulbs. Then I shot some time exposures last night. I think they turned out pretty good… This is the Cliffside Mine, located high on Grandt Cliff:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/IRRWebfiles/wMineLights_0927.jpg)

This is the scratch-built hoist inside the hoist house:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/IRRWebfiles/wMineLights_0941.jpg)

Here’s a view looking towards the mine from the 15" gauge tram tracks:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/IRRWebfiles/wMineLights_0966.jpg)

You can see these (and a few other shots) in a higher resolution on my website: http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR-Night.html Enjoy!

#12

Looks great.
I think you need to run a haunted train at Halloween :wink:
Ralph

#13

That looks great Ray. Thanks for posting the pictures.

#14

Dude!!!
I really like the last shot Ray!
:wink:

#15

Dang, that looks neat. I really like the idea of lights in my buildings, but never got around to it. Those shots are very inspiring.

#16

I can imagine sitting at dusk in the backyard on a San Diego evening and watching those lights get brighter on the hillside as the sun sets. Okay Ray, just one more and then I have to get home, hold the ice, remember I have to drive.

#17

Yeah, the lights are really nice in the evening, and eventually there will be more of them, as I add more buildings and mines. BTW, here are a few daytime shots of the Cliffside Mine: As you can see here, the mine has both an inclined shaft, and a horizontal adit (tunnel). The shaft is located between the ore bin and the hoist house. The shaft goes down at a 45 degree angle, towards the hoist house.

(http://www.raydunakin.com/IRRWebfiles/wIMG_0973.jpg)

The adit is on a lower level and really only exists to provide enough room for the tram to push or pull a short train of ore cars during loading. (I still have to extend the chute from the ore bin, to reach the tram tracks.)

(http://www.raydunakin.com/IRRWebfiles/wIMG_0974.jpg)

Here’s a farther away shot so you can see where the mine is in relation to the railroad:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/IRRWebfiles/wIMG_0977.jpg)