There are 2 versions of the electronics in the GP7 (basically track voltage lamps and leds/lower voltage lamps).
You can tell by the connectors on the board to the lights.
I’d have to look on the GP-38s I think they also had the 2 versions.
Greg
Greg Elmassian said:
There are 2 versions of the electronics in the GP7 (basically track voltage lamps and leds/lower voltage lamps).
You can tell by the connectors on the board to the lights.
I’d have to look on the GP-38s I think they also had the 2 versions.
Greg
The easiest way to tell the difference between the older incandescent lamp version and the newer LED version, especially for those of us who are not to be trusted with a light switch is: does the smoke unit have a fan? If it does, then it is the newer, LED version.
The GP 38 does have an “old style chassis,” but whether it has incandescent lights or not, I can’t tell. I have a GP-38 in the basement, but don’t know whether it is new or old. CLICK HERE for the Airwire .pdf to change the wiring for the old style chassis if you are going to use their Drop In board.
Thanks Steve, very helpful!
Greg
USAT GP38-2 Interior Pictures
As to the USAT GP38, shown below is a unit in Rock Island livery that I purchased new in January, 2012.
It has a combination of incandescent lamps and LEDs. Also, there are two smoke generator units with each appearing to have a dedicated circuit board, with one board on the main chassis and the other in the shell.
As to limiting motor in-rush current as per George Schreyer’s method to prevent wheel pitting, I installed a resistor for each motor as shown below. I only use track power controlled by a Revolution 15 amp capable Base Station, no DCC or other loco mounted systems.
For comparison, Greg describes the GP7/9 on his Web site that includes some pictures of its interior.
-Ted
Ted, been too busy and forgot to ask you:
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number boards are incandescent, and I believe all versions are
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classification lights are bipolar (2 lead) red/green LEDs, and all USAT diesels use these.
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the variables seem to be the headlights.
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I think all cab lights are incandescent.
Some of the variations I have found are in the headlight and cab light voltages. Some locos they are 18v and some locos they are 3 to 5 volts.
I have never seen a LED cab light.
Greg
Greg,
My Rock Island GP38 classification lights have 3 leads soldered to respective 3 pads on front & rear circuit boards.
I ran the loco on rollers and checked the engineer’s cab light and front & rear stacked head lights. All of these are incandescent type lamps (I can see the filaments with low enough voltage applied to the loco.)
-Ted
I guess I screwed up Ted, maybe I am incorrectly remembering… ahh… now I remember… The F3 units had the 2 lead bicolor LEDs.
If the rain keeps up, maybe a good weekend to open the GP-38’s I have and see if I have new or old versions.
Thanks for the update Ted… the last piece of the puzzle is the voltages the bulbs run, I found 3 different voltages in the F3s.
I see 2 different voltage regulators in the loco, on the weights. N.B. never consolidate them on the same metal weight!
Greg