Large Scale Central

What voltage lamp do I need?

General Discussion
#1

I added an Ozark “oil burning” headlamp to my Hartland bash.

The Oil Burning light kit requires a bulb which Ozark says to use a “Grain of Wheat” lamp. I went down to the local Train store and they sold me a package of what I call Rice Lights. The lamp worked on my test track with my small LGB transformer and was VERY bright. However, it blew out when I placed it on my main track with the larger LGB transformer. I went back to the local Train shop yesterday and they sold me a package of 16 Vold 30mA 2.4mm Dia. lamps. However, these hardly light up at all and would require the locomotive to be racing around the track in order to get any light out of them. What do I need here? thanks

#2

I have switched my lamps to battery power. I like that the light stays on when the engine is stopped. I don’t know if you have the room for a switch and battery holder.

In my 8 wheeler I used a 4-1½ volt AA square battery holder, jumped one battery position so I have 4.5 volts powering 2-1½ volt grain of rice (wheat?)bulbs, one in the cab and one in the headlight.

It gives off a nice glow without being too bright. More oil-lantern-esque.

FWIW

#3

How handy are you with electroincs? Two possible ways to go. One way would be with an LED and a resistor. another would be to keep the first bulbs you had and buld a small voltage regulator to keep the voltage constant to the bulb, say between 8 and 10 volts.

#4

If you just want to add another lamp, you have to figure out your max voltage. Then, you have to find a lamp that can handle the voltage. The first one was bright beacuse you were using it at it’s top end. It burnt out beacuse you exceeded the max voltage. The problem is that it will always be dim at low speeds and bright at high speeds because it is regulated by the voltage on the rails.

#5

Tim,
You need a low voltage, high out put LED with a resistor on the + side.
An LGB power supple puts out 24 volts at max. That’s why your light blew. It would blow on anything above 12 volts. If you exceed the 12 volts your grain of wheat, you NEED a resistor.