I’ve searched OGR for an answer but couldn’t find one. I resurrected my 145 Gateman, paired it with a 153-IR, and it works well. I’d like to replace the old incandescent bayonet bulb with an 18 volt warm white LED that is omnidirectional. Does such a thingy exist? In the past I’ve lightly sanded the LED bulb, but the result was only just okay. I want to minimize mods to the 145 since it is my original piece, so LED light strips are out.
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Search "led replacement" or similar, you will find a bunch of threads such as these:
https://ogrforum.com/topic/rep...r-lionel-accessories
https://ogrforum.com/topic/led-bayonet-18-volt-bulbs
https://ogrforum.com/topic/inc...ght-bulb-replacement
autolumination and town and country seem to be the two best sources although amazon has a ton too if you can search using the base you are looking for
Thanks @hokie71. I've seen those in my search. I should have been clearer in that the issue is the lack of omnidirectionality (is that even a word?) in the LED bulbs with a bayonet base. I've bought a couple LED bayonet bulbs for other projects, including one that said it was omnidirectional, and had to replace them with small LED strips. I don't want to do that for my 145.
@texgeekboy posted:Thanks @hokie71. I've seen those in my search. I should have been clearer in that the issue is the lack of omnidirectionality (is that even a word?) in the LED bulbs with a bayonet base. I've bought a couple LED bayonet bulbs for other projects, including one that said it was omnidirectional, and had to replace them with small LED strips. I don't want to do that for my 145.
By "omnidirectionality", do you mean that both lugs are at an equal distance from the tip of the bulb? If so, the first bayonet bulb result on town and country's website fits that requirement (assuming that the picture is accurate). I've bought from town and country with good results.
I did buy the led-1445ww bulb from town and country that @Mallard4468 suggested (thanks btw!). I buffed the lens with a fine wire brush hoping to improve light dispersion as well. I put it in my gateman and it looks great.
I also put one in my 494 rotating beacon. It also worked fine for awhile, but it burned out yesterday. It probably had less than 5 hours of use. I suspect the heat from the vibrating motor that causes the lens to spin was the culprit. That thing gets really hot. I recall that Evan’s Design told me for an earlier project that LEDs were susceptible to heat.
@texgeekboy posted:I did buy the led-1445ww bulb from town and country that @Mallard4468 suggested (thanks btw!). I buffed the lens with a fine wire brush hoping to improve light dispersion as well. I put it in my gateman and it looks great.
I also put one in my 494 rotating beacon. It also worked fine for awhile, but it burned out yesterday. It probably had less than 5 hours of use. I suspect the heat from the vibrating motor that causes the lens to spin was the culprit. That thing gets really hot. I recall that Evan’s Design told me for an earlier project that LEDs were susceptible to heat.
You're probably right about the heat and vibration in the 494. I recently saw a video about LED bulbs having a short life in enclosed fixtures where they're exposed to heat - it wasn't related to small train bulbs, but the concept is probably similar. Maybe the answer is that the 494 isn't a good application for a LED bulb?
Another possibility is uneven quality control in the manufacturing process.
Since you heard about heat issues affecting LEDs, as did I, I'll go with that. I still have the incandescent bulb I pulled out of it.
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