Adding a Horn & Directional Lighting to Postwar

Connect to the frame, ground is all over.

Thanks guys.  Thats what I assumed, but I thought to myself, "hmm, I'll try this and burn something out or blow something up, so before I do, I'll just ask!"

John,

In my email, I was asking about the order in which the diode, resistor, and LED go, I think I know, but I'd rather have it verified by somebody like yourself!

Thanks,
Mike 

LEDs hooked up and working.  Horn hooked up and working, BUT... the horn is not very loud at all, cant really hear it over the train running, is this normal?  

John, is it one diode & resistor per LED?

Thanks!

Mike

There isn't much of a way to get the sound out.  If you can mount the speaker facing down in the fuel tank and drill holes in the bottom of the plastic tank assembly it would help.

Rob,

Luckily I have an extra fuel tank that was sent to me by a forum member that has the holes in it, however.... the speaker does not fit face down.  I'd have to cut a hole in the frame.  Right now its located next to the holes in the top rear of the shell (for exhaust I think).

A baffle on the back of the speaker will enhance the sound, use a cap from a spray can and cut it down to fit.  A Styrofoam cup cut down works well too.

Yep, one resistor and diode for each LED.

Thank you John, for everything.  You have been such a great help, I really appreciate all of it.  If I were to do this to others, where can I buy more diodes and resistors, somewhere like Radio Shack?

I buy small quantities at Digikey, they have very inexpensive First Class shipping and good prices.  If I'm buying a large quantity, I look at Mouser, sometimes better prices but shipping starts at around $6, so I save them for larger orders.  Either of these places will beat Radio Shack prices and selection by a country mile!  I buy many of my LED's in 100's on eBay, sometimes you can find some really cheap deals there.  So far, I haven't had any quality issues with them, just takes two-three weeks to get them.

Thanks!  Time wouldn't be an issue... I dont even have a layout started yet.  I know the resistor is 1K, the diode, is it any certain rating?  I may do this to a few things, thats why I'm curious now. 

I know one thing, I have a mess of wires inside that shell!  But its neat to see that stuff work 

I use the 1N4003 as a rule, it's a general purpose 1A diode with a 200V rating, more than sufficient for train use.  As for the resistors, you can vary them, depending on the effect you want to achieve.  I specified the 1K for your use because it was a very safe choice, it's basically impossible to develop enough voltage to damage the LED's with that value.  If you find the lights are not bright enough, you can easily drop that to something like a 560 ohm resistor in your application.  The resistors are all the 1/4 watt power rating.