blinking lights for bridge

Buying LEDs that already blink may be easier and probably less expensive than making yours flash.

You might consider these from Evan Designs [ Edit: for 5 - 12 Volts DC power.  Other replies below show links to Evan Designs AC powered models]

I second Evan Design. Great products.

I third Evan Designs.  They have slow flash or fast flash.  I think that slow flash is what you want or are raising the bridge and want fast flash warning lights for traffic control.

Ron

Yep!  Evans Design - U3TR (3mm Slow blinking Red LED).  That's what I used - see below.

George

From what I can tell, those Evans blinking LEDs require 5-12V DC.  They suggest using a 9V battery or a 12V DC-output wall-wart adapter ($11).  I did not see a product on the Evans site to power the blinking LEDs from Accessory AC from a train transformer.

If you want to power the Evans blinking LEDs from train transformer Accessory AC (e.g., 14V AC), you can get a low-cost AC-to-DC converter module for maybe $5 off eBay, Amazon, etc..  No soldering required, 2-wires AC in, 2-wires DC out.  You need a DC meter to set the output voltage.

But to answer your question at face value, yes, there are timer modules that can be set up to blink your lights. We can discuss that option but would be more wiring and cost than the Evans alternative.

Hold that thought for a moment. I have a set of 4 blinking LEDs with the circuit board that I saved when I cannibalized 3 Menards bridges to build my big bridge. It will need a power supply. Email me if you are interested.

Chris

LVHR

I've used these converter modules in several different projects; my own track cleaning box car, replacement of Vibrotors in Lionel accessories, etc. They're affordable and work great. The only downside is you need a Volt meter to set the proper output DC voltage via the mini rheostat on the board. But, I do believe some vendors offer them with a built in digital volt meter as well.

Unless I read it wrong, these flashing LED's from Evans will run directly off AC (train transformer power) and come in a variety of sizes and flash modes.

I have a 5mm one installed on a sand tower and it works great.

Note that the colored LED's may actually come with a clear bulb and flash in the color you select. I wanted the bulb, itself, to be red colored and ordered a white LED and then painted the bulb with a few coats of Tamiya Translucent Red paint, so that it looks red both unlit and flashing.

Flashing LEDs | Order Fully Assembled Flashing LEDs for Model Trains Online at Evan Designs

Evan Designs has universal AC/DC 7 to 19 volt bulbs with installed bridge converters.  You can easily direct wire them to any AC transformer power source.  I found them extremely easy to wire to my accessory transformers.

Ron

@Richie C. posted:

Unless I read it wrong, these flashing LED's from Evans will run directly off AC (train transformer power) and come in a variety of sizes and flash modes.

...

Flashing LEDs | Order Fully Assembled Flashing LEDs for Model Trains Online at Evan Designs

Bingo!  The Evans link earlier in the thread brought up the DC version of the flashing LED.  Your link brings up the AC version!  And it's just $1 more.

I suppose if you had dozens of flashing LEDs, you might save a few bucks buying one AC-to-DC converter module for $5 that could power the dozens of lower priced DC flashing lights.

Thanks guys for highlighting the differences.  I've edited my original reply to note that the link is a DC powered option and there's also the AC option in the replies below it.  I see benefits to both options, depending on the intended application.

These will run off AC or DC.  Check out the package.

George

@Junior posted:

I've used these converter modules in several different projects; my own track cleaning box car, replacement of Vibrotors in Lionel accessories, etc. They're affordable and work great. The only downside is you need a Volt meter to set the proper output DC voltage via the mini rheostat on the board. But, I do believe some vendors offer them with a built in digital volt meter as well.

Right. For those that do not have a DC voltmeter at hand, you can indeed buy voltage-converter modules with built-in meters.  So if for whatever reason the Evans AC compatible flashing lights don't fit the bill, and you need to provide a regulated DC voltage powered from Accessory AC from a train-transformer, here are a few options.

These are all unretouched photos I've posted in previous OGR threads so some of the labels may seem out of context.

1. AC-to-DC voltage converter with built-in voltmeter. This variant is probably the hardest to find.

2. AC-to-DC voltage converter with external cheap voltmeter.  This "works" because the external 2-wire voltmeter is only a buck or so.

3. DC-to-DC voltage converter with built-in voltmeter. You'll find the most choice with DC-to-DC voltage converters with built-in meters (to measure DC).  But you must add a bridge-rectifier before the converter so that it will handle AC.  Bridge-rectifiers are less than a buck.

There are even more variants but I think above are representative when you want DC voltage available...possibly to power other LED accessories or what have you.

Stan, very thorough as usual.  Thank you for the additional options.

I would add that if one is going to be in this hobby for the long term, even an inexpensive (~$10) digital multi-meter is a worthwhile investment.

George,

That's exactly what I'm looking for.  I have a project that I could use it for.  Please let me know where it's available if you don't mind.  I didn't find it on Amazon.  Thanks.

@Casco posted:

George,

That's exactly what I'm looking for.  I have a project that I could use it for.  Please let me know where it's available if you don't mind.  I didn't find it on Amazon.  Thanks.

I'd go straight to the source:  https://evandesigns.com/

George

Thanks for your response!

THANKS FOR ALL THE REPLYS