Bulbs and questions on if you use 20 or 24 volt bulbs instead of 18

Craig , I imagine they would last longer possibly ,but I would think there would be a fall off in lumens ( light ).  Not sure about the heat.🤔

They run longer and not as bright.  They don't get as hot either, simply because they're consuming less power.

You could purchase bayonet LED bulbs for switches and other accessories. I am not sure what electronics are in the bases, but I have had pretty good luck with these.  I have even used these LED bulbs in some of my postwar engines.  Nice that they do not require any modification.

That said, if you are OK with the lower light output, I'd use the higher voltage bulbs.  Mainly because the heat output is less.  I've had and seem too many items damaged by heat from light bulbs in years past.  Remember the plastic black lanterns on the 022 (and others) that are missing or deformed?

Companies like Town and County sell direct replace LED bulbs for Lionel Trains both screw and bayonet bases in red, green and clear color.  Most are 18 volt with a few 14 volts.  You simply replace your incandescent with these LED bulbs and you're done.  Reasonable prices in quantity.   Purchase a few to see if you like them.

You can find  basic bulb info here:  https://www.replacementlightbu...ours%20actual%20life

Dave , I purchased the bayonet LED s  from Town and Country Hobbies that was suggested by a Forum member.

Go to Search in the MENU and punch in " LED lights for RK switches .  You'll  find my reply about the LEDs after receiving them and a photo where I had one apart .   

I think it was Stan2004 that had the next reply with a blowup of the opened one and had a description of what was inside the bayonet base.

GRJ also chimed in .       Even though they can be a direct fit for passenger cars they will still FLICKER  .   GRJ's LED light boards and strips for the passenger cars are the way to go, NO FLICKER .

I recall the thread that Dallas Joseph is referring too.   The reported issue didn't jive with my and many others experience although the LED circuit design principles espoused are correct.  Always seemed to me there was more investigation needed into root cause.  I can tell you that I have hundreds of the Town and Country direct LED replacements running on my layout for years with zero failures.  Also, I never received a DOA LED bulb either.

@shorling posted:

I recall the thread that Dallas Joseph is referring too.   The reported issue didn't jive with my and many others experience although the LED circuit design principles espoused are correct.  Always seemed to me there was more investigation needed into root cause.  I can tell you that I have hundreds of the Town and Country direct LED replacements running on my layout for years with zero failures.  Also, I never received a DOA LED bulb either.

Steve , what was the " reported issue " 🤔 that you referred to ?

I didn't  understand the need for " more investigation needed into the root cause "  that you speak of.  More than likely I glossed over part of the replies on that post.

I didn't recall any issues either  except sometimes the bases were a tight fit for the RK sockets  .  Even some of the OEM incadescencts  sometimes had different tolerances from one socket to another.  Go figure !😉

As far as the LEDs themselves , they are directionally beamed but I didn't find that to be an issue in the switches and the associated switch light stands ( 51 bulbs total with photos in that post that compared the LEDs with the incadescents ) and the half dozen lock on stands.   They worked well for the constant headlight and cab light of the P.E. engine and the two marker lights I installed on the tender. 

As you stated , there seem to be  no issues with reliability.   The one I had apart in the picture that Stan showed the explanation of parts in , I believe. was one that I had overstressed the wires from the bulb when modifying it for the P.E. install.        It was a good chance to disassemble and save the situation and maybe learn something.      Easily resoldered and worked. 😊

Thanks all for the replies. Appreciate it. Time to read up.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Steve , what was the " reported issue " 🤔 that you referred to ?

I didn't  understand the need for " more investigation needed into the root cause "  that you speak of.  More than likely I glossed over part of the replies on that post.

I didn't recall any issues either  except sometimes the bases were a tight fit for the RK sockets  .  Even some of the OEM incadescencts  sometimes had different tolerances from one socket to another.  Go figure !😉

As far as the LEDs themselves , they are directionally beamed but I didn't find that to be an issue in the switches and the associated switch light stands ( 51 bulbs total with photos in that post that compared the LEDs with the incadescents ) and the half dozen lock on stands.   They worked well for the constant headlight and cab light of the P.E. engine and the two marker lights I installed on the tender.

As you stated , there seem to be  no issues with reliability.   The one I had apart in the picture that Stan showed the explanation of parts in , I believe. was one that I had overstressed the wires from the bulb when modifying it for the P.E. install.        It was a good chance to disassemble and save the situation and maybe learn something.      Easily resoldered and worked. 😊

The previous post I am thinking of reported a large number of failures in their single 50 bulb two different color glass buy.   The bulb was disassembled and no diode could be found only a resister.   If I remember correctly the conclusion was the LEDs failed due to reverse voltage from the applied AC.    IMHO the vendor would have been out of the LED bulb business years ago if that condition was the status quo.  Just seemed to me there must be more to the story.

FWIW, I've been switching my accessories bulbs to 18v so I can run them off the DCS track power. Same for the big Williams passenger cars , just ordered some 2.7, 3.6 and 4.7 watt bulbs from da bay , so you can somewhat tailor the brightness.