Capacitor for LED - will it hurt E-unit coil? | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum

CKOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I'm working on an MPC Trainmaster I gave myself for Christmas. I added a bridge rectifier to silence the E-unit. Now I'm working on LED headlights. I have 20 mA LEDs, CL2N3 drivers, and was just going to pick up DC from the bridge on the E-unit.

If I add a 100 uF capacitor for the LEDs, is it going to overdrive the E-unit coil? Or am I better off adding a dedicated bridge rectifier for the lighting?

Thanks, Chris

1/14/1511:46 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

If you're worried about the capacitor affecting the E-Unit, just put a 50 ohm resistor between the E-Unit connection and the capacitor.

1/15/1510:22 AM

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SGMretOGR Forum Member

John,why is a capacitor needed for the LED?

1/15/154:41 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

The CL2 LED drivers don't work on unfiltered power.

1/15/154:48 PM

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SGMretOGR Forum Member

Thanks John, I missed the part about the driver.

1/15/155:17 PM

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CKOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Ok, thanks. I hooked it up last night straight off the bridge. E unit seems OK, warm but not hot. But my LEDs flicker, so I may try installing an independent bridge and see if it cleans things up.

1/16/152:03 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

The independent bridge and a filter cap should solve the flickering light issue. A larger resistor between the E-Unit and cap will also do the trick if you don't want to add multiple bridges.

1/16/153:05 PM

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Capacitor for LED - will it hurt E-unit coil?

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