How are you lighting under your layout so you can see during wire installation or maintenance?

A headlamp is what I use, along with a few led strip tapes for general illumination. All my buildings and most accessories are run by an old computer power supply, so I have 12 vdc everywhere that makes it easy to use the led strips. All my tools are cordless, so no need for 120 vac outlet. The headlamp is really the best way to do wiring because you can't light every nook and cranny well enough to hook up wires. Mine is also rechargeable, so no batteries to replace.

LED Rope Light mounted throughout the entire  underside of the layout and use a cordless LED work lamp when I need more light in one particular area. Haven't used a corded drill in about 30 years.

Once upon a time, I thought I would completely light the underside of the layout.  That really didn't work.  It's expensive and unnecessary.  Instead, I have screw hooks that I have placed where needed.  There are places that I know will need light and that's where they go.  I hang a trouble light on them when needed, and I use a headlamp when more targeted light is needed.  I'm good to go.

George

LED rope lights can also make for nice ambiance for running trains in a dark room.

I typically just turn my cell phone's flash light on and place it on the floor facing up.  When that isn't enough light, I use a LED head lamp.

I have an old 18" fluorescent worklight that I use. The problem with mounting lights is that, unless you want to be blinded by the light, the light needs to be on the floor pointing up.

@GVDobler posted:

I have an old 18" fluorescent worklight that I use. The problem with mounting lights is that, unless you want to be blinded by the light, the light needs to be on the floor pointing up.

That's where a LED Rope light "Shines". It's not just a few very bright spots blinding you in the confined space you are working in but rather hundreds of evenly spaced lights that blanket the entire area in a nice even glow.  Easy to mount, always at the ready and never in your way.

I have a DeWalt cordless work light that I move around with me if needed.

@G3750 posted:

Once upon a time, I thought I would completely light the underside of the layout.  That really didn't work.  It's expensive and unnecessary.  Instead, I have screw hooks that I have placed where needed.  There are places that I know will need light and that's where they go.  I hang a trouble light on them when needed, and I use a headlamp when more targeted light is needed.  I'm good to go.

George

As a public service for younger members (under 50 maybe), perhaps you should post a picture of what a "trouble light" looks like. 

I have a LED puck light that I mounted under the layout. It is enough for the small area that I can access.

LED Rope light would be the best option like @H1000 did.

Bob

@Mallard4468 posted:

As a public service for younger members (under 50 maybe), perhaps you should post a picture of what a "trouble light" looks like. 

@RSJB18 posted:

Should we warn people about not touching the metal parts, or should we let them learn the same way that we did?

I have a 4 foot 2 row LED light I move as needed. The issue with permanent lights is they would be under the table top and shining in my eyes with the 4 foot light on the ground it shines up at the work area and I also have a couple of LED drop/trouble lights I use as and where needed. All portable lighting there is enough wiring under the layout without adding more. IMHO once wiring is done in a certain are there should be no need to to return to that area unless expending or additions to that area!

@Mallard4468 posted:

Should we warn people about not touching the metal parts, or should we let them learn the same way that we did?

LOL! Still have the scars.........or better than that- the old ones with non-polarized plugs......made for lots of fireworks when you hung it on a copper pipe.

Headlamp and DeWalt battery powered goose neck work light.  I have the big 5-hour battery on the work light for stability, although I am looking for something easy to move and position but with more stability.

Also, all tools are now battery powered.

@Mallard4468 posted:

As a public service for younger members (under 50 maybe), perhaps you should post a picture of what a "trouble light" looks like. 

"Younger"?    You almost triggered the "get off my lawn" response! 

Ok, ok, here's my trouble light.  Note the LED bulb.

George

I bought cheap LED lights at the big box store. They were battery powered so I wired them to a 4.5V wall plug (they took 3 1.5 V batteries) and a switch. You could probably find wired ones now. This was 4-5 years ago, LEDs didn't have as many options as they do now.

Mike

@CAPPilot posted:

Headlamp and DeWalt battery powered goose neck work light.  I have the big 5-hour battery on the work light for stability, although I am looking for something easy to move and position but with more stability.

Also, all tools are now battery powered.

We don't use a drill around here more than a few times a year, so the old corded ones are still "employed".  :-)

Thank you, everyone, for all the ideas.

I bought a bunch of the under counter lights from Amazon and wired them to a 12V power supply on a RF remote switch.

I have a 110 VAC master rocker switch and GFI outlet installed/isolated in the layout  control  panel.  The outlet is not switched.  The master switch turns on the layout and 110 VAC under layout lighting.   There is another conviently  located switch to turn the under the layout lights off.  There are also master toggle switches for AC and DC accessory power.  A bank of 110 VAC outlets under the layout provides easy transformer plugin.  All 110 VAC is installed in the same manner as house wiring.

All of my layout control electronics and terminal blocks are recessed along the front of the layout behind the facia. The only thing under the layout itself is wire, which terminates at one of those terminal blocks and turnout motors. This makes layout maintenance a lot easier.

If I do have to get under the layout for anything all of my power tools are battery powered, including the work light with adjustable head and hook.

Swapping batteries is relatively easy if you have a charging station set up.

Bob

I use a cordless drill and other cordless tools on the layout so I do not drag the power cord over the layout destroying scenery and marring trains.

@Pat Shediack posted:

I wasn't sure of the right place to ask this question, so I'm starting here in the Electrical Forum.

During wire installation and maintenance tasks under my last layout, I used a "Trouble Light" with an attached cord reel, something like this one at the link.  That light worked fine except you had to pull the cord out every time you wanted to reposition the light to install or fix something somewhere under the layout.  The nice thing was it had an 110 volt outlet built in, so you could plug a drill in if you need it during whatever task was at hand.

I still have that Trouble Light, but before I start on the new layout's wiring tasks, I'd like to get some ideas on other people on how they light up the underside of their layout for installation or maintenance.   

Your thoughts?

HEY PAT

This is what I have used for over 20 Years.   Trouble is they don't make them anymore!!!  Every thing is   "LED"!    Dont know what to tell YOU !!

FREDSTRAINS

I use a couple of goose neck lamps that can be moved around under the platform and pointed to where I need light.