Is this Gonna Work???-Help!!

Yes, cars are DC. If you already have a DC transformer, adjust it to 12-13 VDC and you should be good to go.

Thanks Tom,I just get all kind of zany ideas(side effect from this hobby),and just wanted someone else to agree with my insanity that the idea would work!

Now,vhere are my vire cutterz??-AH HA HA AH HA!!!!!-Kenny

As long as the part that says they can be wired directly to the fuse box is correct, I would agree you should be good to go.

My only initial caution to myself in this situation would be to make sure there was no circuitry hidden within the cigarette plug that reduced the car's 12 V down to something else for the LEDs.  (Diodes, regulators, etc).  Since you state there is guidance indicating you can clip the plug and wire direct, you should be fine.

-Dave

Hello,Tried it with two different HO Transformers,and NOTHINGG!! Verly Interestingg!!American Cigarette  Plug  has been disassembled,and nothing hidden inside!!

Call for backup!!Help!!!

kennyb posted:

Hello,Tried it with two different HO Transformers,and NOTHINGG!! Verly Interestingg!!American Cigarette  Plug  has been disassembled,and nothing hidden inside!!

Call for backup!!Help!!!

 

Did they work when you plugged them into a cigarette lighter to test them before starting the experiment?  You did that first, right?

OK, I'm assuming you have a voltmeter and have the DC Power supply output set to 12V? LED do have polarity. Your cigarette lighter plug is/was center pin +, side connector - 

Yes,I did actually remember to try it out in the car.I usually don't do such intelligent things,but this time I did .

And no I do not have a voltmeter.It is on my to buy list,I just always forget about it. I really thought this would be easy,but hey,it was $11.00 Maybe I will get them hooked up,they were not as bright  as I wanted them to be in Za car. But now it's just the principle of it that Has me perplexed.

Both of these transformers do not have a + positive/-negative marking on the screws in back,if that makes any difference

Maybe there is a wall wart I could buy to power these????��

yes it does,,, try reversing wires,

Assuming you've already tried reversing the wires, the issue may be with the HO transformers.  Many of these transformers supply poorly, or not at all, filtered DC.  It may be the case that whatever electronics the LEDs came with don't like unfiltered power.  The solution?  Try putting a capacitor across the transformer's output. something around 470uF ought to be enough.  

JGL

Also make sure you are using the right posts on the DC Power Pack.  It should be the ones labeled "track" if there are more than 2 screws.

Many HO Power Packs have both the DC that is meant for going to the track (often labeled as such, even if not with +/- signs) and also a pair of screws for AC meant for accessories (many Power Packs when new had a sticker over the AC screws warning not to hook them to the track).

-Dave

Could the amperage of a DC power pack be too low? 

Gene H posted:

Could the amperage of a DC power pack be too low? 

Absolutely...

BTW, I'd go back to my car battery to make sure this thing is still working...

Probably the amperage; model RR equipment - any scale - is pretty wimpy compared to automobile electrics/electronics.

A small 12 volt motorcycle battery would work as well or a security system battery of 12 volts.

An H.O. transformer may not put out enough watts to light the LED's properly. Most H.O. transformer are usually low watt unless you get a multiple train transformer with a decent watt rating.

A Lionel O gauge DC transformer will work, as there were DC sets made some years back.

Lee Fritz