K Line MDK-034 Streamlighting Board

These boards are current hogs. Do what I did and ditch the boards! Install LED strips powered with GRJ’s circuit. You will be much happier.

Chris

LVHR

I've tossed dozens of these boards, they provide decent lighting, but Chris is correct, they suck up power like there's no tomorrow!  Trying to lower the lighting with resistors is a poor way to do this, LED's will give you better lighting and reduce the power consumption 90-95%!  Did I mention they're flicker-free and have intensity adjustment to tune to the exact light level you desire?  They also include DCS signal protection so they won't affect the MTH track signal.

LED Lighting Regulator

Wow, You can't beat this forum.  You can post a problem and in no time, you get a solution.  Thanks Chris and gunrunnerjohn.  I'm going to order six of those LED Lighting Regulators.  They are cheaper than six MDK-034's and will probably last forever.

Lonnie

You'll also need a reel of LED's, about $5 for a five meter reel.  I use Warm White, Amber. or Yellow, depending on the vintage of the cars.  I did a set of PRR Heavyweights with yellow LED strips, they looked great!

Are they available from the same place?

Thanks,

Lonnie

No, you have to source the LED's individually.  I typically get mine nowadays from eBay or AliExpress they usually have decent prices.

Hard to beat this deal on yellow 5 meter strips, shipped free.

ebay: 264806678927 

GRJ...I noticed that your regulators are sold in pairs. Do I install one per car or does an installation take both per car?

John

One per car, there is supposed to be a link there to the instruction sheet, I'll have to get Bill to fix that.  Here's the instruction sheet for the modules.

Pass Car Lighting Module Documentation.pdf

You can also reduce the overall height to around half an inch just by folding the tab on the regulator over the cap.  I use a brand of regulator with the thin tab for that very reason.

Thanks, grj, I found them on eBay.

Thanks GRJ, order pending...

John

Sometimes I feel silly asking a question.  Am I supposed to save the old MDK-034 boards to attach the LEDs to or if I didn't already have the MDK's would I just have to fabricate something to hold the LEDs?

Lonnie

The LED strips I bought had a backing tape that I pealed off to reveal a contact glue surface. Just stick them to the inside roof of the car. If you want a little extra security, add a little hot melt dab across the tape after you have it stuck to the roof. BTW, measure and solder the leads to the tape first! It's easier that way... Speaking of solder, flux is your friend! I put a little on the pads of  the tape and then quickly melt a small blob of solder to the pad. Strip and tin the leads, add flux, and then hold the wire in place on the tape and touch the soldering iron to it. The solder quickly melts and makes the joint.

Chris

LVHR

Like Chris says, normally I strip all the existing stuff from the ceiling and just stick the LED strip up there.  For full some cars, I've been known to use the plastic assembly in MTH cars to hide the LED's from side view.

A few threads on LEDs in passenger cars.

LED Lighting Upgrade for MTH Full Dome Car

Passenger car LED lighting (Again)

Passenger Car Lighting Experiment

MTH Amtrak Superliner LED Upgrade in Pictures

Notice how I used the plastic bulb holder strip to hide the LED strip.

For observation cars with markers and/or tail-lights, I tap off the LED strip and use a current balancing resistor to adjust the light level of the added LEDs.

Here's one of my heavyweights lit with yellow LED strips, really looks like the real thing.

I have the regulators and just got the reel of LED's so now it's time to see how it goes.  Thanks everybody for the tips.

Lonnie

Should be a piece of cake for plain coaches, a few connections and you have light.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

For observation cars with markers and/or tail-lights, I tap off the LED strip and use a current balancing resistor to adjust the light level of the added LEDs.

g.

@gunrunnerjohn, is there a specific value resistor you use?  If not, how do you calculate the value?  Also, what LED's are you using for the markers/tail lights?

I've not done the marker/tail lights, so I need to up my game.

Well, you can "calculate" it, but truthfully, I eyeball it and just swap values until I like the effect.  Generally, the resistor will be between 470 ohms and around 2K.  If you only have two red marker lights on the sides, it ends up being closer to 2K.  If you have three lights, sometimes it'll be 470, 680, 1K, etc.  The value will also depend on how bright you run the interior lights.