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Gearing up for this year’s Christmas layout and was wondering if anybody had a recommendation on a good LED conversion kit. I’m using a RailKing heavyweight passenger set that hasn’t been out of the box in a few years and I thought I would take the opportunity to do a conversion. I’ve rolled my own for some of my postwar cars but looking for something off the shelf for this project. My only hard requirements are warm white LED’s to somewhat match the incandescents that are being replaced, and that there is some sort of capacitor to reduce flickering when rolling through turnouts. 

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Thanks. The JW&A kits look like the way to go. This is the one I found on Henning’s, I assume it will suffice: https://hennings-trains.shopli...ed-lighting-kit.html

If I had the time, I would go the DIY route again but I know my time is going to be a bit limited. Also, the pcb in the JW&A kit looks to be significantly smaller that what ive been building which will make it easier to hide in a car that doesn’t have frosted windows. 

That's it, Chris!  It's the same as Carl shared the link for.  I was in a hurry, no I was too dumb to think of giving you the link!  I've spent 43 years working in various roles of electronics (telecom and power utilities).  So you would think I would build my own.  No, I have always hated electronics, so I let someone else design and build it, and I just buy and install.  

Chris, you can buy the lighting modules and a reel of LED's, that will be half the price of using the kit, and typically you will get a neater job.  The kit exists for the folks that don't want to do any soldering, but it's very simple to use the modules if you can solder.  I have posted a number of threads on upgrading various cars with the lighting modules.

The module is about 1/2" x 1" and about 5/8" tall if you fold the top regulator tab over the capacitor, that's what I usually do.

The module offers flicker-free operation, DCS compatibility, and intensity adjustment.  If you're coming to York, we normally have specials on the JWA products.

JWA Products at Henning's Trains

LED Lighting Regulator

Passenger Car LED Lighting Kit

 

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Last edited by gunrunnerjohn
gunrunnerjohn posted:

Chris, you can buy the lighting modules and a reel of LED's, that will be half the price of using the kit, and typically you will get a neater job.  The kit exists for the folks that don't want to do any soldering, but it's very simple to use the modules if you can solder.  I have posted a number of threads on upgrading various cars with the lighting modules.

The module is about 1/2" x 1" and about 5/8" tall if you fold the top regulator tab over the capacitor, that's what I usually do.

The module offers flicker-free operation, DCS compatibility, and intensity adjustment.  If you're coming to York, we normally have specials on the JWA products.

JWA Products at Henning's Trains

LED Lighting Regulator

Passenger Car LED Lighting Kit

 

John,

I will visit your booth to talk about making the change on a few sets (NYC 41 20th Century & C&NW Bi-level cars).  I thought about doing the labor myself with your parts, and it will be nice to speak directly so I understand the process.

Bryant Dunivan 111417 posted:

John,

I will visit your booth to talk about making the change on a few sets (NYC 41 20th Century & C&NW Bi-level cars).  I thought about doing the labor myself with your parts, and it will be nice to speak directly so I understand the process.

If I'm not there, ask one of the guys for my cell phone and give me a call.  I may be out trying to spend some of my vast fortune on new acquisitions.

The conversion works for conventional operation with one change.  You would likely be using the 5V LED strips instead of the 12V LED strips.  The reason for that change is you don't have as much track voltage to provide the headroom for the regulator to work with conventional track voltages.  The 5V strip allows full illumination at around 6 VAC track voltage, and allows full range conventional operation.  My regulator module works the same for the different voltage LED strips as it's a current source and adjusts the voltage to achieve the commanded current.

Last edited by gunrunnerjohn

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