LED Help

Greetings!

Long time Active Watcher, but rarely post. Just enjoy reading and learning. The current situation inspired me to set up my oval on the carpet but I decided to line the outside of the real trax with some cheap LEDs I bought on line. These are the ones that have a button and can do 8 different functions (Blink, chase, flash etc.) the last push results in "constant on". My wife said the LEDs and trains can stay only if the LEDS one on all the time, like regular Xmas lights. I dislike having to push the button each time so here is my question. Is there any way I can cut a circuit or desolder a wire so when I plug the LEDs in they are always on - no blinking or flashing? I opened the control panel and took 3 pictures of the circuit board. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, stay healthy, and run trains!

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3/24/209:34 PM

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ScotieOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

I think the easiest way would be to eliminate that board and get a regulated DC supply to replace it. You seem to have three wires that go to the LEDs. If you operate the button to get to the steady state condition and use a meter to see which wires have power and what is the voltage that would be the information to choose and wire the new board.

3/25/2012:54 AM

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AdriaticOGR Forum Member

yeah, we need to know what's on the other end of those wires too. Voltage/amps in/out etc...."whatever you got". The 220v also throws up a flag of caution. If this is indeed functional to 220v, I'm not sure you'll like each other.

Offhand I'm guessing there are actually two sections of leds. The L+ goes to both banks of led; the Q1 &Q2 are the negative legs for each bank. (most often, electronics tend to use the ground path for switching, and a constant hot) Q is a transistor.

Test an led with a dc source like a battery(s) (AAA,AA,C,D are all 1.5v ea,)start low at 1.5v, then 2= 3v, then 3= 4.5v , etc, etc. If it lights dim try stepping up voltage a volt or so at a time, but mind that even a slight over voltage will burn out an led in an instant. (They usually light pretty well while fed way under the max voltage.

3/25/204:15 AM

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Old GoatOGR Forum Member

Solder jumper wires over the push button?