LED in searchlight car?

Find an 18 volt bulb.

If the search light car was mine, I would convert it to an LED. LEDs produce unidirectional light which is ideal for a search light. I am thinking that a bright white 10mm LED will replicate a real search light. The sketch depicts a LED conversion of a K-Line Search Light that you can apply to your search light car.

I would use a super bright 5 chip LED. Shown here in Marx towers but will work in a seachlight car if the components will fit. See the last tower with a single LED.

LINK

If you want to keep the bulb,I would insert a 1n4001 diode in series to the bulb. That will cut voltage by half.

Dale H

I'd also add a fairly large capacitor to remove the flicker.  Of course, I would recommend you have a constant current or constant voltage regulator as well to keep the intensity constant.

coltm16a2556 posted:

... I just want a direct replacement and I don't want to cut, splice, or solder anything.

If your 363 bulb is the common BA9S bayonet 9mm style, perhaps you can find a BA9S LED that handles AC/DC and 18V and fit in your reflector.  I'm not saying the following is the answer but it provides hope that one might exist.

Stan, all I find for those is the 12V models.

My search light car has a dim, flickering light-tried fixing the roller but I can't get the light itself open. Any suggestions ??  I don't even know what kind of bulb is in it.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Stan, all I find for those is the 12V models.

Well, if you click on the picture I posted, the 12V BA9S LED claims to operate both AC and DC and a range of 8-18V with one intended application for landscape lighting such as the popular Malibu transformers.  Many landscape transformers run 14, 15V AC or even more.  As to whether a supplier could make a go of it selling BA9S LEDs specifically for O-gauge DC and AC voltages is a question above my pay grade.

jim pastorius posted:

My search light car has a dim, flickering light-tried fixing the roller but I can't get the light itself open. Any suggestions ??  I don't even know what kind of bulb is in it.

I can't imagine a manufacturer of an incandescent bulb widget not provisioning for bulb replacement.  Bobby Ogage's diagram above might provide a clue as the how it is assembled albeit apparently for a K Line version.  I don't have it in front of me but as I recall the lens popped out of the "can" by sticking my fingernail in the gap.

You're right Stan, I didn't read the fine print!   That's a good find.

stan2004 posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Stan, all I find for those is the 12V models.

Well, if you click on the picture I posted, the 12V BA9S LED claims to operate both AC and DC and a range of 8-18V with one intended application for landscape lighting such as the popular Malibu transformers.  Many landscape transformers run 14, 15V AC or even more.  As to whether a supplier could make a go of it selling BA9S LEDs specifically for O-gauge DC and AC voltages is a question above my pay grade.

I have been using these with good success for a few years now BA9S 18V AC/DC LED replacement bulbs. Prices are for a pkg of 2, which is a bit less than the other places folks recommend around here. I have ordered from them several times in the past with no problems at all. Always prompt shipping and items arrived as described. I have also been using their bulbs in my Lionel #260 track bumpers and Lionel #70 yard lights for a few years with good results. All command control & 18 VAC.  

A few months ago they had a notice on their website that they were not taking orders. I took that as a bad sign and was going to reply to your comment about comment on 'a supplier making a go of it', but I decided to check again before posting and it looks like they are back in operation again and it's business as usual. I just got some more #70 yard lights so I think I will try another order and see how it goes.

To add, they have a lot more info on their LEDS if you poke around the site. They also have a few different types.

rtr12 posted:

I have been using these with good success for a few years now BA9S 18V AC/DC LED replacement bulbs. Prices are for a pkg of 2...

So to be clear, you're using the L1T and it's $3.75 for 2 ? 

Looks good. Can I use the E5 to replace the headlamp in my Polar Express engine?

It sure looks like the L3 is what I had in mind. I think I will put in an order for a couple of them. Sure can't beat the price either. I think I will have to call them though, because I can't seem to get the security code to show on my computer to register with them. Thanks to everyone for the advice. My kids will sure be happy to run that searchlight car for as long as they like.

stan2004 posted:

rtr12 posted:

I have been using these with good success for a few years now BA9S 18V AC/DC LED replacement bulbs. Prices are for a pkg of 2...

So to be clear, you're using the L1T and it's $3.75 for 2 ? 

I am using the L1T (flat top) in the #260 track bumpers. The round top ones didn't clear the #260's lens. I actually ended up using red ones as the white turned the 260's lenses an odd pinkish color. The red looked better, more like the original factory incandescent bulbs. I am using the L3 (round top) bulbs in the #70 yard lights. Stuck with white there, they do pretty well. I have command control only so they get 18 volts AC for power. I think the bumpers have been in service with these bulbs for around 3 years, but they are now on sidings that get turned off when trains are parked.

I also have some of the E10 screw base bulbs that I fiddle with occasionally, but I don't think I have any accessories that use them. Pretty sure they also have the E5 size in both screw base and bayonet style and maybe a couple of other styles. I have only ordered the E10 sizes, but as far as I know the they are all 18 volt AC/DC rated.

Price is correct at $3.75 for a pkg of two bulbs. They also charge shipping, but it was very reasonable (like Digi-Key), last time I ordered. When I first ordered from them, I believe they were only around $2.75 or $3.00 for two. The only worrisome part to all this was the 'not taking orders at this time' notice on their website a couple of months ago. I have not ordered since the notice was removed and they began taking orders again. Hopefully all is back to normal now, the site looks the same as near as I can tell.