LED Light Strips

Yes I have used them in several applications including under cabinet lighting in the kitchen. They work fine and come in a range of color temperatures. You can cut them in 3 inch increments and solder or opt for the connectors but if you can solder small stuff it's no problem.

The only down side that I know is you want to use them everywhere.

Ron

I use them all the time, I buy the 5 meter rolls and just cut them to length.  Depending on your application, you can get them with 150, 300, or 600 LED's in the 5 meter roll.  Virtually all of them are backed with 3M adhesive strips.  They come in waterproof and non-waterproof varieties.  Each 3-LED group can be separated and powered separately.

They are designed to run at full intensity at 12VDC, most will start to light around 9 volts and be full brightness at 12V.

A 150 LED strip can be cut on about every 4" segment to get three LED's, the 300 LED strip cuts on every 2" segment, and the 600 LED strips can be cut about every inch and get 3 LED's.

The rated current is 20ma for most of the units for each 3-LED segment.  For a 150 LED strip, that would total around 1 amp, for 300 LEDs, 2 amps, and for 600 LEDs, 4 amps.

All you ever wanted to know about the strips and were afraid to ask.

I do it this way

LINK

Dale H

at the san diego 3-railers we use the all over the layout.  we use the Malibu transformers to power the leds and have had no issues.

We use LED strip lighting in a variety of places:

under cabinet lights

above cabinet lighting... on a remote control and change colors for seasons

passenger car conversions

under the Glen Snyder Display shelves to light each shelf

accent lighting in hidden spaces not normally noticed

They are cheap, easy to use, energy efficient, and last forever   

It really depends on the application.  Stationary lighting is easy, just tie into a regulated 12 VDC wall wort.  Installation into passenger cars becomes a bit complicated for the novice unless you chose to buy the kits for such purposes.

Loads of benefits with LED's, making it worthwhile learning how to roll your own.

Bruce

Which do you personally prefer and use - 150, 300, 600, waterproof, nonwaterproof and why? Also what colors for various passenger cars?

I use mostly 300 LED rolls and non-waterproof.  If my trains get submerged, the LEDs are the last thing I'm worried about damaging!

Uhhhhh.... NO...its very easy. 2 components needed. Light strip, control module. Done

Yes yes, I worded it incorrectly.  Should have read, " making your own for installation into passenger cars becomes a bit complicated...."  Surely you knew what i meant.

Bruce

Yes I assumed what you meant and was just throwing in some sarcasim with the photos. I thought of making my own, but the strips and modules just make it way to easy.

Come clean now...you just needed an excuse to post a pic of those beautiful UP streamliners you have for sale. 

I've cobbled together and installed LED's into 2 K-Line heavyweights.  Problem is I need to get rid of the shadow people and outfit the interiors for full effect.

On occasion I still run some cheap 12" cars with the 12V LED strips wired directly to AC.  I adjusted tone by coloring the strips with either a yellow or red Sharpie. 

Bruce