LED reels for passenger cars

I use these for passenger cars.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item...gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Also used a regulated power supply for no flicker.

Are you running DC ?

I agree with @RSJB18.  I use these from the big online retailer.  It comes with plugs and adapters, but if you're just soldering them you can store them.  Those lights looks like his, but other LED lights in a reel look similar, so make sure of what you order.  I used my first reel and ordered a second (but not the exact same item).  That one was NOT what I needed and couldn't be used for train stuff.  After some careful research I bought the ones in the link.  Like Rob said, used a lighting regulator (from Hennings) for no flicker.

Thanks so much for the replies.  I shop Ali Express for strip Led's  and I don't know why the reels didn't come up with my recent search.  I placed an order for 10 reels to get the max discount even though their prices are dirt cheap.  I'm confined to a chair from a recent surgery so it looks like I will be installing these like crazy.  Thanks again so much for the replies.   Bill

@Michael Roth posted:

Are you running DC ?

No, AC track power.

@texgeekboy posted:

I agree with @RSJB18.  I use these from the big online retailer.  It comes with plugs and adapters, but if you're just soldering them you can store them.  Those lights looks like his, but other LED lights in a reel look similar, so make sure of what you order.  I used my first reel and ordered a second (but not the exact same item).  That one was NOT what I needed and couldn't be used for train stuff.  After some careful research I bought the ones in the link.  Like Rob said, used a lighting regulator (from Hennings) for no flicker.

I have a mistake reel too. Ordered cool white several years ago when I missed the color selection choice.

My regulator kits came from @Rod Stewart.

@Bill Sherry posted:

Thanks so much for the replies.  I shop Ali Express for strip Led's  and I don't know why the reels didn't come up with my recent search.  I placed an order for 10 reels to get the max discount even though their prices are dirt cheap.  I'm confined to a chair from a recent surgery so it looks like I will be installing these like crazy.  Thanks again so much for the replies.   Bill

I can't believe their prices and that includes shipping from China.

Hope you make a speedy recovery.

Bob

Yes,  I am running AC from track power.  Also DCS but I am using the filter.  Rod helped me get the boards a while back in quantity.  I just ordered the parts from the best supplier and built the boards.  That also took me quite a while to build them but I didn't mind.

Bob - Thanks for the well wishes, appreciate it.

@Bill Sherry posted:

Can anyone recommend a reel of LED's for installation in passenger cars.  I did a search and didn't have much luck.  Looking for how many leds per inch, color etc.  90% of the cars I am doing are the Lionel aluminum sets with silhouette strips in the windows.  Appreciate any guidance - Bill

I use AliExpress item: 2251832821703568, if you order five reels, the shipping is free and you pay about what Amazon gets for one reel.

I chose "warm white"/3000K LED strips for heavyweight and early streamliner passenger cars to represent incandescent lighting. For modern Amtrak bi-level cars I used white/4000K LED strips to represent fluorescent lighting. Many "white" LEDs actually look to be light blue; but if the description of the LED color includes the Kelvin K rating, customers can feel more comfortable in getting the color effect they prefer.

For heavyweight cars, I use amber or yellow LED strips, the streamliners get warm white.  I don't often use the bright white, but I have had a couple of customers ask for those for modern cars.

Thanks John, I changed up my order to the ones you suggested and ordered 15 reels.  I should have enough.

@Bill Sherry posted:

Thanks John, I changed up my order to the ones you suggested and ordered 15 reels.  I should have enough.

Let's see, a reel typically does from 11 to 14 cars, depending on the length of the cars.  I'd say that 15 reels should be more than sufficient unless you are a very prolific passenger car collector!

Well John, at least I got my math close. Lol   I figured 16 cars per reel.  1 meter = 195 inches - divide that by 12 inches per car and you get 16.25.   16 cars per reel times 15 reels comes to enough for 240 cars. I have 230 plus passenger cars so I should be good.  Sounds like a lot but there are other forum members with a lot more than that.  I won't be getting many more because I am out of room on the layout to put any more.

If you've got room for 230 passenger cars on the layout at once, I'm in awe!

@Bill Sherry posted:

Well John, at least I got my math close. Lol   I figured 16 cars per reel.  1 meter = 195 inches - divide that by 12 inches per car and you get 16.25.   16 cars per reel times 15 reels comes to enough for 240 cars. I have 230 plus passenger cars so I should be good.  Sounds like a lot but there are other forum members with a lot more than that.  I won't be getting many more because I am out of room on the layout to put any more.

???

One meter = 39.37 inches.

@RSJB18 posted:

I use these for passenger cars.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item...gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Also used a regulated power supply for no flicker.

Are you running  dc power or is there a dc rectifier in your board ?

@Michael Roth posted:

Are you running  dc power or is there a dc rectifier in your board ?

That's a AC to DC constant current supply, I posted the original design a few years ago.

LED Lighting Regulator

@Bill Sherry posted:

I have 230 plus passenger cars so I should be good.  Sounds like a lot but there are other forum members with a lot more than that.  I won't be getting many more because I am out of room on the layout to put any more.

Wow Bill; by the time you get 230 cars converted you will have it down to a science! Keep us posted on how it goes. I usually figure two 5 or 6 car sets per reel for easy estimating. You will likely wind up using more leds for dome and vista dome cars because you are lighting 2 floors, at least partially. For instance a Premier vista dome will take up to 14  2" sections to light it up. And some folks convert the baggage car too; I usually don't bother and just run them dark.

Attached FWIW is a guide for converting MTH RK and Premier passenger cars, complete with pictures. Have fun!

Rod

So what would be the down side of just using a bridge rectifier and Capacitor without the voltage regulator ?.

@Michael Roth posted:

So what would be the down side of just using a bridge rectifier and Capacitor without the voltage regulator ?.

How would you regulate the current/voltage to the leds? Command track voltage of 18VAC would result in about 24VDC to the leds. Can you say "Poof!"? An adjustable output regulator solves all that, and since the output does not vary with track voltage, lighting level stays constant. Plus the boards provide a 22uH inductor to prevent possible DCS interference. Not a problem of course if you don't/won't run DCS.

Attached FWIW is a little summary of lighting board pros and cons just for info.

So in the prewar tinplate world using single 24v LED to replace the original incandescent bulb wouldn’t be affected. I have no chance of running any kind of command and control so again no effects there.
I have no plastic to worry about however what about proto sound boards can they be effected ?

@Michael Roth posted:

So in the prewar tinplate world using single 24v LED to replace the original incandescent bulb wouldn’t be affected. I have no chance of running any kind of command and control so again no effects there.
I have no plastic to worry about however what about proto sound boards can they be effected ?

If you mean a pre-wired led rated at 24V you should be fine. If you are talking about a single bare led you will need an inline load resistor, something like 750 to 1K should work fine. Otherwise it will blow.

I doubt proto sound boards would be affected at all.

Thanks

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I use AliExpress item: 2251832821703568, if you order five reels, the shipping is free and you pay about what Amazon gets for one reel.

For those who have never ordered from AliExpress, be aware that with the crazy low prices, there are a few quirks in the website.  

1. The listings come and go.  GRJ's listing above has only 1 left in stock (maybe everyone ordered them after he posted it. ).  
2. When I searched the item number, the vendor (along with others) listed the price as $0.99 with free shipping.  This is true, but if you add a $0.99 strip from another vendor, the price jumps to $2.34.  In the cart, it announces that the $0.99 price is for the first order only (meaning the first item only).  This was not stated in the item listing.
3. Each time you return to a listing, It resets the color, voltage, and # of LEDs/m to default values.  If you are not careful, you will order the wrong item.  For passenger car use, you should always select 12V, 60 LEDs/meter (or 300/strip), and non-waterproof (if that is an option).  Pick the light color according to your needs as noted in the posts above.
4. I did a search for 12v 2835 LED strips.  It ended up showing a lot of 5050 LED strips as well, so you need to read the listings carefully. Most of us use 2835 LEDs which are 2.8mm x 3.5mm.
5. Sometimes I get pictures of the item, but often they are not showing.  This could be a browser setting, but I have not been able to work it out.
6. Pay attention to shipping times.  These are shipping from Asia.

So, having said this, do I order electronic components from AliExpress?  You bet!

Bob

Any website takes a bit of getting used to Bob, but I agree with your comments.  As for the specific part I referenced on AliExpress, item: 2251832821703568, they show 100 left.  I'm guessing there's a lot more than that, it's common for them to change the number in stock over time for a specific item.

Yes, you do have to be careful when you're ordering as they have many listings with a ton of selectable options.

Here is my screenshot when I enter 2251832821703568 in the search bar:

It keeps forcing me into an introductory offer of $0.99.  It says Max. 1 pcs/shopper in the bottom right.  (previously I saw a screen saying 1 available, but I can't reproduce it now).  

I cannot increase the quantity here or in the cart, and I cannot add it again to the order.  While I have an existing account, maybe it is identifying me as a new (or infrequent) customer and is forcing this deal.  Another quirk.

BTW the URL is Aliexpress.us.  The vendor is Decoration Light Store.  My listing looks very different than yours, partially because pictures are not loading. It does not display the listing #.  I am using a MacBook running Safari browser.  I am logged into the website.

I repeated the search with the Chrome browser and I got the pictures to load, but I am stuck with the same introductory offer (note I am not logged in here):

Bob

@Rod Stewart posted:

Wow Bill; by the time you get 230 cars converted you will have it down to a science! Keep us posted on how it goes. I usually figure two 5 or 6 car sets per reel for easy estimating. You will likely wind up using more leds for dome and vista dome cars because you are lighting 2 floors, at least partially. For instance a Premier vista dome will take up to 14  2" sections to light it up. And some folks convert the baggage car too; I usually don't bother and just run them dark.

Attached FWIW is a guide for converting MTH RK and Premier passenger cars, complete with pictures. Have fun!

Rod

Rod,       I know you helped a lot of people out so it is hard to remember everyone but you actually got the boards for me in bulk a few years back.  I ordered up all the parts and built them another time I was confined to my work bench with rotator cuff surgery.  Shown is a pic of the completed assembly of the boards.   I had just downloaded that file for assembling to MTH cars and I will go over it.  Thanks anyway.

@PRRMP54 posted:

???

One meter = 39.37 inches.

Guess my math is still off.  It was supposed to read 5 meters = 195 inches

FWIW this is what Ali returns when I enter  item: 2251832821703568.  I am using a Microsoft edge browser on a windows 11 laptop.

@TomNe posted:

FWIW this is what Ali returns when I enter  item: 2251832821703568.  I am using a Microsoft edge browser on a windows 11 laptop.

Yep, same thing I get, there are 100 in stock.  What's the problem?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Yep, same thing I get, there are 100 in stock.  What's the problem?

No problem for you guys, but I still have my personalized shopping experience that is allowing me to only order 1 reel.  BTW, for fun, on my MAC I tried clearing cache/cookies/website data for 6 AliExpress related URLs.  Then I searched using my wife's PC. In both cases, I got the same $0.99 "buy one only" listing.  They are probably personalizing my shopping experience to my IP address.  This is a small window into how effectively websites can identify you!

Oh well, there are plenty of other LED strip vendors, so it's not like I am out of options.  Or maybe I can find an Internet cafe to order from.  

Bob

I suggest a better browser.   I use Firefox and I have zero issues with ordering them.

I select ten of them...

I added them to my cart and then check...

I check the price, no problem, looks like it's ready to go.

I use the Firefox Browser exclusively.  Here is what I get:

Max 1pcs/shopper

John

Well, I found the workaround.  I ordered and paid for the 1 reel for $0.99.  Then I went back to the listing and found there are now "99 Available" and I ordered 5 more for $2.49 each.  Free shipping over $10.  So I am now officially an existing customer.  No more introductory (and restrictive) deals.

As GRJ suggested, it looks like the "items available" counter resets to 100 every time it reaches zero.

Bob

@RRDOC posted:

Well, I found the workaround.  I ordered and paid for the 1 reel for $0.99.  Then I went back to the listing and found there are now "99 Available" and I ordered 5 more for $2.49 each.  Free shipping over $10.  So I am now officially an existing customer.  No more introductory (and restrictive) deals.

As GRJ suggested, it looks like the "items available" counter resets to 100 every time it reaches zero.

Bob

I have had weird issues from time to time with AliExpress, most notably putting something in the  cart only to have it change when I placed the order.

John

@Craftech posted:

I have had weird issues from time to time with AliExpress, most notably putting something in the  cart only to have it change when I placed the order.

John

Their website isn't perfect. I've experienced this and/or not being able to load my cart.

At these prices I'm not complaining.

And I use Firefox as well.

Bob

No trouble ordering four (4) rolls on Saturday, at a cost of $19.05 AUS. ($4.33 AUS each roll) Free shipping, as the order exceeded $15.00 AUS.

All things being equal, I should have them by 25th September here in the "land down-under"

Hopefully it will be a "piece of cake"......unlike the UPS delivery of ten (10) MTH freight cars I won in a recent Cabin Fever Auction that have "gone missing", after getting to Kentucky almost four weeks ago.....AARRGGHH!!

Peter......Buco Australia.