LED's Stay on when engine off on a older 5 volt PS2 steam "J class"

I may go in and plug in older OEM bulbs to the harnesses and see if they stay on or not.  

I've never seen that, but it could be leakage through the lighting FET's, the LED's will light with less than a milliamp, incandescent bulbs would be pitch dark.

If you have the time and want to investigate the 'leakage current'  remove the shell, remove one of those led's.  connect your test meter, power up and shut down.  Do you have any leakage?

bruce

Ok Bruce I'll try it.  John.. never seen that?? Either have I and I did these alot too.  Can you add anything into the circuits to act like the incandescent bulbs so they shut Off?  If not. I'll live with it.  I changed the backup light to led. But that's a switch.  I didn't try to turn off the headlight though. 

I've put LED's in a number of locomotives, including a few 5V PS/2 models.  The LED's have never stayed on for me, so I suspect something is different.  You could try a 1K resistor across the output to see if that solves the issue.

thanks john.  Ill mock up a light with a 1K resistor and hook to the harness and see if it shuts down.  

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I've put LED's in a number of locomotives, including a few 5V PS/2 models.  The LED's have never stayed on for me, so I suspect something is different.  You could try a 1K resistor across the output to see if that solves the issue.

john,  I found out that it must be the board.  the incadescents are staying on now also.  The headlight burned out on me not long ago before I was doing this project.  and when I put a good bulb harness on, it lit very bright, almost smoking and then the bulb got toasty.  I had tried also the firebox light harness.  also stayed lit after the engine was turned off.  So something is going on and allowing full current to leak out.  I will try a voltage meter on the plug ends to see what it is.  But, wow,  must be full track current.  I also tried to turn off the lights with Remote.  nothing.  

Is this worth fixing?  or should can I replace the 5 volt board with a PS2/3 board.  board is in engine.  should I maybe get a new PS3 steam kit?     

Most likely suspect is the lighting FET(s), if those are dead it can be fixed.  The "lit very bright" is the key, you were supplying it with way more voltage than the bulb was designed for. 

Send it off the GGG, he fixes stuff like that for reasonable bucks.  If he can't fix it, then you can consider the PS32 board.  Since the board is most likely in the tender, there shouldn't be a big issue in fitting the replacement PS32 board in.

The board is actually in the engine.. I'll ask george.. he has done alot of stuff for me.  Thanks!