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lighting question

trainfevertrainfeverOGR Forum Member

Im in the processs of building my Christmas layout and getting ready to light the houses. I ordered the Lionel bases for lighting buildings which use a screw type bulb. I would like to know if I would be better off to wire them in series or parralel? What are the benefits of one over the other? What size bulb should I use? I will be lighting Plasticville houses and dont want to melt them. If I remember correctly, wiring them in series, the bulbs would share the voltage? By that I mean if I had the transformer set at 15 volts and lighting 15 bulbs, each bulb would get 1 volt? Whereas if they were wired paralel and had the transformer set at 15 volts, each bulb would get 15 volts? I am correct in my thinking? What are the benefits or drawbacks of each way? thanks.

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RailfanRonRailfanRonOGR Forum Member

Yes you are. The downfall to series wiring is if one light burns out they all go out. The upside to series wiring is if the current going through one bulb is .25 amps the current for 15 is the same so smaller gauge wiring can be used. The upside to parallel wiring if one light burns out the others stay lit. The downside is if the current for one bulb is .25 amps the current for 15 is 15 * .25 = 3.75 amps so the wiring needs to be a little larger. The power supply is different for each also. For series wiring 15 -0

 5 volt .25 amp bulbs you need a transformer that can deliver 75 volts at .25 amps. For Parallel wiring 15 - 5 volt .25 amp bulbs you need a transformer that can deliver 5 volts at 3.75 amps.

Ron

Ron

Ron

P phillyreadingOGR Forum Member

I would rather wire in parallel then series because of one light going out.

What I use are Radio Shack light bulb bases for E-10 lights and older GE Mazda lights hooked up to a smaller Lionel starter set transformer between 40 to 70 watts. On some of my lighting I have used the accessory post from a Lionel KW to light the houses in my layout, and can share the common wire from the KW with the track common.

 

Lee F.

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