Need a good source for LEDs

The price is OK, and they will work.  However, especially for steamers, I like a warmer color temperature, in the 2500K-2700K range.  Here's one of many charts that give you an idea of what you'll see.  For modern diesels, I go with something in the 3500K-4000K range, but less than 3000K for most steam.

I like https://www.circuitspecialists...ces-lamps---displays

Don Merz

I don't even see a suitable LED there Don, what am I missing?

Check out Evilbay.  If you don't mind buying from China, there are very good deals on pre-wired 12 V LEDs.  

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Warm-...c:g:f3IAAOSwGzlTx7lz

The problem with those is they wire the resistor right at the LED, sometimes that doesn't work out.  I like to run my own wire, I can then tailor it to suit the environment.  Also, these folks have different ideas about what "warm white" really means, sometimes they're not what they claim.

I plan to wire in my own resistor so I can place it at the best spot.    Thanks for the chart John.

I have gotten quite a few from these guys:  http://stores.ebay.com/Lightho...trksid=p4634.c0.m322  They are in Washington, state...

Marty

Light House LEDs

http://www.bulbtown.com/T1_3_4...DGE_BASE_p/l8043.htm

http://stores.towncountryhobbies.com/

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The price is OK, and they will work.  However, especially for steamers, I like a warmer color temperature, in the 2500K-2700K range.  Here's one of many charts that give you an idea of what you'll see.  For modern diesels, I go with something in the 3500K-4000K range, but less than 3000K for most steam.

John, do you use clear lens LEDs or frosted? I personally have found the clear lens to be somewhat problematic, providing less of an "incandescent look" (streaks of light, rather than an even spread) than a frosted lens provides. I understand this is for a steamer headlight, so it might not be all that critical, but I certainly don't like to use a clear lens on interior lighting where an even spread of light is crucial.

I have both the clear and frosted models.  For steamers, I found some really nice frosted amber LED's that really look perfect for that "incandescent" look, but provide the focused headlight effect.  I have thousands of LED's in all sorts of shapes and sizes, whenever I see something that isn't in my parts box, I'm tempted to buy it if it looks like it would fit into a niche.

I have not found satisfactory 5mm warm white LEDs. All I have come across are 3000k and up, or “unrated”, both on eBay and net searches.

Any good sources?

Thanks

-Jim  

Try looking for amber or yellow, sometimes they're closer.

Tried that. Too yellow or orange for my taste...

I have experimented with coloring "white" LEDs with marker pens, model paints, even fingernail polish. Got my best results with marker pens (orange and yellow.) That said, my best results kind of sucked canal water, as we say in Ohio, due to inconsistency in absorbing/holding the marker ink, streaking, rubbing off, etc.

I may try the model paint route again - if you could develop a good drying process that didn't either glob all the paint on the nose, sides or bottom rim, that would help a lot. The other issue with paint is that it never produces the color of the paint - many of the yellow paints I tried gave off a greenish glow when the light came on  

I tried the paint & markers as well - without satisfactory results.

Closest I came was a cheap bottle of gold nail polish.  Marginal, as it decreases the intensity of the light output.

I saw light house Leds. They don't list the rating on the color, but at least I don't have to buy 100 at a time.

So frosted is better than clear tip?

I have bought a few here.

I buy all my LED's here https://www.banggood.com/Whole...Lighting-c-1697.html

And lots of other stuff. Don

How about using one of our sponsors

Evan Designs

www.modeltrainsoftware

I ended up going with Light House LEDs.  They had a good variety of LEDs (without resistors).  Resistors are sold separately which is what I wanted so I could install the resistor in the line where it makes the most sense.  I will report back once I get them and  let you know how they work out.  Thanks for all the help.

I've bought from one of our sponsors Evan Designs and was always happy with the quality and delivery times.   

Since I can buy the LED's for a few cents each, I typically buy in 100's of one type at a shot.

I use the SMT LED's were appropriate, but most of the time for locomotive headlights, ditch lights, and marker lights, the round discrete ones work better for me.  I use the SMT LED's many times for number boards, one or two lighting the cavity makes for very even illumination.