Roof Top "Strobe" Beacon for use on Diesels

Miniatronics Roof Top Beacon, Amber  100-001-01

Note: The Miniatronics kit is designed to operate from a 9-14V AC or DC external power source. For three-rail track powered by an AC transformer it may be necessary to limit the voltage applied to the circuit board. Since the track voltage could exceed 14 volts I would suggest adding a diode in series with the power leads to reduce the maximum voltage applied to the circuit board. 

Note: I have added this strobe to a Williams U33-C diesel. Since I have added multiple dodes in series with the motor leads to limit the top end speed on my Williams U33-C conversion I have tapped the voltage at the motor leads to power my strobe circuit board.

A cheaper solution is a flashing LED, all that required is a diode, resistor, and a cap for filtering. 

Or......order a three or five mm Flashing LED from modeltrainsoftware.com (Evans)....drill a hole in the top of the shell, paint the LED and you're good to go. The electronics are already connected to it and are very small. I've done this with two of my Williams diesels.

Cost? $3.25

Miniatronics Roof Top Beacon, Amber  100-001-01

The Miniatronics circuit board provides a constant strobe rate when operated in the range from 9 to 14 volts. The flashing diodes I have used in the past will tend to vary the "strobe" rate depending on the voltage applied. Results may vary depending on the exact LED used.

Since I am using this strobe with my modified Williams engines the minimum 9 volts will always be maintained since I will be adding an additional 9 volt battery to power the strobe and headlights when track power is OFF or if the track voltage falls below 9 volts.

Note: My modified Williams engines will also have directional headlights. One headlight will be bright and one headlight will be dimmed depending on the engine's direction. When the engine is idle both headlights will be dimmed.

The addition of a CL2 constant current source, less than 50 cents, will give you a constant current and constant blink rate with any of these LED's. 

The Evans LEDs do not vary their flashrate with voltage. This Miniatronics unit just seems like overkill, sizewise, installation wise and cost. The only advantage to me is that it comes with an amber cap. I've used Evans LEDs for years and they totally back their products.

Roger

I've never had an issue with the blink rate of any of them.  I buy the blinking LED for around 50 cents, and even with the resistor, diode, and a cap, I'm into the circuit for a couple of bucks at the most.  I also don't have to figure out where to put the extra circuit board.

I've never had an issue with the blink rate of any of them.  I buy the blinking LED for around 50 cents, and even with the resistor, diode, and a cap, I'm into the circuit for a couple of bucks at the most.  I also don't have to figure out where to put the extra circuit board.

I've never had an issue with the blink rate of any of them.  I buy the blinking LED for around 50 cents, and even with the resistor, diode, and a cap, I'm into the circuit for a couple of bucks at the most.  I also don't have to figure out where to put the extra circuit board.

Pro Hobby, can u post video to see the strobe working?