Voltages for replacing MTH lights with LEDs

For PS1,tap off the circuit for general cab lighting. It is already DC either 5 or 6 volts I think. Use a 150 ohm or more quarter watt resistor. LED should light one way and not the other.  The PS2 is 6 volts PWM. The 150 ohm should work as well. You can also run it off track power shown here

http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/Bl...=619&categoryId=

Dale H

Thanks Dale. You always have great help.

John

For PS-1 the 1.5V are directional and tapped off the motor relays.  Depending on the engine, there may be a CV board at 6V present.

Depending on the LED you may get it to light to your satisfaction.  G

I was not successful in getting white LED's to light using the PS/1 lamp outputs, the voltage is too low.

Another solution is to add about 5 diodes in series with each motor winding and tap off the diode string.  This will provide directional lighting for front and rear headlamps as well. You need a diode string for both forward and reverse motor direction. On PS-1 engines the diodes will reduce the top end motor speed somewhat. The diode string will provide about 3.5 volts to power an LED. Use about a 200 ohm resistor in series with each LED.

I replace PS/2 bulbs with LED's by just using a 270 ohm resistor in series with the LED, they work fine.  I don't run them close to the maximum current for the LED, no reason to push them that hard, and it makes little difference in the actual light output.