I'd like to have LED lighting installed in a set of K-Line heavyweights.
Any suggestions on who could do the installation? Any idea of cost would be appreciated too.
thank you!
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I can say, with someone having severe arthritis, bought LED strips with proper Voltage etc, off the E-Bay, and installed them in all 4 of my passenger car sets. Check the listings out, some are very easy.
Take a look at the LED lighting kits from forum sponsor Hennings Trains.
http://henningstrains.lightspe...-lighting-kit/dp/253
These are easy to install and there are many guys, myself included, who have used these lighting kits and will help you (or whoever you choose to install them) with any problems/concerns/whatever.
Exactly what Stan said. Easy to install kit... the hardest part of the whole job is getting the car apart and back together 
LED lighting is great. Used in the right conditions LEDs can outlast bulbs 100:1. The problem is that LED's do not energize at currents much below their stated rating. They are also DC devices and unless multiple LEDS are used the light from them is unidirectional. Ideally replacing bulbs with LEDS requires a circuit placed before them consisting of a bridge rectifier, filter capacitor (electrolytic) a voltage regulator and series resistance. For structures where the voltage can be set constant you can forgo the regulator but in rolling stock the voltage tends to vary over a range.
LED's tend to have illumination qualities that are very bright. If you want a softer glow you can use amber LED's or dab them with amber bulb dye.
You can also simply run the LED's at lower current for lower light levels. I can crank them down pretty dim with my little lighting module, or I can have sunlight in the cars. I use warm white LED strips, and I'm testing some yellow ones to see if those looks good in older style cars. The led strips are much less directional that most individual bulbs, the SMT chips give nice even lighting. I use constant current regulation for lighting, gives me a wide range of intensity adjustment.
Gerry this is an Atlas caboose with GRJ's board, and LED strip lighting. The concept is the same for your passenger cars, and very easy to do..... even for me.
Attachments
Images (1)
