What lighting for my train room?

I replaced the halogen flood lamps in the track light system in my train room with long neck PAR 30 LED flood lamps equivalent to 75 watt halogen floods. The heat problem and high wattage of the halogen floods was eliminated. In the 2 years since I made this changeover, the cost of LEDs has decreased significantly.

Pennsy,

Take a look at some of my train videos on my channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/NativeFLA/videos

I have similar spot lights on a track system,  all LED now for about the last 4 years.  With 12 lights previous to LED,  the Halogen bulbs built up a high heat level.   Plus the energy savings now,  I went from 500 total watts to 25 total watts used now,  same light level.

The effect speaks for itself and is subjective,  but I like what I have,  along with the fact I can move any of the lights to focus on whatever I want at a given moment.

Mark

I also used track lights with LED bulbs. the heat level is down, and I have 16 lights replacing 5 halogen bulbs, using less power. I can add more lights if I need them.

I find the track lights great, as you can direct them where needed on the layout, and add more lights in areas that need it. Very flexible and easy to attach the track to the ceiling. All my lights work off one circuit, as the power draw is low and the tracks are easy to connect.

Good luck: Joe K

I'm using Phillips Par 30 LED lamps In my track lighting. 8.5 watt equivalent to 65 watt.  I chose Daylite lamps I like them much better, nice white light.

Hi Bob,

I used track lighting and Fluorescent together, I like the type of light it gives off

I agree with all the suggestions for use of your track lighting, but also want to mention that, for photography purposes, such track lighting tends to be rather evenly distributed and "flat", without shadows. You might consider also using a "can" light on a tripod (I use a quartz tungsten light that my wife bought for photographing art) either as a supplement, or instead of, my track lighting to create shadows and other effects.

   Bob A.

L E D 's ALL THE WAY!  There are direct replacements for just about every bulb imaginable. Try 1000bulbs.com.

Way less power consumption, way less heat!   Bob S.

My train room is completely LED based - 115 VAC track (w/ LED bulbs), 12 VDC RGB LED strip lights, LED Rope Light and Christmas/Halloween LED string lights. With the exception of some trains and a few older Lionel & Dept 56 items, my layout is also almost all LED's.

Heat and color control were my main objectives for using the LED's.

Jim

Costco is also a good source for LED bulbs. There choices seem to grow every time I visit.

Brad

Layout lighting.

I'll second what Brad said - my track bulbs, rope light and much of the string lights are from Costco. 

Jim

I think you are making a great choice.......add some track lighting spots and use LED bulbs.  All the money you will save BETTER go towards more Miller Engineering signs atop your buildings lol!

Good point on the Miller Engineering signs, and by extension, other Electro Luminescent lighting.  I use colored EL wire as fencing around an upper level plus several Miller Engineering signs (and I have a few more to install yet). An 8"x10" plain white EL sheet made an interesting lighted ice skating pond.

Jim

I to recommend track lighting with LED bulbs. Specifically BR20, they are usually found in 50 and 75 watt equivalents.  BR20 are smaller than BR30's.  With an 8' ceiling it makes a difference.  Also, you want lots of low power lights not a few high power lights. These are wide floods not spots, so you don't get uneven lighting.  All of your lighting should be of the same type and color or it will confuse the white balance of digital cameras. Count your watts and get the right type of dimmer.  If you go LED, go all LED.  Place the tracks about 18" or so away from the edge of the layout so you can aim the lights towards the layout and away from the viewers eyes.  Most LED's have a CRI of 82 but there are some with a CRI in the 90's.  I haven't been able to tell the difference.

Lot's of choices, good luck.

Dan

Thank you all for sharing your expertise and input. Now I have some shopping to do; I just might initiate my COSTCO card.

Bob,

More food for thoughts. Divide your room into sections. Examples: Section one could be around your workbench. Section two could be a general seating area. Sections three through six each for different areas of the layout. Each section should be on separate switches. Have fun, been there done that.