| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
jburch
Engine Wiper
|
 Posted - 03/20/2021 : 6:02:14 PM
|
I am not an expert with electronics but if I get some direction I can solder and make things happen. What I am looking for is interior and exterior lighting for an engine house I am building. I have both 3v led and 12v bulbs which can be mounted on the outside of the building. I also have 12v and 1.5v lights for the interior. I am trying to run four lights, 2 outside, 2 inside and I am looking for the warm glow of incandescent from the late 20s early 30s. I have a couple of wall warts that put out 6v. Can I run them all off of the power source and what is the best way to wire them up with a switch?
I hope there is enough info here and I am not asking too much
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 336 |
|
|
railmus
Fireman
|
Posted - 03/20/2021 : 7:25:01 PM
|
I would go with only one voltage. 12 volts DC is my preference as they are easily run off a cheap power pack.
|
|
Country: Canada
| Posts: 2010 |
 |
|
|
jbvb
Fireman
Premium Member
|
Posted - 03/20/2021 : 10:12:17 PM
|
I've got a 'To Do' sitting on my workbench - a Walthers 12v street light that burned out its grain-of-wheat bulb. LEDs are picky about their voltage and current, but I expect those I've installed to have longer lifespans than me. Get the 'warm white' type from Miniatronics, Evan Designs or another vendor if you're inexperienced; they sell packages which run off 12V. Or buy in volume from an electronics distributor like DigiKey.
I run most of my LEDs off a 16 VAC buss around my layout. I put in a switch and bridge rectifier for each zone, then use either a resistor for single LEDs or a 'current limiting diode' for strings. I use JST 2.0 mm connectors so buildings can be removed (same type as Woodland Scenics' 'Just Plug' line). I've saved the Digi-Key part #s for stuff I've bought, but no guarantee they're still in production.
|
James
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 6901 |
|
|
|
nortonw
Section Hand
|
Posted - 03/21/2021 : 01:26:22 AM
|
Mr. Burch,
The easiest method to get that warm look you are looking for is to run the 12V lights on the 6V wall wart. Running them at 1/2 voltage reduces the light output and gives the warm glow. Wire a single pole switch on either side of the power to the lights and you're good to go. Of course this assumes the 12V lights are incandescent and not LED's. If they are LED's, go with JBVB's suggestion.
|
Norton
The V & T lives in my garage (soon) |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 98 |
|
|
|
desertdrover
Engineer
|
Posted - 03/21/2021 : 09:59:32 AM
|
Go to this link, http://macrodyn.com/assets/files/MRH07/MRH-2010-May-Jun.pdf and go to page 119, maybe some of this structure lighting will help you.
|
Louis
Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast
Post count: 5000 posts added to below count.
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 16151 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Railroad Line Forums |
© 2000-2020 Railroad Line Co. |
|
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Sponsors
Guestbook
FAQ
