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Lighting voltage
Dennis asks readers:
“I have an HO controller (Tech4 MRC260) with accessory output of 18.5v. I’m looking to buy lighting for the buildings and the Model Power MDP491, MDP492 lights are rated 12-16 volts. Do I need to step-down the output voltage so as not to blow the bulbs? If so where can I get something like that? Or do I need higher rated lighting?”
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Hi
You must become a new 12 V transformer, and feed all the lamps from it. It is the best way to protect the lamps from an overvoltage, and burn them. Dont forget that you must connect a series resistor with the leds. Guillermo from the Patagonia Argentina
Try a 12 volt zener diode
Gepatt is right to suggest a 12V (ac or dc) transformer or plug-in power supply (wall wart). Do make sure that you get one with a good output current. Mine supplies 8Vdc at 2A and is supplying some 40+ filament bulbs and about 30 LEDs with plenty of power to spare. Hopefully, the low voltage will mean that the bulbs should last for ever. It also means that the light output will look more natural than running them at their rated voltage.
If you don’t want to go to the expense of buying new stuff, just wire the bulbs in series in pairs, they will then recieve 9v each and will be a little less bright which usually looks better too.
I use cheap transformers, the kind that come with train sets, for my lights. Connect them to DC output and use the throttle control to control the brightness of the bulbs. Turning them up to high will burn them out so just give them a little juice and they will look more natural this way also. I burn them low and have never burn’t a bulb out and never needed any resistors either.
Ernest Chudzik, 54