Comments on: Interior Car Lighting DCC https://blog.model-train-help.com/2020/08/interior-car-lighting-dcc.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=interior-car-lighting-dcc Model railroads and model trains Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:58:46 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Robert Wilkins https://blog.model-train-help.com/2020/08/interior-car-lighting-dcc.html#comment-39768 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:58:46 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5730#comment-39768 For lighting passenger cars check Project 3, Project 18 & 19 at the webiste modeltrainsounds.com

]]> By: Steve https://blog.model-train-help.com/2020/08/interior-car-lighting-dcc.html#comment-39753 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 06:29:56 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5730#comment-39753 Hi James. You need to use the 12 volt strip LED’s and a small resistor I would sugest the warm white as they give a yellow glow, If you want to see the result plaes have a look at my youtube chamnal “Smallton” as I show how to do this

]]> By: ROBERT SCHWORM https://blog.model-train-help.com/2020/08/interior-car-lighting-dcc.html#comment-39702 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 02:49:11 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5730#comment-39702 Rail voltage is about 14v. The LED is either rated for 3v or 5v. You need to drop the difference with a dropping resistor. So 14 v down to 3 volts means to drop 11 volts. Leds run about 25ma. So R=E/I or v11v/.020 amps -= 550 ohms.

Put a 600 ohm reisistor in series with the led to one side of the power source the other side to ground.

A LED only conducts in one direction. The LED has a flat spot on it which is the negative lead.

Put a small capacitor wired correctly with a full wave bridge rectifier to straighten out the rippling voltage. This is a “current keeper” and the lights will not flicker.

]]> By: Hervey https://blog.model-train-help.com/2020/08/interior-car-lighting-dcc.html#comment-39701 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 02:07:51 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5730#comment-39701 James,
I would install a single function decoder and power your lights from this. If you are using a single led’s you will need to put a resistor between the light(s) and the decoder. If you are using an incandescent 12 volt light you are good to go.
I would use a light strip that can be trimmed in multiples of 3 led’s. This gives a more uniform light through the car and will run on 12 volts. If the light is too bright you can add a resistor to dim the amount of light. You can power more than one car from a decoder but you will have to install micro connectors at the ends of each car (along with the wiring) if you wish to separate the cars.

]]> By: Kevin Ching https://blog.model-train-help.com/2020/08/interior-car-lighting-dcc.html#comment-39686 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 03:48:27 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5730#comment-39686 Hi James if you have used LED’s then the DCC power will have blown them you need to have a rectifier circuit and a larger wattage resistor to drop the voltage to 3 volts. any voltage greater than the 3 volts will blow the less and they run only on dc so they need to be connected the right way round + to + I would also put in a 500uf capacitor to smooth out the DC current.

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