Rick486: Do you know how to add ditch lights to engines?

[mwarfel]

After seeing your Polar Express, I was wondering if you knew how to add ditch lights to engines. My dad pre-ordered the WBB NS Exec. A-B-A units for me (I will be paying him back) and when they come I will want to add some lights to 'em. As well as some sounds. Thanks for the help!!!

[wmwalker]

Max
I can not help with the lights but wow you are getting that new A-B-A WBB NS. that is great.:) Can you bring them to the club meeting when you get them and let us all see them in person?

[mwarfel]

Of course!

Also, for those who don't know how to pre-order them, here is how:

1. Go to mapajunction.com (http://mapajunction.com)
2. Look for the William's Trains section
3. Click "Traditional"
4. Click Diesels
5. Look for F3s and click
6. Then you're on your own
7. If you want the B unit, click the link next to the F3 link

[wmwalker]

Great I am looking forward to it.

[mwarfel]

So am I!!!! :D :)

[rick486]

Hi Max,

Sorry for the slow response. If you have low voltage DC outputs from an internal board, you can get LEDs in various colors, sizes and voltages from Radio Shack. The ones I used for the PE were RED 5v small LEDs for the tail lights on the tender and were powered by a 5v output from the RailSounds board. The backup light is a 9v incandescent and is powered by the AC/DC (TMCC) board.

The green running lights, RED firebox light, and white cab light in the PE loco are all 1.5v incandescent and come from:

http://www.grsmicroliting.com/eshop/index.html?target=dept_3.html&lang=en-us

All these lights in the PE loco are powered by a rectifier board from the same website. The board is powered directly from the track pickups of the loco. This board (GRS125) converts 12-20v AC to 1.5v DC to operate the lights and you can get it here:

http://www.grsmicroliting.com/eshop/index.html?target=dept_3.html&lang=en-us


Here's a link for a 14v AC LED white miniature light if you don't want to use a circuit board, it should be able to run directly off track voltage:
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=LED-194-W&Category_Code=MiniLED&Product_Count=40

I'll see how you're doing at the next meeting...

Rich

[rkneisel]

Rick,

Since our club is so much into education, maybe we ought to set up a date for a clinic where you could show us less educated how you might do it!!!

Rick

[rick486]

I'd be glad to....there's better electronics available than what I used. I can even disassemble the engine and tender for the group (it's much easier since the screw holes are now very loose from my repeated tinkering)....it's interesting what a tight fit it is in the tender.