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Power, Sound, R/C
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Lights / LED
Making and Using LEDs in Coaches with Video
Adding interior lights to passenger cars and other rolling stock can add interest and realism to your railroad. Some coaches come with interior lights but many do not. Adding them can be a challenge in terms of design, mounting and providing power. This article will show a method that I have found to be very effective and easy to implement.
Dec 30, 2011 - 9:00:00 AM
Build Your Own Crossing Signal Controller with Video
Many different crossing signals are available for model railroads. Some of them flash realistically but many do not. The worst of these don't even attempt to flash one light on while the other is off and visa versa. Construction of the crossing controller also gives those of you who might have been looking for a simple soldering project a good reason to heat up the iron and practice.
Jan 19, 2011 - 10:00:00 AM
Make Some Working Ditch Lights
While attending the East Coast Large Scale Train Show a friend and I noticed the distinctive flashing ditch lights on several engines. After the show he asked if I could come up with a circuit that would duplicate the effect.
Sep 29, 2010 - 9:00:00 AM
A Better Constant Brightness Circuit for LEDs
A few years ago I wrote an article,that described a circuit that could be used to illuminate an LED to full brightness over a range of voltages. Since then technology has continued to advance. I recently came upon a new solid state device that takes much of the guess work and computation out of the equation when we use LEDs
Feb 3, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Battery Life Sensor
On my battery-powered garden railroad, the batteries always seem to run down at unexpected times, when the train is at the worst possible place - out of sight on the back side of the layout, or in a tunnel, or in the helix. Come see how my solution might become your solution.
Jun 17, 2009 - 10:00:00 AM
Special Trolly Lighting System
I recently built a Mr. Rogers Trolley that will be donated to the Pittsburgh's new Children's Hospital train layout. After completing the trolley itself I wanted to add appropriate lighting. The clerestory needed diffused red lighting and the front and rear needed bright directional lights that would clearly show the trolley as it moves along a point-to-point route.
Jan 28, 2009 - 10:00:00 AM
LED Round-up Articles
Even the elves get some time off at Christmas, so... We have put together this round-up of the basics to LEDs. You might have not yet discovered all the gems stored in the LSOL.com Library.
Dec 24, 2008 - 10:04:06 AM
LED Switch Signals - Turnout Signal Lights
The objective of this project is to design and construct an add-on device for an LGB turnout motor (part 12010 or 1201) that will light a red or green LED on a turnout signal light.
Sep 10, 2008 - 10:00:00 AM
Making some cheap lights
I recently was trying to purchase some lighting for my Garden Railroad. I stumbled across a great way to get versatile outdoor lighting for less than $2.00 per fixture. The best part of this project is that it uses standard Malibu low voltage lights Build some low profile directional lighting by attaching translucent 35mm film containers to Malibu low voltage bulb holders.
May 7, 2008 - 9:00:00 AM
LEDs 103 - Turning them On and Off
The last installment in this series, LEDs 102 - Use On Board Trains, ended with a few thoughts about turning battery powered LEDs on and off. In this article I would like to explore several options for turning LEDs, and other things on your railroad, on and off.
Dec 19, 2007 - 10:00:00 AM
Using Solar Lights in the Garden Railway - Part I
There is another discussion going on in The WorkShops about using solar lighting for the Garden Railroad. Come read about how I use solar lights on our garden railroad and check out the WorkShop to see other peoples methods too!
Dec 5, 2007 - 9:00:00 AM
LEDs 102 - Use On Board Trains
LEDs 101 - The Basics, served to review the characteristics and use of LED lighting in a garden railway environment. It also generated a host of questions and comments that indicated that there was an interest in using LEDs in a variety of ways that were not covered in that article.
Sep 5, 2007 - 10:00:00 AM
LEDs 101 - The Basics
LEDs have rapidly taken the place of incandescent light bulbs in many, if not most, model railroad applications. Let's take a few minutes for review and a few minutes more to see if we all can learn some new tricks with these fascinating and useful devices.
Jun 20, 2007 - 10:00:00 AM
A Mars Light for Your Large Scale Engine
I have never been one to shy away from a challenge and one was presented to me a few months ago by one of our LSOL members. After seeing the article I wrote on ditch lights, John Damkier asked me if I had ever considered making an electronic version of a Mars light.
Aug 9, 2006 - 11:15:00 AM
A Simple Constant Brightness LED Light
I was recently asked to present a hands-on workshop for the Pittsburgh Garden Railway Society that had participants construct a constant brightness LED headlight. You can give the same circuit a try by following these step-by-step directions.
Apr 12, 2006 - 11:43:00 AM
Very Simple Fire Glow Lighting
Besides large-scale trains each of us has other interests. Some of us restore automobiles. Some of us collect old postcards. One of the collections that Jon and I have its Nativity scenes.
Dec 7, 2005 - 7:07:00 AM
Build a Morse Code Beacon - Part 2
In order to accommodate that part of the audience I developed a more complex program that will not work on the basic Picaxe processor, but on one of its big brothers, the Microchip 16F684 PIC processor.
Nov 23, 2005 - 4:51:00 AM
Build a Morse Code Beacon - Part 1
This memory coupled with my being an amateur (ham) radio operator made this a must-do project!
Nov 16, 2005 - 6:21:00 AM
Make your Headlights Shine
A good reflector is essential for a realistic look to your headlights. Learn how to make yours better for only a dollar.
Jul 20, 2005 - 8:44:00 AM
Upgrading your WalMart Lighthouse
I really like my new solar powered lighthouse but the steady light is a bore. How can I make it blink or flash its light so that it looks more like a real lighthouse?
Jun 29, 2005 - 7:08:00 PM
LED Clusters for Large Scale Track Signals
I have found a use for the individual modules as stylized (not prototypical, but colorful and fun) overhead track signals, indicating the direction of polarity of my analog indoor (and one day, my outdoor) layout.
Jan 5, 2005 - 1:08:00 AM
LED Lighting with Larger Solar Panels
Rather than combining three or more of the Malibu lights I chose to find larger solar panels that would be able to supply power to six or more LEDs.
Nov 17, 2004 - 7:53:00 AM
Build Cheap LED Lighting
I have been using low cost solar garden walkway lights for illuminating the interiors of my buildings for some time.
Oct 27, 2004 - 7:39:00 AM
Simple Exterior Lights
Outdoor garden railway structures always look neat when they are lit at night.
Oct 27, 2004 - 6:46:00 AM
Simple Trackside Signals
I've always wanted some kind of signals for my G scale Creekside and Southern. But I was always put off by the need for complicated detection circuits and the cost of same.
Sep 10, 2003 - 7:59:00 AM
Learn to use LED for Lighting - Part II
As I said I use 5 volts for my systems, so let me show what I use for voltage regulation.
Apr 16, 2003 - 8:31:00 AM
Learn to use LED for Lighting - Part I
I studied electronics back in the early 60's when transistors were just beginning to make their mark in home products.
Apr 9, 2003 - 3:02:00 PM
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