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Experience with LED lights in buildings
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#1 Posted : 10 February 2006 22:08:10(UTC)
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DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
Hi all

white LEDs bring a whole new and exciting world to building lighting.

I am only going to use LEDs, they use little current, do not get hot, and have very long lives...

I have documented the curcuit that can be used for 16VAC at
http://layout.mixmox.com/1/LED_module

and one can see the results at
http://layout.mixmox.com/1/day_night
and
http://layout.mixmox.com/1/signal_box

Another nice advantage is that for interior lights, I can leave them on all the time, removing the need to have switching circuits... Exterior lights will be another matter..


Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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Offline rschaffr  
#2 Posted : 10 February 2006 22:12:13(UTC)
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rschaffr

United States   
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 5,181
Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
Dale: For a commercial building which would be well lit with flourescents, like your stellwerk, LEDs are perfect. However, for a warmly lit private residence, I think they are a little too harsh.
-Ron
Digital, Epoch IV-V(K-track/CS3/6021Connect/60216051), Epoch III(C-track/6021/6036/6051)
http://www.sem-co.com/~rschaffr/trains/trains.html
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#3 Posted : 10 February 2006 22:41:28(UTC)
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DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
well for normal homes, I place some orange acrylic paint on the LED - producing a nice warm color as can be seen at
http://layout.mixmox.com/1/day_night
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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WWW BLOG
Offline hqstu  
#4 Posted : 11 February 2006 01:19:53(UTC)
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hqstu

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/04/2002(UTC)
Posts: 429
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand
Very impressive Dale, especially the flourescent effect. Well done!!
Cheers

Stuart
New Zealand
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Offline Rudi Bekkers  
#5 Posted : 11 February 2006 22:54:22(UTC)
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Rudi Bekkers


Joined: 15/02/2005(UTC)
Posts: 132
Location: Vught,
Looks great, Dale! In fact, also Viessmann is introducing LED light sources on many of their street lights etc. recently, and I am recently fitting white LED's into my coaches.

I wonder, however, why you use AC wiring to the houses and rectify the signal at the last moment. Wouldn't it be easier to rectify it right after the transformer?

I opted myself for again another alternative: I use a (separate) DC power source for all lights etc. 13.8 volt stabilized power supplies are very, very affordable these days (look here for instance). The 6 amp version you see on this page costs less than 30 euro and can light a pretty reasonable layout.


success, rudi
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#6 Posted : 11 February 2006 23:18:56(UTC)
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DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Rudi Bekkers
<br />
I wonder, however, why you use AC wiring to the houses and rectify the signal at the last moment. Wouldn't it be easier to rectify it right after the transformer?


Hi Rudi,

yes I also considered using a DC power source. I had already run an additional AC supply bus around my layout and the cost of the 4 diodes being just 8c for all 4 made me decide to just rectify at the last minute. I have a 300W Eckert power supply with 3x100W outputs. I use 2 for the IB and a booster and the third for lights, turnouts etc.

I even have a pile of 14V DC power supplies from old Hayes modems that I thought I may one day use for my layout, but I still find it easier to just drop down and clip into the existing wires I have.
My wiring system can be seen at http://layout.mixmox.com/1/20020224Wiretaps

In order to keep switching costs down, exterior lights such as street lights and platform lights will probably be switched in large sets together and for those I will have to run a switching wire so I may use DC for those....
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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Offline Bruce Skolnik  
#7 Posted : 13 February 2006 03:53:40(UTC)
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Bruce Skolnik


Joined: 16/06/2005(UTC)
Posts: 29
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Hello to all:

I too have been experimenting with some LED lighting. Current project is for the Trix Dammtor station. No pictures yet

I like the products sold at Ngineering (yes, that is the correct name). They carry some very (repeat very) small LEDs that have great light output. Many colors too. Here is the link for those that are interested. http://www.ngineering.com/lightng.htm

Regards
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