Joined: 21/04/2014(UTC) Posts: 122 Location: ENGLAND
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Ebay has loads of LED street lights for HO scale as well as some signal lights, all at low prices.
Some state a voltage, but not much else. Has anyone had experience of using these and how easy are they to install?
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Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC) Posts: 3,997
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 1 user liked this useful post by DaleSchultz
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Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC) Posts: 3,597 Location: Spain
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These chinese EXTREMELY CHEAP lights looks tempting!
There are both 1:75 and 1:100 lights.
I see that some of the streetlights are "variable" in height, so I would think that 1:75 could be used, if you install them in a little lower position. Also, some of them are of a more "rustic" design, and might be usable in park-areas or the likes, even if they are not exactly H0.
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Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC) Posts: 14,878 Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
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We've used street lights everywhere and also siding light, tower mast lights
John |
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Joined: 15/06/2004(UTC) Posts: 71 Location: Hampshire, UK
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I have used the larger scale ones, they have all worked, slightly odd colour, a bit greenish and the wiring code was Black positive, Yellow negative. Very fine wire but soldered well enough. Maximum current was quoted at 20 mA and the forward voltage was 3 Volt. I put 3 in series and a 180 Ohm resistor on a 12 volt supply rectified and regulated from the track DCC. I put 3 in series so that most of the power was driving the lamps not heating a resistor. I found they were a bit short but small plastic tube of the right diameter lengthened them nicely and with semi gloss paint you would not know it had been done.
Graham
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 1 user liked this useful post by gcanton
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Joined: 21/04/2014(UTC) Posts: 122 Location: ENGLAND
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Originally Posted by: DaleSchultz  So as long as I solder a resistor inline on each of them I can run them off my m84?
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Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC) Posts: 3,997
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yup. if you supply them with DC power. If they are LEDs you also need to get the polarity right. |
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 1 user liked this useful post by DaleSchultz
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Joined: 08/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 30 Location: New South Wales
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I have some of those lights, I run them from a step down transformer I bought on ebay, 12v down to 3v, it works off my Marklin transformer.
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Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC) Posts: 3,597 Location: Spain
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I have been looking for more cheap LED street lights. There are LOTS. Also in the correct H0 scale (at least according to the british seller). They go from around €15 for 10 units. Looks very nice. Not worse than the Viessmann types. The only thing that worries me, is the "greenish" light. Could this be corrected by painting the led with a little red¿? (in order to go more yellow) Also; Originally Posted by: rogergags  I have some of those lights, I run them from a step down transformer I bought on ebay, 12v down to 3v, it works off my Marklin transformer. Are you satisfied with them? Does yours light up "greenish" too, as another member mentioned? |
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Joined: 08/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 30 Location: New South Wales
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Nope, they are cool white. In fact I bought 40 decorative park lights for about AU$25. Just ordered another 50 street lights, only AU $30. It's one of the few things that China does well...........
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 1 user liked this useful post by rogergags
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Joined: 21/04/2014(UTC) Posts: 122 Location: ENGLAND
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In the end I got 20 12v lamp-posts on e-bay for about £9 (bargain!), Using the output from my m84 the light was just too bright, so I strung 3 lamps in a series and this toned them down to a pleasant Era III tawny yellow. I'm old enough to remember filament household light of 40 watts and less being the mainstay of 50's - 60's. Rarely was a 100 watt used in the home!
I had to test the polarity of each LED to get them working as the wires weren't colour coded, and no resistors were needed.
All in all an inexpensive and charming addition to my night time street scenes.
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