I just did a search on “constant lighting” for this forum and came up negative - so here goes:
At Christmas in our house, two LGB’s occupy a large space around the tree - one freight and one passenger with lots of additional track. Just “stock” stuff - nothing fancy - LGB starters, I suppose. Anyway, I have the passenger cars illuminated with the LGB kits and also figured out a way to light up the caboose (cupola too!).
I would like to get into constant lighting with these cars. Any suggestions on what to purchase and how to do it?
Insofar as the loco’s are concerned - that would be next!
Do I understand this right? You have lights in the carriages that work when the train is running, but when you stop at the station the lights go out? And so by constant lighting, you mean that you want the lights to work even whent he train is stopped?
If I got that right then there are two ways of doing it:
The complex and expensive way: You can wire in some capacitors and resistors and a whole lot of fancy electronics stuff to store up a charge while the train is moving, so that when the track voltage goes to zero, they start outputing the held charge and the light stays on for a short while longer.
Or the simple and cheap way: Buy a battery, switch and light bulb. When you turn on the switch the light goes on and stays on regardless of whether the train is moving or not. (that’s the way some of the Bachmann cars are lit).
I power my Bachmann old-time passenger car lights from a battery – but I also run my train from the same battery because I use the AirWire 900 Wireless DCC system from CVP products, which must use battery power. I found some radio-control model aircraft servo extension wire sets with plugs and sockets on them, and use these between each car. For a caboose, I put in a Radio Shack 9.6 Volt NiCad race car battery and on/off toggle switch.
Glen you are obviously living in a Kiwi dreamworld. The lights on all my carriages stay fully illuminated at all times and that is how it is as standard on LGB MTS.
Next you will think NZ is still world rugby champions.
Thanx for the responses - however, I really am not interested in battery operation.
The passenger set I have resembles the one shown in Ian’s photo, although I have an added dining car and baggage/postal car. My set did not come illuminated - I added that feature using LGB’s illumination kits.
What I am trying to achieve is to keep the brightness of the lamps at a constant rate no matter what the speed. Surely if HO and other gauges have this capability, G gauge must also. Guess I’ll keep searching the web until an answer pops up.
Right on Troy mate right on, this is MTS as it should be.
Hey Troy have you tried to adjust the acceloration on your MTS locos. I am trying to match the speeds of both ends of my ICE train now that i have a new chip fitted and I am not doing too good. I got starting voltages matched by setting register 2 and the address by register 1 but I have the half with the new chip in it running much faster than the old front end, it is much lighter in weight too. Do You think this might be casuing me a problem.
You have done exactly what i did and i run mine illuminated all the time and your answer is to go to MTS, but it is a mine field go to LGB America website and they have an entire section devoted to complaints about MTS. However even with all the problems in starting up it is well worth it in the long run, Actually you will find it adds an entire new dimension to your railway activities.
Great minds think alike,
Rgds ian
PS. I have even modified my carriages so that i bring the wiring out the bottom so it looks more realistic, easy to do.
Appreciate the info … in view of my rather simple operation that only “lives” under the Christmas tree, I would think investing in MTS might be an overkill. Nevertheless, no doubt a good thought if one is a G-gauger 24/7. I’m an HO railroader, full time.
Well, you must be quite the mind reader - or at least, a good judge of what makes model railroaders “tick.”
There could be a day when my LGB expands into more than a holiday railroad. As alluded to, I am very much “into” HO. In fact, I have also ordered an O-gauge Lionel train, “The Polar Express,” that will occupy a prime route on a shelf railroad system I will construct in my basement trainroom. This will be a train for my five grandkids to enjoy while Grandpa operates the HO empire!
With inside space at a premium, there is always the back yard! After all, isn’t that what LGB is all about? BUT, with our Siberian Husky (Juneau) at 22 months and very frisky, I’m afraid that trains running in the yard, along with rabbits, squirrels, deer, racoons, opossums and other critters, they just wouldn’t stand a chance of survival. Perhaps an outside subway LGB system? Hmmmmmmm
