The first two pictures show the smt led’s installed and lighted. The third picture showing 1983 shows the lens used when installing the smt leds. The smt are great and really set off these models.
The greatest advantage besides the great look is the life time expected use of the smt’s compared to a few weeks or months for the standard bulbs that come in the Genesis models…
Two of my F units burned out headlight bulbs on testing tracks.
CZ
Looks really great! Just what is a smt led? Please pardon my ignorance!
Thanks.
A surface-mount [technology] LED:
Low profile and flat lens - i.e. as compared to a regular LED. Some are even flatter than that:
Tom
Thanks Tom for the picture and reply to the question about the SMT.
Surface Mounted Technolgy means it is extremely small and fits into almost any application that you can imagine.
Since they are so small, I purchased mine with the leads attached. The small size requires care in soldering to the smt, but with 6" long leads, almost anyone can use them without damage to the smt.
Several companies offer them with leads. The picture below shows the red light that has one of the SMT led installed in that small light. A red lens was used and it illuminates the light very well. I made two of the red lens and installed them over each othter to dim down the light.
CZ
Thanks!. Amazing technology!
Bud
Hi Larry,
Great work as usual, since I have 6 of these I was wondering if you could comment more about the install. Specifically, tips on how you did the ditch lights would be great. I haven’t suffered a bulb burn out yet, but its only a matter of time. I haven’t tackled this yet because of the ditch lights but you have inspired me.
Thanks in advance, Derek
How did you attach the small wires coming off of the LED?
I recently installed these into headlight castings for an RS-1.
I purchased the smt led with the wires attached. I would need a electronics magnifyer type eyepiece if I was trying to solder the wires on. They cost more that way but they would be useless to me without wires.
Several vendors sell the smt leds and offer them with wires, which was the only way I could install any of this size.
CZ
Derek
They install like any LED, but are extremely small. Be sure to purchase them wires attached.
Larry
Yeah…that part I understand…I bought mine the same way…what I meant was …what did you do with the wires from the LED`s?
Sorry, I did not get what you meant. The wires go directly to the normal connections for the Tsunami output connections for the lights. The CV allow for either bulbs or leds with the Tsunami so it can do either type.
It is easy if you go to Ulrich page and get the package. The Genesis light card is removed and the new one replaces the Athearn circuit board. The board in the Genesis is for bulbs. If you just installed the Tsunami in a non sound, you could still wire it up without the circuit board, but purchasing this kit is much better. This is the link.
Larry
Life isn’t long enough for me to try attaching those leads to the LED myself. Well worth the expense to have someone who knows what they’re doing and has the right gear to do it for you.
A couple of picky notes. These are also sometimes called SMD or surface mount devices. Half dozen of one, six pack of the other, but don’t let it confuse you. SMT = SMD for most purposes. SMT refers to the technology as a system, SMD refers specifically to the tiny hardware that is what makes it work in your latest hand-held/pad/tablet, whatever.
And don’t forget the resistors when applying those tiny LEDs. Otherwise, they go poof just like their big sisters – and the divorce is more costly.
Here’s an application for structures, an outside lamp fixture. The lamp and arm are from a Walthers billboard sign kit that I drilled out, then used canopy glue to hold the LED into it.
SMD LEDs are surely a modeler’s best friend. I got mine from Ngineering and soldered the magnet wires to them myself. It takes some practice, patience, and time to get the wires soldered on but thankfully I didn’t mess up any LEDs. This was my project, adding head lights and beacons to my Factory Direct Trains Trackmobile. It started out as straight DC so I added a TCS M3 DCC decoder which fits nicely in the model. The bluish color is from the camera capturing the light but in person the LED’s are white, no blue tint to them. I’ll probably paint them to tone down the brightness and make them warm white.
Mike
Very nice building.
Yes, they are called out as SMT and SMD. This extremely small led is really useful and will fit almost any place that can be imagined.
CZ
Those lights really do look good on that track mobile. You have much better eye sight than I do for soldering the leads on to those little leds. I probably could have done that thirty years ago, but found several sources that do it for me.
There are so many uses for this type of led in model railroading.
How does that track mobile work moving cars around the yard? Does it run well?
CZ
My eyes are good but even so a magnifying lens is a must to attach the wires to those tiny leds. The trackmobile can pull 4 of the p2k hoppers in the picture. The running quality is decent but not much can be expected from such tiny motive power.
I would have to believe almost anyone would need to use some magification for the task of attaching wires to one of the SMTs. The ones I purchased are so small they seem to disapear on certain color surfaces without the wires. In the computer industry that I worked in for many years, our techs repairing any current layout board would use the new Electro Micro magifier which displays the work on a large screen. A human hair would show up like a garden hose!
Great. I was wondering how the Track Mobiles run since they would add an interesting addtion to a currec era layout.
thanks
CZ