I was wondering if the LED’s used in Christmas lights that are found at Wal-Mart, etc. could be used in a lighting source for HO Locomotives by means of fiber optic strands?
Short answer: Yes.
All the white ones I’ve seen are too blue. They are flat on the end and don’t really produce light out the end. Just the sides.(the ones I’ve seen at least)
I found a string of battery powered flashing ones that are about 1.8mm. I sprayed them red and with the flasher, they will work great for crossing signals. Got them at Hobby Lobby for around $6.
That’s probably because the “white” LEDs are really blue ones with what I believe is a special phosphorous coating.
I’ve ran into that with LED emergency lights when installing them. Due to restrictions in VT, Fire and EMS cannot use blue, but some of the “white” LEDs don’t have enough of the coating to avoid looking “blue”.
if you can get the strings of LED Christmas lights that have two AA batteries, the LED’s are 3 volts. It’s a cheap sorce of 3V LED’s especially in the post Christmas clearance sales.
The GE Watt-Miser LED C-5 lights “soft white” are perfect for train headlamps. They have a very bright nice soft-golden glow to them. They are 3mm once you strip off the plastic C-5 cover.
I found them at King Soopers/Kroger Grocery stores. 50 lamps for $9.99. I got the last three boxes at my local store.
For control panels I found red 5mm LEDs at Big Lots. It is a generic brand made specifically for Big Lots. 100 lamps for $10.