Light issue with new Athearn SD70Ace is there and LED solution?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Sadly we have already had a burn out on one of the ditch lights from one of the new Athearn SD70ACe locomotives. I have contacted Athearn for a replacement lamp but curious if anyone has come up with an LED solution for these lamps? Much as I appreciate Athearns reasoning for using lamps and not LED’s the short life of these lamps just out weighs and benefit from the look.

2

Yes there is one, expensive around $70, but it comes with some electronics.

I will try to locate the link and post it.

3

Glad I am not the only one with the same problem. One of my ditch lights was not working right out the box… aggrevating but not worth the hassle of returning the train for repair. Looking forward to some ideas to make it a permanent fix

4

Here is the link Simon.

http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/StoreFront

5

Seems to be a on going problem…

Will any of these help?

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/475-10022001

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=LEM&scale=H&manu=&item=&keywords=leds&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search

6

I had the same thing with a Genesis SD70, this one came with both ditch light toasted right out of the box.

7

You have got to be kidding me right? Good lord, first the speaker issues, now the lights blow out. That’s unacceptable, why didn’t they put LEDs in them like everybody else has been doing?

Good thing I never even bought any, I’m waiting for MTH to release their comfort cabs.

8

That light problem with Athearn is not new but they will not use led period.

Now everything is not pure joy with MTH, the only one I have a SD70 ACe and the last one I will ever purchase had a few problems right out of the box. Handrails that wont stay put in their stanchions, stanchions that are out of plumb, missing grab iron on the top of the long hood, removing the shell to install a decoder is nothing but a nightmare, and lastly the DCC ready loco will overheat every decoders I installed so far and has already toasted an NCE decoder.

9

hey, thanks very much for the tips, talk about detailed information for the problem at hand. The Ulrich documentation is excellent and really illustrates the issue that I am up against. To be fair, Athearn has already responded to my email and are sending replacement bulbs, though I think if I am going to go to the trouble of replacing them I may as well go the LED route.