I currently have Easy Peasy but I’m not happy with them for a number of reasons.
What do you recommend, and what options are more affordable than others?
Looking for something generic and not brand-specific.
I just go with parts. I found out that I get the best results using wide angle 3mm warm white LEDs. I close space them for even lighting, 8 to 10 LEDs per car.
Early on I used a pair of #26 bare wire as a buss tacked to the roof, one on each side. I solder one lead for the LED to one buss the other lead to the other buss using a 4.7KΩ ⅛ watt resistor in series.
About two years ago I tried using ⅛” wide copper foil tape. I tack solder one lead of the LED to one strip and a resistor in series with the other lead to the other copper strip.
I power all my passenger cars from a 4 volt source and use a 4.7KΩ ⅛ watt resistor.
The 4.7KΩ resistor operates the LED at .4ma each which I have found gives the most realistic light. The average 72’ car has 8 to 10 wide angle LEDs. Ten LEDs operating a .4 = 4ma per car. 4ma can be a bit to bright for realisms so I use a 2KΩ pot in
Are you using DC or DCC?
I use some peel and stick LEDs. There were a few threads in the past covering the topic:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/p/267418/3027730.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/272907/3105415.aspx
Maybe Ed (gmpullman) will chime in.