I just ordered 50 5mm ultra-bright white LEDs (for a different project) for $19.95 from www.batteryspace.com, which, btw, is a great source for NmHi rechargable batteries.
One thing to consider about fitting LEDs into small mounting locations: The source the light from an LED is a semiconductor junction at the back of the device. One could conceivably mount a 3mm LED in a variable-speed electric drill, leads first, and use it as a rudimentary lathe to reduce the front 2/3rds of the barrel of the LED down to the desired diameter. I’m picturing a jewelers file as the cutting tool.
Am looking for LEDs that be could be used for the Class Lights on plastic HO EMD diesels. Would these then, fit the bill? My intent was to drill out the plastic class light holes in Athearns and insert an “White” L.E.D.
For lights smaller than the LEDs I’ve found that it works pretty good to buy the detail associates lenses for the light you want and install the ones with the stem on them, and then just put the LED inside the shell behind the light, making sure to put black electrical tape around the LED or make a holder that blocks the light from escaping in any other direction.
Of course, this doesn’t really work well for lights without much clearance solid area around them or with little clearance behind them.
Check out the nano (VERY SMALL) chip LEDs suitable for Z scale applications at www.ngineering.com. I have used the slightly larger size for detailing buildings.
Could you provide more detail on the drill/lathe concept? Are you saying I could trim down the diameter of the LED to get it to fit into an existing headlight opening? Are you saying that by grinding/sanding down the diameter I would cause harm to the actual LED?
You can’t turn down the back part of the LED where the leads come out. That’s where the semiconductor junction is located the produces the light. The front part, however, is just the lens/lightpipe. That could be turned down to fit a smaller hole, provided you have space behind it to fit the larger diameter body.
If anyone is having trouble with the link to www.batteryspace.com The problem is that the comma became part of the address. When posting links or typing URL’s you have to be careful not to accidently attach punctuation. You can use the prewiew button to test links before posting.
By the way, very nice source. I marked it too.[tup][:)]
i’ve never found any white led’s out there that small joe…most are 5 mm and greater…I bought 20 of them from mouser once and i really don’t have a use for them since they are so big…and plenty expensive at that…might use them in a lighted building someday but for engine lighting…I don’t think so!..Chuck[:D]
I just remembered where i got those yellow LED’s!..it was an LED assortment pack from Radio Shack that i had purchased a few years back…don’t know if they still sell them anymore though…better check my can of parts and hang on to what’s left of them…some of the answers in this forum say that they are hard to find…Chuck[:D]
Yet another good reason why 1.5v bulbs are easier to use than LEDs for headlights in some cases. The miniatronics 1.5v bulbs are 1.2mm in diameter and a #55 drill makes a perfect sized hole for 'em.
But if someone would make a 1.2mm golden white LED, I’d like to give it a try just to see. Can you turn the front half of a 3mm white LED down to 1.2mm? Even if you can, sounds like more work than just using the bulb, since all you have to do is drill and insert the bulb.