What light bulbs do you use?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

What light bulbs do you use, and where can I get some. I need some for my P2K Gp30.

thanks,
dekruif

2

dekruif,

I get my layout lighting from Miniatronics directly. I really like their product.

Tom

3

I use Miniatronics for replacement bulbs that must be grain-of-rice or smaller, and All Electronics for bulbs that can be grain-of-wheat or slightly larger. All has bulbs rated at 14 Volts @ 45 mA with 10 inch leads that they list as being T-1 (3mm) size. These bulbs are good for building interiors and some locomotive uses.

Miniatronics bulbs are sold by most local hobby shops and you can order directly from them.

http://www.allelectronics.com Catalog item LP-6 priced at 2 for $1.50.

4

I use none, I use LEDs for repalcements.

My road/era does not ahve ditch lights or any other flashing things so the LEDs work just great. Since my diesels are all firts gen, I use golden-whites. The Miniatronics Yelo-Glo work well and are among the cheapest, since I get 20% off at the LHS. Empire Northern also sells nice golden-whites that come with 1K resistors for a good price. The Miniatronics come with a 470 or 560 ohm resistors, too small for DCC use, so stock up on 1K’s also if you use DCC.

–Randy

5

Willl this bulb work?
http://www.miniatronics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=18-014-20&Category_Code=1_1&Product_Count=6[](http://www.miniatronics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=1_1)

thanks,
dekruif

6

dek:

The answer is – it depends. (Don’t you just love that answer? [B)] )

If you are replacing interior bulbs that wire to the circuit board, then yes, those ought to work.

But if you do like I do and replace the plastic insert housing with two tiny bulbs wired in series directly to the decoder function leads, then you will need Miniatronics’ smaller 1.2mm bulbs. I prefer these bulbs.

Since I like to have gyralight effects on my SP diesels, I find incandescent bulbs create a more realistic moving light effect than LEDs do. If you use these small 1.5V bulbs, you will need to use resistors to drop the voltage so you don’t burn out the bulbs.

The TCS decoder manual has a great section in it on using all kinds of bulbs and LEDs for loco lighting, with resistor charts and the whole nine yards. You can download one here. See page 3.

I’ve posted a thread with a link to a video clip showing the gyralights in action, along with a sound decoder … sort of the ultimate in loco sound and looks. You can find the thread here.

7

I’m just gonna hook them up to the circuit board.

Thanks,

dekruif