New question: can an LED be wired directly from DCC track power (asuming a curent limiter) as a power to track indicator?
RicZ
Yes but you should either use a bi-color LED or hook an ordinary 1N4001 diode anti-parallel to the LED to protect it from excessive reverse voltage.
–Randy
Scroll down about three quarters of the way. Loads of good info.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/gorhlite.htm
Rich
Thanks, guys. I guess I missed that section. RicZ
I wired 1 Amp diode bridge rectifiers to the track using their AC input contacts. Then the DC output goes through a 1K Ohm resistor to 3mm green LEDs mounted on the layout. If something derails or otherwise causes a PSX-AR to trip, a quick glance at the LEDs shows us which train is at fault.
Randy, when you state anti-parallel, do you mean cathode to anode in series with a resistor like this?
RicZ
Flip D around. It can go there, or you can connect the anode of D to the cathode of LED, and the cathode of D to the anode of LED.
Like this:
Except D1 would be a 1N4001 instead of a green LED. As shown, it’s essential the internal circuit of a bi-color 2 lead LED.
–Randy
Got it, thanks for the clarification.
RicZ