LEDs as model structure lights

[basementcalling]

I want to start adding lighting effects to my paper mill buildings, so back in September I bought an LED starter kit from Ngineering and Microluminata. Obviously the larger LEDs what come with the kit are suitable only for interior lighting, but what about using mini or micro surface mount LEDs to model fixtures on the outside of buildings?

Anyone doing so have ideas and resources to share? I'm particularly interested in lights for over top of exterior doors or in areas where plant equipment needs to be lit for night access and use.

[carlso]

Peter,
To answer your question by saying yes. Here is a picture of an N scale refinery.



These are called Pico size LED's, smallest I have seen. They are 3 volt and operate (as  many as 50) off of one regulated 3 volt wallwart.

I have no interest in the sale of these by any vendor so check out ( http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/ ). These folks are excellent to do business with, check out all his LEd's.

You might try Mike and Robin Fifer as I know they had some of their items in stock at one time. Richmond Controls may have something comparable as well

I hope thre is some helpful info here for you.

Always, have fun!

Carl

[C855B]

You might take another look at what Ngineering has to offer: http://ngineering.com/lampshade_photos.htm

Between his tubing, nano LEDs and stamped lampshades you should be able to do some great industrial fixtures.

[peteski]

I like to add that using LEDs is a bit different than the old incandescent bulbs.

Instead of just using a 3V power supply and hooking up LEDs just like bulbs I highly recommend using a higher voltage supply (6 or 12 Volts) with current limiting resistors for each LED (or each chain of series-connected LEDs). Not only that is safer way to operate LEDS, you can easily control the brightness of individual LEDs simply by changing the resistor value.  Resistors are dirt-cheap and do not add much complexity but they give you the flexibility of fine-tuning the scene.