Favorite source for pre-wired LEDs? Connectors?

[jagged ben]

I'm going to bite the bullet and start trying to upgrade the headlights in some of my locos, including my FVM GP60Ms.  (gulp)

Looking for recommendations on where to buy pre-wired 402 LEDs. 

In particular I'm interested in reviews of the color.  I'll be using these for modern diesels, so looking for a good 'sunny white' color, but will settle for a good 'golden white' if that's what's available.  (Although for that matter, I may eventually want some 'golden white' for some first and 2nd generation diesels as well.) 

2nd question...
Has anyone found any super-tiny 2-pole plug connectors?  BLI has some really tiny ones in their AC6000CWs for the cab lights.  By tiny I mean like, less than 3mm or so wide.  With like, magnet wire or smaller than 30awg. 

[Jimbo]

I have used LEDBARON (eBay seller from Germany).  Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that he has much listed right now.  Might be worth an email to him to specify what you need.  HINT:  when viewing the store, change “item location” from “default” to “worldwide.”  Otherwise, you’ll only see a handful of listings of chip resistors.

I bought pre-wired 0605 tri-color LEDs from him a while back to use for signals; price was extremely attractive, even including the shipping from Germany.  Quality was top-notch!  (Doesn’t look like he has these pre-wired ones right now, but he is selling the individual LEDs.  He DOES appear to have a few different colors of single-color pre-wired LEDs for sale though.)

I can’t help you on the connectors.

Regards,

Jim

[McKeen]

I source all LED’s from a seller listed as “evemodel” on eBay.
For connectors, I buy 2-Pin Micro Connectors from TCS. SKU:1473 .098x.06x.12 with 32 gauge wire.

[craigolio1]

I’ve used this company before.

Also in Germany. They have presoldered 0201 as well

https://led-am-stiel.de/en/smd-leds-0402a-2/smd-leds-0402-bedrahtet/smd-led-0402-warm-white-10-pieces-pre-wired-detail.html

Craig

[NDave]

I've used these in the headlights and backup lights of my five N-scale steamers: https://store.sbs4dcc.com/SBS4DCC0402SMDWarmWhiteLEDPre-Wired38gaMagnetWire.aspx

Here's an example (note the decoder brightness CV has been adjusted to not blow out the photo! They can be pretty bright at the highest decoder setting!):

On my original install in this particular loco (a Bachmann 4-6-0, but not any others, incl a different Bachmann 4-6-0) using the 1000 Ohm resistor supplied by SBS, the LED blew twice in a years time. I subsequently replaced the 1000 Ohm resistor with two x 1000 Ohm SMD resistors soldered in a series, and it hasn't blown again in 2+ years. As a precaution, I made the same resistor swap (from 1000 Ohm to 2 x 1000 Ohm SMD) in several of my others, as well.

I have used these as two-wire connectors for speakers, headlights, and backup lights in my DCC installs: https://store.sbs4dcc.com/TCS15222-pinMicroConnectorPurpleWires.aspx

I've also bought the 6-pin version, and cut them with a razor blade... I can get (usually) two x 2 pin connectors and a single pin connector from one 6 pin, which cuts the cost a bit: https://store.sbs4dcc.com/TCS14766-pinMicroConnectorBlackandWhite.aspx

[u18b]

I use these.   Very tiny ( 0402) pre-wired LEDs.
They are a dollar each.  But I also like that when you wire up an LED, you cut off excess wire.  I save the wire since it is some of the finest I've seen.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266411299880

I'm guessing Seller probably buys these in bulk from China and then re-sells them.

[jagged ben]

Thanks for the replies.  I ended up ordering for eve_models since I saw they are stocking in California now, and they have some 201s as well.    And they come with resistors, apparently.

It seems like the color is really the same on all of these? 

Will try to post photos of results.

[GM50 4164]

Thanks for the replies.  I ended up ordering for eve_models since I saw they are stocking in California now, and they have some 201s as well.    And they come with resistors, apparently.

It seems like the color is really the same on all of these? 

Will try to post photos of results.

Hey Ben, would you mind sending me the link for the Eve models site. I will be needing some LEDs soon as well.

[jagged ben]

These are the 402s.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/253141727000

You can click on the seller for other options.

They do ship them with resistors, but they're the old standard oblong format so kinda big for use in N scale models.

[ednadolski]

I just had to order some of the 0201s, to see in-person how small they are 

Ed

[jagged ben]

You can't see how small they are!  That's the point!   

Seriously my current line of effort is using the 201s in the FVM GP60M ditch light moldings because they are small enough I can also get some electrical tape in there to cut down the light leak.  Still in progress but I think it will work.  Broke a lead off the first one I tried though.

[GM50 4164]

You can't see how small they are!  That's the point!   

Seriously my current line of effort is using the 201s in the FVM GP60M ditch light moldings because they are small enough I can also get some electrical tape in there to cut down the light leak.  Still in progress but I think it will work.  Broke a lead off the first one I tried though.

Paint the inside of the ditchlight housing with silver paint. You can also paint the outside silver and then go back and paint over the silver with the color needed for the housings.

[peteski]

I agree that electrical tape is rather thick for this application. Multiple layers of black and/or silver paint should work well.   That is how I deal with light leaks in my LED installs.

Actually, what I would do is to fist put a drop of liquid masking fluid (Elmers glue will work) over the front side of the LED.  Then dip the pre-wired LED in black paint.  It will take multiple dippings/dryings to seal the sharp edges.  Make sure to let the paint dry after each dip in the paint. After each dipping connect the LED to a power source (like a 9V battery with a series 1K resistor) to check for light leaks.  Few dipping/drying cycles should be sufficient.  Then just scrape the mask from the front of the LED, and install it in the housing.

[jagged ben]

Not sure how I would paint the back and sides of the ditchlight housings while avoiding painting the lens, or more importantly how I would undo that error if I failed to avoid it.   The electrical tape is working pretty good and will be combined with paint on the outside. 

The 201 is really small to try to get a mask on only the front of it. 

But thanks for the ideas.

[Jim Starbuck]

I have a silver paint pen that I touch to the sides of the LED. Some paint usually slops over to the face but scrapes off easily when dry.