Not happy with lighting

[soo]

After seeing other modelers using pre wired LED's to improve lighting in locos. I would like to do the same.
1. Where do I get the pre wired Led's?
2. What size would be needed?
3. Am I crazy for trying this??

I am shooting for independent control of headlights from number board lights.

Any interweb resources on this subject?
Thank you for any help.
Wyatt

[Jbub]

After seeing other modelers using pre wired LED's to improve lighting in locos. I would like to do the same.
1. Where do I get the pre wired Led's?
2. What size would be needed?
3. Am I crazy for trying this??

I am shooting for independent control of headlights from number board lights.

Any interweb resources on this subject?
Thank you for any help.
Wyatt

I get them from eBay, way less expensive than getting them from most vendors. They do come from China for the most part so buyer beware of quality. Sizes to look for from smallest to bigger 0402, 0603, 0805 and 1206. The 0402's are super tiny and I'm not sure how they actually solder them, it's amazing how bright they are with a 9v battery and a 1k ohm resistor. The problem I can see with pre wired is the wire size. Although it is a small gauge, magnet wire is still smaller and can fit in more places.

[peteski]

After seeing other modelers using pre wired LED's to improve lighting in locos. I would like to do the same.
1. Where do I get the pre wired Led's?
2. What size would be needed?
3. Am I crazy for trying this??

I am shooting for independent control of headlights from number board lights.

Any interweb resources on this subject?
Thank you for any help.
Wyatt

1. eBay is probably the easiest and chepest. You want SMD (Surface Mount Device) size 0402 (dimensions 0.040" x 0.020"), 0603 (0.060" x 0.030") or 0805 (as you probably guessed 0.080" x 0.050") are the most common sizes used in N scale.  There are several Chinese sellers selling these LEDs cheap!.   Just go to eBay and search for "wired SMD 0603 warm white LED" (without the quotes). Or search for the other sizes if that is what you want.  You might also try to substitute the word "wired" with "prewired" or "leads", or just skip the word "wired" in the search and see what pops up.  There are model RR companies that sell these too, but for much higher prices.  If you want to go that route try http://richmondcontrols.com/ or http://www.ngineering.com/. Miniatronics might also have these available. Make sure to use current limiting resistors (1000 ohms or 1k ohm) in series with the LED.

2. Answered above.

3. Not sure. I do this all the time so maybe I'm just crazy.  Others do this too (there are posts in this forum documenting those installs).  Maybe we all are just a little crazy!   
If you feel comfortable soldering small wires (and have a decent, hopefully temperature-adjustable soldering iron with a fine tip) then you should be able to handle this task.

[RBrodzinsky]

I have been buying mine from the Chanzon store on Amazon. Just search Chanzon SMD on Amazon. They ship from the US, so come quickly. Average about 7 cents a piece.

To solder these really small guys, you also need some good soldering clamps (third hands) and a very steady hand. Two tools I find indispensable come from Ngineering.  http://ngineering.com/other_cool_tools.htm  The “intelligent LED tester” and the “LED/wire Holder”. Tim has some good tutorials on his site, as well.

And, of course, an Optivisor.

[soo]

Thanks for all the info guys.
Should the 1k ohm resistor be smd?
So far today..I ordered soberton speakers..enclosures from shapeways..so lets just make it a trifecta and order all the stuff needed for lighting.
Thanks again.
Wyatt

[AKNscale]

I get my prewired 0603 smd LEDs from SBS4dcc. Not the cheapest option but they even come with the resistor. 0603s should do the trick.

[peteski]

Thanks for all the info guys.
Should the 1k ohm resistor be smd?

SMD resistors will take up the least amount of room in the model, so if you can solder small items then yes, use them by all means. All SMD components use the same nomenclature for indicating size. I would use 0805 or 1206 size 1k resistors (they will have adequate power dissipation rating not to get hot).  Resistors are probably the most durable SMD components, so there is very little chance of you damaging them.  You can solder wires directly to the metal terminals then either encase them in few layers of liquid masking tape or a piece of heat-shrink tubing.  Or you can take this to the next level and use custom made PC board holder for those resistors like it is shown in Rick's thread: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=43507