Have you added special lighting to your locomotive

[bc6]

Im almost ready to take on a project that requires me to solder wires onto a decoder board. Im looking for any tips, websites, nuggets of advice to assist me.

[Jim Starbuck]

I've done oscillating ditch lights and beacons using leds
Check out n-gineering.com.
There's a section of soldering tips that's very helpful.

[bc6]

I've done oscillating ditch lights and beacons using leds
Check out n-gineering.com.
There's a section of soldering tips that's very helpful.

Thanks for your help.

[TiVoPrince]

TCS
decoders are far more LED friendly.  Side by side with Digitrax they are noticeably smoother for intensity transitions like ditch lights.  Resistors are built in TCS decoders, so that extra bit of agony is avoided...

[Wutter]

+1 for TCS decoders and their onboard resistors

I've found that 38 gauge magnet wire works really well with both 402s and 603s and that flux is a must.

[bc6]

TCS
decoders are far more LED friendly.  Side by side with Digitrax they are noticeably smoother for intensity transitions like ditch lights.  Resistors are built in TCS decoders, so that extra bit of agony is avoided...

Thanks for that, I'll remember that when needing special lights.

[Day One]

I've added separate lightning functions for headlights, number board, and beacons to N scale diesels, plus done a few sound decoder installs.

Link to pics of this engine in a past Weekend Update:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=24141.msg236022#msg236022

My best advice to you about soldering on small components like this is to remember to let the iron do the work. Let it transfer heat to pads and components without putting pressure on the soldering iron. A little dab of fresh solder on your tip will help. Clean your tip on a wet sponge between every joint. Be quick. You want to place the iron, melt the solder, align your pieces, remove the heat (iron), and be done. Too much heat for too long will lift pads off PCB's and damage components.

Good luck.

[bc6]

I've added separate lightning functions for headlights, number board, and beacons to N scale diesels, plus done a few sound decoder installs.

Link to pics of this engine in a past Weekend Update:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=24141.msg236022#msg236022

My best advice to you about soldering on small components like this is to remember to let the iron do the work. Let it transfer heat to pads and components without putting pressure on the soldering iron. A little dab of fresh solder on your tip will help. Clean your tip on a wet sponge between every joint. Be quick. You want to place the iron, melt the solder, align your pieces, remove the heat (iron), and be done. Too much heat for too long will lift pads off PCB's and damage components.

Good luck.

Thats some nice work, thanks for posting it. Hopefully all the items I need to outfit a RDC with strobe lights will show up soon. Also thanks for link and documenting the install with pictures.

[keeper]

I added some lights to my fanatasy Algoma Central E9 push pull unit.







I used SMD LED for the additional lights.

Thomas