Older Kato, Atlas/Kato, 77A Light Boards

[professor_cassidy]

Does anyone make a direct replacement bright light board that replaces the 77A light boards used in older (1990’s) Kato and Atlas/Kato locomotives?  I have lots of SD40’s, SD45’s, GP30’s, GP35’s, etc. that I wish had brighter headlights.  The 77A’s are a 2 piece design with a separate light board for each end of the engine.  Any info would be appreciated.
 

[pedro]

It’s been many years, but in the past I had good experiences with Richmond Controls lighting replacements. They aren’t cheap, but they are a significant upgrade over the factory boards. Pre-DCC it was THE route to go for mars, gyra and strobe lighting.

www.richmondcontrols.com

[JMaurer1]

Can't you just lower the resistance of the dropping resistor and get a brighter output?

[professor_cassidy]

Anything beyond a direct plug in replacement is more than I am capable of.
 

[Missaberoad]

Desolder the old LEDs and replace with bright (white) ones?

Edit: Ah just read your last post after I hit send... What was the most recent Atlas model with the old light boards, did they have brighter LEDs? GP9 or GP30/35

[professor_cassidy]

The old 77A light boards just have a bulb and some little doohickey on the board.  Newer one piece light boards in Kato and Atlas
locomotives have either a bulb or weird LED thing and lots of little doohickeys on each end of the board.  Glad all my locomotives
are DC.  DCC boards would probably make my head explode!

 

[Missaberoad]

https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-3407-n-headlight-pcb-with-white-led.aspx

https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-1805-n-pc-board-for-gp-7-9-headlights-g-w.aspx

In stock at Atlas. Not sure if it would fit without modification...

[Missaberoad]

I did a quick test with a Kato GP35 and both the RS1 and GP9 Lightboards fit and work... They are different tho and would require some modification to the board or frame to fit perfectly...

My 2003 production gp35s have golden white leds and two piece lightboards... the part number is 470009 unfortunately the same number for the dcc ready board...

Maybe try asking Atlas if they have any...

[GM50 4164]

Does anyone make a direct replacement bright light board that replaces the 77A light boards used in older (1990’s) Kato and Atlas/Kato locomotives?  I have lots of SD40’s, SD45’s, GP30’s, GP35’s, etc. that I wish had brighter headlights.  The 77A’s are a 2 piece design with a separate light board for each end of the engine.  Any info would be appreciated.
 

If you would like, I can replace the LEDs for you. I do this to my own equipment along with others when I do DCC installs. Send me a direct message and I can send you a few photos to show you.

Benjamin