You wouldn't need the capacitor if it is just feeding an LED.A diode with a filter capacitor to common (or a diode bridge), and a resistor in series with the LED should work.
What's the type of LED and how much current?
I was assuming it would be powered from the AC, and the cap was to eliminate any flicker from the half-wave signal.You wouldn't need the capacitor if it is just feeding an LED.
Most O Gauge trains locomotives run between 8 ~ 10 volts slow and 18 volts is maximum from the transformer. The track voltage is variable. I would just grab the track voltage, rectify and then maybe toss in a 5 Volt regulator so any changes in track voltage would not change how bright your LED is. Either a 5 volt regulator or a 5 volt out buck converter. Both are inexpensive on Amazon or other hobby outlets. This only if the track voltage varies when varying locomotive speed.The track runs at 18VAC. I’d like to place an LED on a box car that runs on 5VDC. Can anyone share a circuit that would do the job?
As far as I know your right about O gauge three rail trains.I was assuming it would be powered from the AC,
The rail voltage does change. The old Lionel power packs were an 120VAC to 0-18VAC variac. Besides the variable AC, there usually was a fixed AC tap for accessories.The only DC train sets I recall were the HO Gauge and back then I recall the power supply being called a power pack. They were about 0 to maybe 15 or 16 VDC since there was no PWM at the time. All of my O gauge stuff was AC powered and I think somewhere in the basement is an old O gauge American Flyer transformer. Anyway when the thread starter returns I would be curious if the rail voltage changes as the train speeds up or slows down?
Ron
That's right. Wow been a few years since my model train days, I wish I still had those trains. Things like switches had a fixed voltage.The rail voltage does change. The old Lionel power packs were an 120VAC to 0-18VAC variac. Besides the variable AC, there usually was a fixed AC tap for accessories.
My boxcar only runs on the outside two rails. It does not touch the center rail. How are you going to get power to it?LED on a box car
Oh yeah, good point.My boxcar only runs on the outside two rails. It does not touch the center rail. How are you going to get power to it?
you simply make a center rail wiper out of some brass spring stock. Or get a replacement part catalog and purchase a center rail wiper. Several Lionel cars use one, such as the searchlight car.Oh yeah, good point.
Ron
That would work. Could likely fabricate something from a wall anchor & bolt with some creativity.you simply make a center rail wiper out of some brass spring stock. Or get a replacement part catalog and purchase a center rail wiper. Several Lionel cars use one, such as the searchlight car.
I don't understand that. If you reverse the wings they are solid, so why not just use the head of a screw? I would think you would want the spring loaded wing to allow so give to go over the track joints, reversing the wings doesn't allow that. Or am I missing something?Reverse it and put some contacts in the wings.
You would probably also need to round off the ends of the wings so it doesn't catch on the joints of the centre rail when travelling backwards.I don't understand that. If you reverse the wings they are solid, so why not just use the head of a screw? I would think you would want the spring loaded wing to allow so give to go over the track joints, reversing the wings doesn't allow that. Or am I missing something?
I seem to remember little rollers so I thought about making small brass rollers. This all short of hacking a part off another part of the train(s). I really don't know but getting creative can be amusing.I don't understand that. If you reverse the wings they are solid, so why not just use the head of a screw? I would think you would want the spring loaded wing to allow so give to go over the track joints, reversing the wings doesn't allow that. Or am I missing something?
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