DYI Single LED Headlamp for Engines
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Dale H
Joined: Sep 25, 2010
Topics: 32 Replies: 39
Topics: 32
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Pre made LED circuits are available, made up by various vendors. Here is how you can make your own with a little careful soldering and some shrink tubing. Here are the components. With a 1200 ohm half watt resistor and no capacitor you pretty much have the commercial pre made circuit. This circuit will work but in conventional will vary in brightness between 5 and 18 volts. If the CL2-n3 current regulator chip is used it takes the place of the resistor and will yield constant voltage lighting. It is good for command or conventional. It also eliminates the need for resistor calculation and will work with any 20 ma LED. The optional capacitor is 100uf 35 volts but a bigger one can be used ,space allowing. Cost is about $2 for components.
After the LED leads are shortened,the red wire is soldered to the + of the LED,the green wire to the -. Tin the #26 wires first then tack on.
Next the leads are insulated with shrink tubing.
The other components are soldered and shrink tubing is used when necessary in the same fashion. The dummy middle lead of the CL2-n3 chip is removed.
The component leads are fragile,do not bend. A final shrink tubing or tape is applied to protect the assembly.
The 3mm fits into headlight assemblies in most cases. a little clear silcone will glue it in place.
Further use of the CL2n3 chip circuit for buildings and passenger car lighting is on my blog.
DCS users,if using the capacitor add a 22 uh choke in series to 1 of the AC in leads.
Dale H
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TRAINS4U2C2
Joined: Oct 4, 2009
Topics: 43 Replies: 71
Topics: 43
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Thanks Dale, This is some good info, your drawings and pictures really help understand it.
Doug
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Chris K
Joined: Aug 13, 2013
Topics: 0 Replies: 1
Topics: 0
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Dale,
I have 2 questions to this wonder diagram!
1.)Do you happen to have a part number for the bridge Rectifier?
2.) And where exactly would the 22uh choke before the Bridge rectifier on one of the leads?
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Dale H
Joined: Sep 25, 2010
Topics: 32 Replies: 39
Topics: 32
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Dale H
Joined: Sep 25, 2010
Topics: 32 Replies: 39
Topics: 32
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Dont know the part number off hand,i get them from Allelectronics.com for 50 cents each. radio Shack has them in their parts drawer. Any small bridge rectifier is OK. The choke can be placed in series with either lead of the AC feed to the rectifier. The terminals are marked usually with a ~ The choke is needed only for DCS users
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