The Lighting of THE Yard Lights

mtntrainman Dec 18, 2019

  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    MK....there are actually 9 yard lights...2 are out of the picture....to the right. The last light pole is at the turntable. The plan....for now...is to have 10 lights total in Lucky Penny Yard :D
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2019
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  2. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Way too cool my friend!
     
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  3. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    You can usually find those small mirrors in the doll house stuff at Hobby Lobby or Michaels, if there is one near you.

    C
     
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  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Going to check for the mirrors at walmart supercenter...in their craft section. If none there...will add the amazon ones onto wifes next order...she has free shipping..(y)
     
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  5. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ordered some LEDS and related accessories today. I hope to have them by the 2nd or 3rd. :D:D:D
     
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  6. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    George,

    I am not trying to take your thunder but I just could not resist trying your idea. I found it difficult to drill a hole for the pole and LED so I used an old soldering iron with a very bad shape pencil tip. I used plastic tubing and only placed a piece of black tape on top. This is a TCS Sunny White 3v LED. You can see the 3v battery clamped with the clothespin. The pole is scale 30' but most likely should be taller. Oh well, this was just a test. Pretty bright but I think a mirror on top would help reflect light downwards.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    With 9 of these shining down on Lucky Penny Yard it should look real cool.

    Best for your New Year,
    Carl
     
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  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I like it Carl ! :cool: Another 'Proof of Concept' (y)(y)

    I ordered a Pico LED and a NANO. I will see which ones fit the tubing and shine the best. :whistle:

    With the holidays my order is 2 weeks behind what I planned. Shipping shows Thursday for delivery :D

    Happy New Year to you too sir (y):cool::coffee::coffee:
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2020
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  8. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Hey mtntrainman, I can't wait to see your results. Glad you got your order in before Chinese New Year else you will be waiting an additional 3 weeks! :mad:
     
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  9. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Received the order of parts for Lucky Penny Yard Lights...:D.

    [​IMG]

    I will see which of the LEDS works best. Nano LED or the Pico LED...before I order 10 more. :whistle:

    Its 32 degrees outside...so I am sure THERR RV is much colder. THE Wife says I can work at the dining room table. She also says if I make any permanant damage to her table...I will be sleeping out in THERR RV the rest of the winter...:eek:o_O:confused:

    Time to get to work. (y)
     
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  10. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    You can almost feel the excitement building. While it's going to be cool to see which works best, do us all a favor and don't end up sleeping in THERR RV. :D:p
     
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  11. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....:mad:

    It seems the power supply is shorted ! I called the etailer. We went trought testing it. its shorted ! :cry: He is sending me a new power supply...no cost. since I checked the LEDS to the tube fit...the PICOS fit perfect (y) I ordered 10 more...to be shipped with the new power supply :D Should be here Monday.

    THE Wife took some pics of the assembly as I went along. Let me get them off the phone and will post them here.

    Stay tuned....:)
     
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  12. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Hate to tell you this but it's only a ruse to document any marks left on the table!
     
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  13. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...genius at work...LMAO !!! :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

    [​IMG]

    Using 'liquid electrical tape' to insulate the PICO LED from trhe brass tube...:cool:

    [​IMG]


    Caught the light between flashes...
    [​IMG]

    I Have decided to go with The NANO LEDS. These PICO's are just a tad dimmer then what I want...hmmmmmm

    Ordered the NANO's and they should be here Monday with the new power supply. I hate waiting...I am NOT one who likes to wait...grrrrrrrr. :mad:
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2020
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  14. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    mtntrainman, I'm sorry but when I saw that picture of you at the table this is what went through my mind.

    Super genius at work
    mtn.JPG
     
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  15. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    How would you like to build about 30 of those for me? Name your price George!
     
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  16. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Looking good! You may be able to use those pico lights elsewhere. I like to use them for porch lights... plenty bright for that application IMO.
     
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  17. catfan

    catfan TrainBoard Member

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    George..Surely you have an old DC throttle you can use in the meantime?
     
  18. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hey Mark....thanks. But...the power supply for the LEDs is a 3 volt regulated power supply. It stops power spikes that could kill the LEDs. I'll just wait till the new one get here. (y)
     
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  19. catfan

    catfan TrainBoard Member

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    Here is thought moving forward. Take an old DC power pack and use a multimeter to determine 3 VDC.

    Use another to set at 5VDC..Again at 12VDC.

    I use the Kato set power packs but any one will do.

    Once you get the voltages set for each..mark the face of the transformer at the voltage and tape it down with some painters tape to secure.

    The Kato power pack has an output of 1.5 amps.

    If you search https://lighthouseleds.com/ Most of these only take 20mA.

    I'm sure some electrical engineer that is better than me with Ohm's law can figure out how many lights you could run on one circuit...Probably way more than you need in the Lucky Penny Yard.

    JMHO
     
  20. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    The replacement power supply showed up. Here is a picture of the one light setting on my desk. No lights on anywhere...even the TV and monitor where off ! My digital camera adjusted for the low light in the room...LOL

    [​IMG]
     
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