I was recently told by my LHS that since I am running DCC that all the old passenger lighting kits by KATO (I believe it is #206 series kits?) will over heat and melt the cars. Is this true and if so what can I do to correct this problem? Thank you
kato now has lighting kits specially made for DCC systems. Try those. They do the job and the bulbs don't burn out. Stay cool and run steam......
Hi Bob, Since I already have a load of the old light sets is there anyway I can modify them? I have a lot of these kits already installed and I'm trying to cut down the expense by not buying new DCC sets.
I wonder if putting a diode in series with each light board would be enough. I will ask around. A resistor of the right value would cut the voltage to the board but then it would get hot. Replacing each bulb with a 16 volt bulb may work too.
Russell, That's what I was hoping might be possible, replacing the bulb and what would be the cost. Do you know for a fact that the present bulb in the old KATO light sets will melt the car shell?
Yes, the track voltage for DCC is much higher than the voltage rating on the light bulbs in the old Kato light kits. For the engine, the decoder only supplies what is needed to the motor for whatever speed you want but the main supply voltage is always there powering the lights in the cars. You could put a decoder in each car but that is way overkill. The new light kits use LEDs which are current dependant and don't really care what voltage there is withing a wide range.
Richmond Controls (http://www.richmondcontrols.com/)has what you want, the EZ54 LIGHT MODULE FOR KATO N SCALE PASSENGER CARS, RDCs AND CABOOSES Click on the Kato Light Module link on the left. I did a couple Kato caboose this way and they worked nicely.
Doug, Thanks for the website. Since you've ordered from them I have a question. They give the prices per module, is that just one light? The price of one module was $12.00 plus shipping, a six module set is $60.00 plus shipping. I looked up the cost of the KATO 11-210 six pack light set (which I think is the new DCC lighting set) and it's 34.99. If there is more than one light in the module from Richmond controls, hopefully six, that would be great. Again thanks for the info.
Yes the prices are higher than the Kato sets, but at the time I did my cabooses, Kato only had DC lights, and since I'm electronically challenged, I found it easy to justify. I just pulled out the old light/board and plugged in the new one. The Kato set sounds like a better deal now though.
Bernard: The new Kato DCC light boards for their passenger cars is the cheapest way to go in the long run. Stay cool and run steam.....
Hi Bob, Yes it does look like that is the cheapest way to go with the new KATO DCC light boards. Now I have about 100 of the old KATO DC light boards to get rid of, oh well. Thanks
