The Lighting of THE Yard Lights

mtntrainman Dec 18, 2019

  1. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    How tall are these lights? You maybe able to lower them and thereby increase the brightness. There is an inverse proportion between the brightness and the area illuminated. I don't know how tall typical yard lights are. I would imagine they vary with the location but light poles back in the incandescent age were probably shorter that ones erected today. I would guess about 70-80 feet or so. That scales out to 5 1/4 to 6 inches in N scale. One hundred feet would scale out to 7 1/2 inches high. While doing some research on this I came across this piece of information. 'Back in the day' yards were not well lit because workers had to be able to observe lantern signals.
     
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  2. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi George,

    Love it, looking good!

    I have been married, to the same lady, for 57 years now and I purchased this hat to remind me that she let's me think so. The translation is "I'm the boss". Yeah, right. Oh well, what the heck, it's been a good life. I did learn a long time ago not to argue with the real "JEFE".

    [​IMG]

    At any rate, carry on, ya'll are doing a great job.
    Carl
     
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  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    They are 6 inches...or...a scale 80 foot tall. When I first put them in...with bamboo scewers..I had drilled the 1/8" holes thru the plywood. I was able to experiment with different heights. The 6 inch height just looked right. Did some research and found 80' for a modern yard is normal. I understand massive yards may have taller lights. Lucky Penny Yard is only 8 tracks total.
     
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  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Carl. Seriously not sure I could have figured out the LEDs without your help. (y)(y)
     
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  5. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I received my 1" mirrors to use as reflectors on top of the yard lights. Didnt like the look. :(Overhang was 1/4 inch on all sides. Thats roughly 40 inches 1:1. :eek: It looked odd at best. o_O

    I went to Walmart and bought a roll of 'Aluminum Foil Tape, Aluminum Air Duct Tape'. while not a mirror finish it is pretty refelective.

    I removed my original 3/4 inch square reflectors and stuck the tape...real stcky stuff...to the bottom of the reflectors and glued them back on top of the lights. There is a marked inprovement on the amount of light now shining down under the lights !(y)(y)

    I am hoping to get them installed on the layout soon. I will try to get under the layout myself to wire things up. If I cant...I will wait until my son visits again...hopefully soon. :whistle:

    .
     
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  6. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Just so you know, I have seen the Roseville and the Port of Oakland yards at dusk and dark, and the lighting is not all that bright.
     
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  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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  8. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi George,

    Looking good dude! Here is an image of the test lamp I made a while ago. The top cap is a mirror. You can see the mirror reflection on the faux marble work table in the one shot. The other shot from above you can see a small bleed through of the light from a hole in the mirror backing, that can be fixed easily enough with silver or black paint. BTW, I think this would be even brighter but my 2032 batt is getting weaker.

    These mirrors I have are .5" square. If you would like to try them, PM me your address, and I will send you 1/2 dozen just because you are THEMAN.

    Carl
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  9. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    One lesson learned...

    Bend the NANO LED leads at the top so the LEDs face UP. If they are left vertical...you will only get bright light on the sides the LEDs face ...:(

    On the vertical it still lights the whole light...just a bit dimmer...:whistle:
     
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  10. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    As usually happens..as soon as I say I might just wait until my son shows back up in town...BAM ! Here he is ! :LOL: He is a well driller and the drilling company he works for is working at the copper mine in Morenci Az and he hasnt had a day off in over a month...so he is off work for a week now :D. He has agreed to help me putting in the yard lights...:cool::cool:
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2020
  11. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    What could be better than a father / son combo? ? ?
     
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  12. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Well George, you better not post any of the photos or the yard workers from Roseville and Oakland may bee applying to work at Belen Yard!
     
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  13. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    LOL....The lights in Lucky Penny Yard wont be all that bright. I dont wanna have to wear my sunglasses when I look at it. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::cool:
     
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  14. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    LUCKY PENNY YARD IS LIT !!!!!!

    Today we 'planted' the lights and set them all to the same height...

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    Then my son..the contortionist...got his arms under the layout and wired them up to the 3V buss we put in....

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    FINALLY..@ 7:20 PM on 01.24.20
    We threw the switch turning off the overhead lights in THERR RV and....

    [​IMG]

    LUCKY PENNY YARD IS LIT !!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2020
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  15. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Looks great! (y)(y)(y)
     
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  16. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Taken from 'Jeans Valley'...across the aisle...:D:D:D:D

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    .
     
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  17. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Oh my! That is awesome! (y)

    Now you can do some "romantic" railroading in the dark! ;)
     
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  18. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Went out to THERR RV after dinner. Rerailed all the cars we knocked over putting in the lights ...LOL. I shot a few pics from the north side of the yard at night...

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    under the new yard lights !.

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    :love::love::love:
     
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  19. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Put some locos in the distance and turn on all their headlights! If you have lighted passenger trains even better! Then take the picture. :)
     
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  20. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Belen NM at night.

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    I'm thinking the amount of light in a 1:1 yard and Lucky Penny Yard are pretty close...JS :whistle::whistle:

    [​IMG]

    .
     
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