Good morning! Hope this is the right place for this question (it isn't about dcc). Bear in mind that I know very little about electronics. I have a number of buildings that I am in the process of lighting on my layout. The bulbs are all small, and listed as "12-16 volts/amps" for ac current. These are just fine as is for the larger buildings, but are too bright for the smaller structures...think 'soft glow' rathern than searchlight brightness. How do I reduce the brightness electrically? (I think I will be told to wire in a resistor, but..... what value? I know the color bands on the resistor body indicates its value, but how do I decode that? And where does the resistor get wired in? Does it matter which wire of the lamp the resistor is connected to? ) I am going to have a ac buss wire that each of the lamps will be connected to, if that changes things any. Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Before you get into resistors try wiring two bulbs in series (so wiring goes from power supply into bulb 1 (via switch if required), then from the other side of bulb 1 into bulb 2, and then from the other side of bulb 2 back to the power supply). The result will likely be too dim or yellow for you. But it's easy (and cheap) to try out and if it is OK then it saves a lot of hassle with resistors, etc.
I have all the buildings on my layout lit. When I want softer lights I wire to the DC side of a power supply. That way I can adjust the light brightness. I also run them through an Atlas selector so I can turn each one off if I so desire. It works great as far as I am concerned. You might want to check out Bill's Railroad Empire, at billsrailroad.net. He has a whole section on how to wire buildings for the layout. I use miniature Christmas tree lights. I can vary the color in the building by changing bulbs. Bill
Bookbear 1.... I have not had a problem with either burning out. Because of the low voltage they last a long time. I do make sure I can get to the bulbs to change them if need be. Bill
