I just recently installed a Tsunami into an older run Kato. I also added ditch lights on the porch with Details West DL-360's. My problem is the light hues don't match. Is it possible to take off the Tsunami LED and run incandescent bulbs on the board in it's place? I have video of my 2 Tsunami installs (Kato, Athearn RTR) on my Youtube account.
I very much doubt it. Bulbs and DCC are not a great mix. However LEDs have come a long way, and I'm sure you can get the hue you want. Take a look at this thread LEDs for lights - TrainBoard.com and scroll down to find a chart showing the correct LED to simulate a particular type of light.
Not sure what scale you are workin in? In HO I think that you could change the LED to get a match. Are your ditch lights LED's or bulbs ? What voltage if bulbs?
Sorry, I'm working with ho scale. My ditch lights are 3v bulbs. I have an idea for matching the headlights and ditch lights. I'm going to wire 2 bulbs to my Tsunami's F6 function and then run them to the headlight area. I'm then going to adjust CV 33 for Function 0 (headlight) to 33. The default setting is 1 for headlight, adding 32 to also control Function 6. This way I can turn on the headlights and ditch lights separate. Otherwise I would just wire them to Function 5 as well seeing how SP didn't alternate their ditch lights at crossings. Now I have to figure out what to do with the led, possibly tape over it or somehow light up the cab.
If you are using the TSU-KT-1000 decoder you could replace the LED with a bulb- there is a resistor on the board for the LED's so you might need to add a resistor to control the volts to the new bulb. Where are you now powering up the ditch lights from? With 3 volt bulbs do you have resistors in line- bulbs in series ?
I left the LED alone as it doesn't light anything inside the shell with light tubes. I used the 3v bulbs, that came with Details West DL-360, wired to F5 for ditch lights and 1.5v bulbs to F6 for head lights. I am using no resistors on any bulbs, I believe the Tsunami handles all of that for me.
I guess that I don't understand. The LED on the board should light up the light pipes. If you are using 3 volt bulbs and running them off the positive pad and the F5 or F6 pad you are putting 12 volts to these. Not sure where you are getting the power for your lights. I am suprised that you have not blown the 1.5 volt bulb out. If you are happy with what you have and it works that is all that matters.