Hello I'm looking for tiny LED to replace the stock ones in my Kato P42 Genesis Would those one work (in pure white): https://www.amazon.com/Pre-soldered...5d444&pd_rd_wg=DM61a&pd_rd_i=B07P5MYG1X&psc=1 Or should I look for something different? Thanks
I've gotten those and .... .... used them with good results. I use the warm white but the color can be a personal preference. I've use the 0603 but like shown above have used the 0402. The 0402's ( HERE ) are plenty bright and might fit into some places the 0603 might not. I wouldn't want to have to actually solder a 0402 onto anything but since it comes with the wires it is as easy to use as the larger ones. If I have to solder the resistor or LED myself I stay with the ones larger that the 0603's as shown above but some do hand solder the smaller ones. https://www.ngineering.com/ has some nice solder aids that I've used and also made some that are similar. Have you got a resistor picked out to use in the circuit? Sumner
The 2 actual LEDs are soldered directly on the decoder (Digitrax) so I assume a resistor is already included....Thus I'm not planning to add a resistor
Yes if you are replacing those the resistor would already be there. Wondering why you are replacing those, looking for a different light color? Sumner
It's a Digitrax sound decoder, and I've replaced the 100uf capacitor by 4 x 100uF SMD in parallel....I need smaller LED now, at least for the front Probably for the rear as well, to replace the stock speaker by something better (and a little bit bigger)
I bought the same ones except in warm white. 0603 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P8PMCCS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Have used internally in all structures and also look pretty close to scale as stand alone external light over 2nd floor exterior door of tower. Also making spur lights.. a little black paint on top, rear and sides of LED then inserted thru a painted canned air straw.. Also, even in warm white, find em a little too bright and cool so added additional resistance to lessen intensity and look a little warmer.. I really like these LEDs when unable to use SMD.
What type of wire do you use when you need to go very small? Do you use enameled "magnet" wire? And what size (awg) is preferred in that case?
Actually, kinda use whatever have around. Typically, I like matching solid to solid or stranded to stranded , but for these LEDs, I soldered to 24 g solid. (think it was 24, it was Atlas multiconductor solid that came with turnout machines from my old HO switches. Regardless of the wire, also like adding strain relief. All my structures are lit but also removable from the top of the layout. In the case of the Woodland Depot which I added 2 exterior lamp posts, Both separate wiring. Best Illustrated.. In this case used Dupont connectors and/or the wire, think 26g from the from Arduino learning kit to enable the Woodland Depot removal from top of layout. The Woodland Depot and the separately added lamp posts are stranded. Also added strain relief.
I got ones like in your link but like the longer thinner wires on the ones ( HERE ) and they have them in 0603 also I believe. I haven't needed longer but I'd use whatever is convenient for the situation. If you wanted the smallest it would probably be ESU's decoder wire ( HERE ) although magnet wire is a little smaller but more of a pain to work with (for me at least). Sumner
As far as I know it is with the LED's but I'm not an electronics guy. On the resistors the wattage rating might also change between sizes. With the LED's I pick the resistor in the circuit the same for any of them. Someone want to help us out here? Sumner
Yes the numbers indicate the size (footprint) but I believe the height can change. LED'S have different operating voltages depending on color. I don't know if that stays the same between sizes but I always have a larger resistor on an LED than what you would have for maximum brightness so I don't worry about that. For instance on the loco LED's I usually use a 1K resistor and the same on other projects that might have different LED colors. I'll change that if I want brighter or dimmer. I've only installed one ESU decoder at this point ( HERE ) but I like the fact that you have additional control of the brightness by programming the decoder. I don't think that has been the case with the TCS and Digitrax decoders I've installed to this point. The resistors can have different wattage capabilities depending on the size (one might be 1/4 watt and another 1/8 watt). End result for me is to pick the size LED that fits the application. I'll do the soldering on the ones larger than 0603 but will buy ones with wires already on them if I use a 0603 or 0402. Sumner
french_guy, You are looking for small LEDs and I offer the following info to maybe help you. Here is an image of two small ones, left one is known by seller as "pico" and the right one is a "Z", not Z scale. They appear to have power on but no that is how my overhead reflected on them. The pico is 1.0mm x .5mm x .7mm The Z is .65mm x.65mm x .36mm These are both 3v and for the picture I had them on a 3v button batt. In the project loco they will be connected to the decoder thru a 1.8K ohm resistor. Here are two images to show how they look in a DIY ditch light set up. Not bad but too bright. As info, I glued these LEDs to the light pipe for headlight and just glued them to the deck for ditch lights. I do not think the supplier is an advertiser on TB so I will be cautious about naming them. PM if you want to know. Be well, Carl
