[berth44]

Got those '3 aspect' colour light signals yesterday that I 'wone' off Ebay. For under 10 bucks for the pair,they are not half bad!
The 'pole' is made of plastic,very thin at that, but they're still wired, and the 'top' part is quite neat,no wires hanging out the back of it. All that is required to 'improve' on it are a set of 'brass' ladders!
Anyhoo,all I need now is someone to show me how to wire them up so that I can go through the light switching sequence. I used to have the old 'Tri-ang' 2 aspects with the 'yellow' throw switch,obviously, I require a different 'switch' now...any helpers???......Dave

[SkyFire]

Are they leds or globes ??

I have a 3 aspect signal somewhere with leds where the amber led was wired opposite polarity to the other two, which made for an interesting switch box.

[berth44]

12 volt LEDS Anthony....Dave

[SkyFire]

Actually LEDs run on about 3 volts, you will need a 1K resistor for 12 volts or they will go poof in a second or 2 of turning the power on.

[berth44]

I read a bit on a forum saying that if they are actually 12 volt LEDs as indicated by the 'Chinese' supplier' no resitor is required,just wire em up to the power and an appropriate switch...anybody else with an opinion?......... they might be 'cheap' folks (I ordered 'wone' two more) but I still dont want to 'blow' them!!..........Dave

[SkyFire]

That sounds dodgy, never heard of a 12 volt LED and coming from China, it's probaly a standard LED. The only way it could be connected direct to 12 volts, is if the LED has a resistor built in.

There is 12 volt LED light globes, but they have more than one LED and resistors as well. Think you might be getting done on this one.

[berth44]

Been back into 'Google' Anthony , the RM web site....and on that a forum member states that if these LEDs are rated as 12 volt to just to go ahead and wire them through the power supply/switch as per his wiring diagram and just omit the resistor.
He also did state that if one is not sure to use a 9v battery.......I'm still trying to find the packet of two that I just bought,the 'AA' battery that I used only just managed a 'flicker!!'
Anyhoo, I await another opinion,no offence Anthony meant to you, I take note of your opinion, I value it and I thanks you, but I needs to know you know......for sure!!..........Dave

[SkyFire]

If your getting a flicker with a single AA that puts out 1.5 volts, then you can forget 12 volts or even 9 volts, reason bgeing that if it was 12 volts, a single 1.5 volt AA would do nothing.

A warning some LEDs can get very hot and I do mean hot when you put try too put much voltage through them, hot enough to burn you and/or melt / set something on fire.

LED circuit
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_circuit

[bluedot0]

Check with a 9 volt first if the AA wasn't enough, I have LED's everywhere on the big layout and they vary in voltage from 1.5 to 15 volts. I also have some signals from "China" that work very well and they are 12 volt.

I have found that the chinese stuff comes prewired with a resistor if the LED is not 12 volt........Phil

[berth44]

Phil,these are the Chinese colour lights,they have 3 red and 1 black wire coming out the 'tube'. I take it that the black will be the 'negative?' Dave

[berth44]

Rails of S are on their game,all my 'Metcaff' stuff came yesterday,looks pretty good,plenty to do now!! I've also ordered a set of 'tiny drills', they are coming from the USA, way cheaper to than from here,and lastly my BI, wont see that till the end of next week.
Anyhoo, into the garage I will go and see what I can get up to...Dave

[SkyFire]

The black wire is the common and should be negative, but being chinese, it could be anything, also remember what I said earlier about the center led being a possible reverse polarity to the other two.

[berth44]

I've done nothing with the colour lights,Still "canny fun" (Sco) these two 9v batteries..bugger!!
Anyhoo,here's what I did over the week end,in 3 words 'not a lot'
I had another look at track arrangement,pinned the shed roads down,put in a by pass loop,'yip' another one and tried unsuccessfully to fix a defunct small radius 'Y' point, I replaced it with my last right medium...did the same job..sort of!!

Once that was up and running I ran my ' new pannier tank' through the shed, twas a bit 'rocky'mind you, but it managed, then round and round it went with a load of empty ballast wagons....it's running a wee bit better now.
I also gave my 'DP2' a 'run through' the shed' roads as well, all seemed good, she managed,again,'rocky' but without derailing!, so, if she gets through, anything will!!, but in real life, she's a lucky bird, she'll have 'brand new' points to deal with in her diesel shed!(when I get them??)
Lastly,as my 'Metcaff' stuff did arrive, I started to make up the 'platform kit'..By cutting 2 of the the supplied 'tarmac' sheets in 1/2 and laying them 'end to end' this gave me the width and the 'straight' platform length needed, but this made it necessary for me to lift the 'up &down 'track and 'jiggle' it a wee bit to match the platform length to save me 'cutting it down',' unfortunately' this means I'll now require to add a wee bit 'length' to both the 'up and down' roads, then, with the remaining 'Tarmac' sheets I'll cut them to match the curvature of the 're-laid' lines.
This will not effect my 'home built' effort as I've still to match the curves, the only thing is the platform height, the Metcaff platform (in my opinion) is not high enough,well,for my 'passenger' needs,I don't want them stepping up 2 feet to gain entry to the coach door!!
I should have enough 'brick' card left to 'add on' and gain another precious scale foot all round!!....(happy passengers)
I've got more 'extra' packets of card of red brick, tarmac, and paving for the platform edges to make up my 'home built' platform as per the Metcaff, we can't have a miss match, can we??. I also got a 'Grey Stone' to finish off me bridge, that should keep me happy for a wee while..........Dave.

P/S, that was me 'technically' me not doing anything!!

[bluedot0]

Ah so, you are correct, black is negative......Phil

[berth44]

Good, the 'makers' say bung 12 v through them,so I will Phil. I ordered 90 inches of scale wire mesh fencing from the UK,I'm thinking it'll come in handy..and it was cheap..26 bucks posted...Dave