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What is the J&C Studios O Gauge Archive?

J&C Studios O Gauge Archive


O Gauge / O Scale Forums and Individual Blogs for Model Railroading

What is the J&C Studios O Gauge Archive?
(Guest)   JCS Archive   LED Lighting   Cheap LED Tea Candles
 
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Cheap LED Tea Candles
StanField
Joined: Jul 18, 2010
Topics: 5 Replies: 1 Topics: 5
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posted Feb 5, 2011: 
I've noted in several other forums, that people are using LEDs on DCC circuits to create a flickering firebox effect. Someone also mentioned using the new Tea Candle LEDs that are battery operated and have a flicker circuit built in so they look like candles.

I was at BJs today and they have blister packs of 24 Tea Candle LEDs for $9.99. They are small, white plastic discs about a half inch thick that have the battery and flicker circuit. The LED sticks out of the centre to look like a candle flame.

Methinks a bit of kit-bashing on these and we would have a cheap source of period candle / lantern lighting.

Just thought I would share while they have them in stock.
 
Lou
Joined: May 24, 2010
Topics: 0 Replies: 2 Topics: 0
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posted Feb 22, 2011: 
I used one to create this scene along with an old lionel smoke unit.




 
stan
Joined: May 18, 2008
Topics: 17 Replies: 16 Topics: 17
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posted Feb 22, 2011: 




From DollarTree a few years ago when they were $1 each. I think they are now 2 for $1. This one had a 3V coin battery, on/off slide switch, and a small circuit board (front and back shown) with a 5mm diameter LED. IIRC they lasted tens of hours on one battery.

Some possible discussion topics are low-cost methods to generate the 3V from track voltage or aux power. Or swapping the supplied LED with other colors - such as blue and/or white to simulate the flickering welder torch.
 
RogerPete
Joined: Apr 17, 2014
Topics: 8 Replies: 16 Topics: 8
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posted Apr 17, 2014: 
great idea- my wife is not gonna be happy when she discovers I found where she has all of her flicker tea lights hidden! I am currently modeling a 1920's factory that was in my town. It had no electric lights- I envision me tearing apart a whole lot of these & lighting the factory floor with lanterns...
 
gunrunnerjohn
Joined: Jan 28, 2012
Topics: 0 Replies: 3 Topics: 0
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posted Aug 12, 2014: 
The current crop of tea lights have a the flickering LED and the battery, the circuit is on the LED. I use them for a variety of projects, my most popular use is the flickering firebox on my TMCC & DCS upgrades. A pair of these behind the firebox door really makes the cab POP, a very realistic effect! I use a diode, resistor, and filter cap to supply power to the LEDs, and I wire them in parallel. The resistor is sized to supply 30-40MA for the pair of flickering LEDs. For a better effect, I use my bench grinder to flatten the faces. This defuses the light and also makes them a bit slimmer for a tight fit in some locomotives. I leave the matt finish from the grinder, I've tried polishing it and I don't like the effect as much.
 
JohnBoy
Joined: May 14, 2008
Topics: 110 Replies: 517 Topics: 110
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posted Aug 13, 2014: 
Excellent! I love using off-the-shelf stuff like that to do cool enhancements and projects. Thanks for a great tip!
 
Marty R
Joined: Dec 31, 2014
Topics: 0 Replies: 1 Topics: 0
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posted Dec 31, 2014: 
Did anyone ever come up with a circuit for using trackV for tealights?
I'd like to use DCS track Voltage 19VAC to power a 4.5VDC lemax campfire for the top of my PE hobo car
 
gunrunnerjohn
Joined: Jan 28, 2012
Topics: 0 Replies: 3 Topics: 0
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posted Dec 31, 2014: 
All you need for unregulated use is a diode, filter cap, and a resistor for current limiting. If the accessory requires regulated current, you'll have to add an LM317 and a couple of resistors to get 4.5 volts exactly.
 

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