thesteambuff Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I have had a Lenz chip fitted to a Heljan Kestrel loco,unfortunately non of the lights work.i did not test on DC before the chip was fitted to see if the lights worked. Any ideas what may be the problem?. Can i use Bachmann or Hornby blanking plate to test on DC? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I have had a Lenz chip fitted to a Heljan Kestrel loco,unfortunately non of the lights work.i did not test on DC before the chip was fitted to see if the lights worked. Any ideas what may be the problem?. Can i use Bachmann or Hornby blanking plate to test on DC? The 8 pin blanking plate is quite generic so will be fine for a DC test Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesteambuff Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 The 8 pin blanking plate is quite generic so will be fine for a DC test Thank you will try it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonC Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I had thought there was some instructions about light brightness to change if you fit a DCC chip to a Kestrel model ... something about reducing it otherwise they could pop Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 (edited) I had thought there was some instructions about light brightness to change if you fit a DCC chip to a Kestrel model ... something about reducing it otherwise they could popThat is possible if you have instructions and CV settings to reduce brightness. However playing around with settings would take time and the wrong setting, however briefly tested could still cause them to pop. I do feel though that a manufacturer should fit resisters to ensure all voltage ranges that the lights are going to meet are protected. It could be the DCC 8 pin chip is plugged in the wrong way around (easy to do on an 8-pin). Leading to something like the chip trying to send the current in the wrong direction of the diodes for the directional lights. Edited March 21, 2018 by JSpencer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebigshot Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Hi Guys I had a similar problem with a Heljin class 26 to discover that the lenz chip was designed to run LEDS and not builds so it mite be worth checking that Thanks Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Hi Guys I had a similar problem with a Heljin class 26 to discover that the lenz chip was designed to run LEDS and not builds so it mite be worth checking that Thanks Alan That's very strange I have not heard of a decoder where it's not necessary to insert a suitable sized resistor between decoder and LED. Norman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted March 22, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) Function outputs are nominally 12v so any bulb rated less than 12/15v or LED connected should have a resistor to suit, the few 00 models I have pre-fitted with lights (LEDs) already have resistors in the circuit, or if I have fitted lights I have provided the resistors. Even on DC they should have resistors unless they are 12v bulbs. Keith Edited March 22, 2018 by melmerby Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebigshot Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) That's very strange I have not heard of a decoder where it's not necessary to insert a suitable sized resistor between decoder and LED. Norman Hi Norman Sorry I should have made it clearer that the lenz chip (I bought recently) is set to run an LED witch I believe to be lower current than a builb witch I believe runs at a higher current. Sorry for the confusion Thanks Alan Edited March 22, 2018 by Thebigshot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebigshot Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Function outputs are nominally 12v so any bulb rated less than 12/15v or LED connected should have a resistor to suit, the few 00 models I have pre-fitted with lights (LEDs) already have resistors in the circuit, or if I have fitted lights I have provided the resistors. Even on DC they should have resistors unless they are 12v bulbs. Keith Hi I'm led to believe it's the resistor that is the issue I believe it's dropping the voltage so low that the builb is not bright enough but I'm hoping if the information is wrong then someone will correct me Thanks Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesteambuff Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 I have tried the blanking plate and tested on DC unfortunately the lights still do not work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I have tried the blanking plate and tested on DC unfortunately the lights still do not work. I had a set of lights on a class 23 which did not work, so I brought a spare at Howes. Maybe they will have some Kestral lighting units around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesteambuff Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share Posted March 23, 2018 I had a set of lights on a class 23 which did not work, so I brought a spare at Howes. Maybe they will have some Kestral lighting units around. Thank you,i have checked the output to the lights which is 14volts so definitely the bulbs are all blown,what concerns me is how did they all blow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted March 23, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2018 (edited) Thank you,i have checked the output to the lights which is 14volts so definitely the bulbs are all blown,what concerns me is how did they all blow. Do you know whether they are bulbs or LEDs? Also a bulb does not necessarily draw more current than a LED but may be 12/15v so would work straight from the function outputs without a resistor. If they are LEDs and were original to the model they will have a resistor already in circuit. Keith Edit If they are bulbs: https://howesmodels.co.uk/product/Heljan-oo-bulb-with-lead-short-and-plug-connector/ https://howesmodels.co.uk/product/Heljan-oo-bulb-with-lead-long-and-plug-connector/ Edited March 23, 2018 by melmerby Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BR Blue Posted March 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2018 There was definitely an issue when they first came out. Certain CV values were recommended to be changed as far as I remember. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesteambuff Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share Posted March 23, 2018 yES Do you know whether they are bulbs or LEDs? Also a bulb does not necessarily draw more current than a LED but may be 12/15v so would work straight from the function outputs without a resistor. If they are LEDs and were original to the model they will have a resistor already in circuit. Keith Edit If they are bulbs: https://howesmodels.co.uk/product/Heljan-oo-bulb-with-lead-short-and-plug-connector/ https://howesmodels.co.uk/product/Heljan-oo-bulb-with-lead-long-and-plug-connector/ Yes they are LEDs,yes there is a resistor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesteambuff Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share Posted March 23, 2018 yES Yes they are LEDs,yes there is a resistor. Thank you for the information,I will have to decide whether to order these LEDs or send the loco to Howes to repair as i am worried the LEDs will blow again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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