RMweb Gold JohnR Posted March 27, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 27, 2021 I've bought a second hand Heljan 26 (in OO), and while I'm generally very impressed by it, the lights are a disappointment. I wasnt aware that Heljan used regular bulbs for the lights, and these of course need replacing on a regular basis. It seems the previous owner had not bothered to replace them, and I can understand why. However, I would like to replace them, and with LEDs. However, I cant seem to find anywhere that does a lighting upgrade kit for them? Has anyone done a lighting upgrade using LEDs that they could share the details of? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractor_37260 Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 7 hours ago, JohnR said: I've bought a second hand Heljan 26 (in OO), and while I'm generally very impressed by it, the lights are a disappointment. I wasnt aware that Heljan used regular bulbs for the lights, and these of course need replacing on a regular basis. It seems the previous owner had not bothered to replace them, and I can understand why. However, I would like to replace them, and with LEDs. However, I cant seem to find anywhere that does a lighting upgrade kit for them? Has anyone done a lighting upgrade using LEDs that they could share the details of? See my reply to your question in Modellers Questions and Tips...... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albie the plumber Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 On 27/03/2021 at 10:22, JohnR said: I've bought a second hand Heljan 26 (in OO), and while I'm generally very impressed by it, the lights are a disappointment. I wasnt aware that Heljan used regular bulbs for the lights, and these of course need replacing on a regular basis. It seems the previous owner had not bothered to replace them, and I can understand why. However, I would like to replace them, and with LEDs. However, I cant seem to find anywhere that does a lighting upgrade kit for them? Has anyone done a lighting upgrade using LEDs that they could share the details of? Felt much the same about my Heljan Hymek lights . So I got in touch with Jason Edmunds who trades on Ebay under the name 'stickswipe ' . He makes LED lighting for lots of other locos and made some for my Hymek after I gave him the dimensions. He's always very helpful . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer71 Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 On 27/03/2021 at 10:22, JohnR said: I've bought a second hand Heljan 26 (in OO), and while I'm generally very impressed by it, the lights are a disappointment. I wasnt aware that Heljan used regular bulbs for the lights, and these of course need replacing on a regular basis. It seems the previous owner had not bothered to replace them, and I can understand why. However, I would like to replace them, and with LEDs. However, I cant seem to find anywhere that does a lighting upgrade kit for them? Has anyone done a lighting upgrade using LEDs that they could share the details of? Look up stickswipe on ebay , click his user name and under business details it will give you his email address or you can contact him via ebay but as it's about a product he doesn't list on ebay then probably best to email him , he has the pattern for the Heljan 26 and will make the kits to any specification you require you just need to let him know whether the loco has 4 or 6 white markers , he has made me custom kits with warm white lighting and individually controllable red lights that can be switched so they only have 1 on as was prototypical for many years 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Roy Langridge Posted March 29, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 29, 2021 Another vote for Jason from me. That said, my 26s I do myself, replacing the bulbs with 3528 SMD LEDs which I soldered up and coated the back with silicon sealer to insulate them. They fit in the slots in the chassis perfectly*. Just wire them via a resistor to the decoder outputs. I am planning to do another 26 in the next few days so I will take some photos. Roy * One way round in the RED and the other way in the white slot. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted March 29, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 29, 2021 10 hours ago, Albie the plumber said: Felt much the same about my Heljan Hymek lights . So I got in touch with Jason Edmunds who trades on Ebay under the name 'stickswipe ' . He makes LED lighting for lots of other locos and made some for my Hymek after I gave him the dimensions. He's always very helpful . 8 minutes ago, sulzer71 said: Look up stickswipe on ebay , click his user name and under business details it will give you his email address or you can contact him via ebay but as it's about a product he doesn't list on ebay then probably best to email him , he has the pattern for the Heljan 26 and will make the kits to any specification you require you just need to let him know whether the loco has 4 or 6 white markers , he has made me custom kits with warm white lighting and individually controllable red lights that can be switched so they only have 1 on as was prototypical for many years Thanks guys, I'll look him up. 2 minutes ago, Roy Langridge said: Another vote for Jason from me. That said, my 26s I do myself, replacing the bulbs with 3528 SMD LEDs which I soldered up and coated the back with silicon sealer to insulate them. They fit in the slots in the chassis perfectly*. Just wire them via a resistor to the decoder outputs. I am planning to do another 26 in the next few days so I will take some photos. Roy * One way round in the RED and the other way in the white slot. Thanks Roy, I look forward to see your pictures. Might go down that route. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer71 Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 49 minutes ago, JohnR said: Thanks guys, I'll look him up. Thanks Roy, I look forward to see your pictures. Might go down that route. Here's a pic of what I've been getting from him 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Roy Langridge Posted March 29, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 29, 2021 7 hours ago, JohnR said: Thanks Roy, I look forward to see your pictures. Might go down that route. Hi John, I have just made up one of the lights for my next class 26 - wasn't quite ready to put it in the loco yet as I will strip out the PCB and fit a 21pin socket, sound, stay alive and full independent lights. Anyhow, photos should give you an idea of the way I do the lights: 3528 yellow LEDs as I buy them. I also use warm white and red depending on what I am making the light for. They work out about 7p each. The LED out of its packaging (front and back) - the little triangle (circled) marks anode: I cut wires (32 awg to match the decoder colours (blue anode, yellow F0r in this case and tin them. The fine-wire strippers are really useful to hold the wires while you do this: I put the LED in a cardboard jig - the anode side is marked with a + and I always test I have it the right way round before soldering. I then tin both connections on the LED. I then smelt the wires to the LED - do not add more solder, it is not needed. This is the sealer I am using - last forever doing for this job: LED all sealed up over the back and sides to insulate it: LED being tested: My LED tester: I will run the wires back through the original channels in the chassis, up next to the motor and then solder to a 21pin socket board via a 1K resistor board on the anode. I will get the rest made up and post some photos of them in the loco later in the week. Hope that all helps. Roy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted April 2, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 2, 2021 On 29/03/2021 at 10:39, sulzer71 said: Here's a pic of what I've been getting from him Got great service, my pack of lights arrived today. Where do I wire them up, however? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Roy Langridge Posted April 3, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 3, 2021 10 hours ago, JohnR said: Got great service, my pack of lights arrived today. Where do I wire them up, however? Jason normally sends an email set of instructions when you place an order. Roy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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