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adding leds to a pantograph


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I think that you would be better off concealing an LED on the OLE instead of the loco. In real life it is not random, but usually occurs at a particular OLE feature, for example when going over a crossover or under a bridge. It also has the advantage that you don't have to fiddle with all your electric locos - other than to glue a magnet under the bogie which is below the pan. No ugly wire wrapped around the pantograph either. You also don't have the problem of the LED flashing where the wire isn't, as the wire will only occasionally be above the LED on the pan.  Conceal a reed switch under the track beneath the led, and it will flash every time the pan goes past. It will be particularly realistic if you double head or run EMU's in multiple and the respective pans flash at the same point, just like the real thing - well almost - in real life the flash from the second pan tends to be bigger when it passes as the first pan has disturbed the wires so the next pan has worse contact - third pan on a class 309 at 100mph the flash was getting very bright!!!

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Brilliant comments guys ,i knew about the later one as i seen it at an exhibition and asked the guy about his reply was that it was from an old camera flash pod under the bridge , but i did like the one connected to the pantograph and understand its drawbacks but it does look good 

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I think that you would be better off concealing an LED on the OLE instead of the loco. In real life it is not random, but usually occurs at a particular OLE feature, for example when going over a crossover or under a bridge. It also has the advantage that you don't have to fiddle with all your electric locos - other than to glue a magnet under the bogie which is below the pan. No ugly wire wrapped around the pantograph either. You also don't have the problem of the LED flashing where the wire isn't, as the wire will only occasionally be above the LED on the pan.  Conceal a reed switch under the track beneath the led, and it will flash every time the pan goes past. It will be particularly realistic if you double head or run EMU's in multiple and the respective pans flash at the same point, just like the real thing - well almost - in real life the flash from the second pan tends to be bigger when it passes as the first pan has disturbed the wires so the next pan has worse contact - third pan on a class 309 at 100mph the flash was getting very bright!!!

Flashes are also common on damp, icy mornings. A train which is accelerating hard (& decelerating if it has regenerative braking) can cause an almost continual spark.

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Twice recently I've seen a Virgin pendilino going past with the pantograph head illuminated, I think by a light on the carriage roof. I suspect its to monitor the state of the wires. That would make a different model.

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Twice recently I've seen a Virgin pendilino going past with the pantograph head illuminated, I think by a light on the carriage roof. I suspect its to monitor the state of the wires. That would make a different model.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7493/15900124889_3eed720d81_h.jpg

 

Andi

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