Dave777 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 This has been mentioned before, and having searched around on the archived RMWeb I can see that a few people have tried it but mainly without success it seems. Has anyone managed to successfully light their layout using Christmas lights? My local Tescos are doing some white LEDs for a tenner or so which are supplied with a plug in transformer. This wouldn't be for exhibition use, just at home, and the layout will be along the lines of PMPs a little way down this thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31505 (8 feet long or so, N gauge, etc) I'm thinking strip lights as these are the ones most people appear to report as being the most successful, but when I saw the LED chrimbo lights I couldn't help but look at them and think 'Well there's a plug-n-go option...' Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwaterscotland Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Stu Hilton (stubby47) used christmas LEDs to light Porth Byhan : Porth Byhan Website. Might be worth speaking to him and see if the system he uses could be extended. Andy B) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I'm not sure about lighting the layout with these but I have used the long "strings" of white LED lights to illuminate under the layout when I am working there. They are also very good for lighting the insides of computers when I am working on those. I also have some LEDs with plastic light guides like fibre optics and will be experimenting with those for locomotive lighting projects. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted November 12, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2009 Stu Hilton (stubby47) used christmas LEDs to light Porth Byhan : Porth Byhan Website. Might be worth speaking to him and see if the system he uses could be extended. Andy Hi Dave, As Andy says, I had a set of B&Q 20 LED lights, 3v battery power, over Porth Byhan. I don't think they made a lot of difference, and wouldn't recommend them for anything larger or any less concentration (bulbs : area covered). I've also picked up some '3 LEDs in a little case' lights, for use inside cupboards, etc, but these too are not the most powerful and tend to give a 'spotlight' effect rather than even light coverage. HTH Stu PS : the B&Q lights were less than ??2 - bought in January... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 The LEDs used for the Christmas lights would not be really the right type for general lighting. LEDs come in different types, and the ones used for Xmas lights are standard grade or "seconds" that do not have a satisfactory output at standard test voltages. In other words they vary in output to much to be sold as meeting a full specification, where they are sold in grades. The Xmas light market uses huge quantities of these low grade LEDs, a great way to find a use for them. For white lighting it needs high output types, first grade, with the top wack output, especially with white light. These are normally referred to as Super bright types. Now the Christmas strips have uses in lighting models internally, like buildings etc, but for the strip lighting needed you can buy quite cheaply strips of the Surface mount LEDs, pre-wired just to connect 12 volts to. Further can be added in both series and parallel, parallel is better in this use. There are many sellers on Ebay. It may need a surprising quantity, 100+ to achieve even the output of an equivalent of 100 watt, but running costs are near zero and the light very constant from LEDs. Be warned, the light is somewhat harse, coming from such tiny point sources, and tends to make dust etc., show up a lot, so the more bulbs the better, and a good reflector behind them helps, (foil is quite safe) as the voltage is low and there is no heat. A box like a long strip could be made, lined with foil, and the leds strip put inside, to throw the output like strip light, about a hundred would work the same as a 40 watt strip lamp. Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted November 12, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 12, 2009 I have used LEDs on Avonwick and have 150 spread over a 6x1ft area. The light as has been said is harsh, and if I were to do this again I would look to double the number of lights that I have in this area. This would be done to make it really bright. I have also considered adding in some yellow LED's to change the tone of the overall light. I haven't got time to do this at the moment but possibly something for the future. Doubling the number and adding some yellow ones would make for some lovely wiring fun and games though. You can get some interesting effects from Christmas LED's though if you get the ones that perform the "nice' sequences. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave777 Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Excellent replies and info folks, many thanks for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Glum Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Hello All, I was in Wilkinsons yesterday and could not resist a pack of 20 white leds complete with 2 x AA batteries and a holder with switch for same, at ??2.97 They seem pretty regular for brightness and, at 14.85p each (ignoring any value in the batteries and holder), seem a reasonable way to get white to use inside buildings with murky windows (e.g. Scalescenes under arch workshops that I have under construction at present - 8 nearly finished, another 8 to do). True, they are a bit harsh/blueish, but hey ho, and I'll season with a few yellow ones from Maplin. Wilko also have them in red, green, and blue. I picked up a similar set in a garden centre recently (without the batteries, same price) and was interested to see that the packaging listed YELLOW, but buggrit the place didn't have any and Adam The Gardener said they hadn't ordered any. I also appreciate the fact that you get well soldered leads already fitted to the legs on the leds and (for my purposes) there's just enough lead to run to a 2 way chocolate block for onward wiring. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harris Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Dave, One of the MERG members, Phil Spiegelhalter, has successfully used such Christmas lights to light his layout. See: http://www.fillin.co.uk/Railway/light.htm Best regards, Matt H Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 For a work project I have been messing with bright white LEDs plus a light straw theatrical gels. The effect is not far from afternoon sunlight like I remember it when I was a kid. So I'll be trying it on a layout when I need it. And being cold the LED and the gel should be able to be in close proximity so that there's little danger of it being damaged by heat. Come to think of it, a light blue gel with the same light source would do for backscene lighting. Gels available from http://www.formatt.co.uk/lighting-gels/lighting-gels.aspx or serach Google for theatrical lighting gel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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