ERR RailSounds baffle fitting

John,

You mentioned that you use LEDs, but for ease of installation, I used grain of wheat, .075A each.  I've six in the front, and 4 in the rear. After running about 5 minutes, all lights turn off.  Powering down for a few minutes, and they turn on again.  .075A x 6 bulbs =0.45A.    Six .075A bulbs exceed EER specifications (whatever those specs are)?  

Thanks,

Dennis

EER confirmed that the brake squealing on the new boards continues as long as the brake key is active.    And they think six .075A bulbs may be exceeding max current.    I asked what that value is and am waiting an answer.

Thanks,

Dennis

Well, .45A on one of the TO92 triacs is pushing the envelope a bit, I suspect it is getting a bit toasty.  I think you want to limit continuous duty use on those triacs to around .25 amps or less.  You're pushing the envelope a lot with that kind of current.  The specs in question is for the triac on the R2(4)LC, that drives the lights.

For the MAC97xx triac devices, I'd be limiting the current to the .25A as a maximum in our operating environment.  Any more current and the triac should have a heatsink to help dissipate the heat.

Thanks, John.  EER said my guess of 'max current' is as good as theirs, as they get their boards from Lionel.  With this engine in reverse, only four bulbs (0.075A x 4)  light and there's no problem, but six fails.     My next step was to look up the specs, that you have already graciously supplied.  I will work from there, and substitute bulbs for LEDs.  I prefer the look of the bulbs, but their current apparently outmatches the device.  

Otherwise, I'm generally pleased with my first conversion.

The sounds are not as good as my Legacy/TMCC engines, as the RPMs don't closely match the engine's speed. Even my 2001 6-18598 has far superior sound.  But the Railsounds board is still acceptable.     I also found changing from 'large motor' to 'small' fixed the lurching and abrupt stops.  ERR slow speed is as good as Legacy and even LionChief's amazing slow speed.

ERR also replied that they get the sound files from Lionel, which is why the brakes squeal as long as I hold the 'brake' key.  Not sure I understand why a sound file has to be implemented as such, but EER does not consider it a defect or problem.

Dennis

I'm substituting two LEDs for two-bulb 'ditch lights.'   Installed in series, assuming 12V, I get a 270 ohm limiting-resistor. That sound about right? Since LEDs are normally used in DC circuits, any issue with reverse V or current?

Thanks,

Dennis

I include a diode for lights running from the the lighting outputs, other than that you're good.

FWIW, I actually like the look of LED's better, you get much better focused light.  I recently picked up some 3mm warm white defused flangeless LED's, they look just like a nice bright incandescent bulb in color.  The bonus is they don't get hot, and they have focused light from the "top" of the bulb, they're killer steam headlights.  For the ones that I've used in upgrades already, they get rave reviews.  You can get any color temperature LED to match whatever effect you desire with the headlight color, depending on the locomotive era you're lighting.

My pet peeve with incandescent bulbs in headlights is they look more like parking lights.  Headlights actually shine down the tracks in real life, and I like my models to do the same thing.  I get lots of locomotives for conversion to LED lighting, but I've never gotten one for conversion to incandescent lighting.