LED Bayonnet bulbs in passenger cars?

One known catch22 situation- is an observation car which has the marker lights which are typically 1.5V incandescent grain of wheat lamps.

They used diodes as voltage regulators to create and limit the approximate 1.5V for the bulbs- but that only works with incandescent main light load. When you slap in LED bulbs, then the marker lights won't light because we are not carrying enough current to push the limiting diodes into the knee curve of the voltage drop- creating that critical 1.5V source.

Expanding on the topic, just leave the incandescents in the obs car.  Also, don't use the white LEDs, too bright, use the yellowish ones.

I tried various LED bulbs in the passenger cars for years.    The LED bulbs just weren't bright enough out the side, but mine were 2 bulb cars.    Running TMCC at 18v, some burned out.  Many are designed for 12v.  The best I got with the bulbs was to glue a small sheet of white translucent plastice on top of the bulb to diffuse the light to the side.

Try one car and compare with the incandescent and see if you like it.

I now use a voltage adapter and LED strips glued to the roof when I convert a passenger car to LEDs.

Ted,  I used the LED bulbs from Town & Country Hobbies a few years ago in a set of Williams heavy weights.  I put some of that metallic duct tape on the ceiling of each car to help diffuse the directional light of the LEDs.  I'll try to dig them out of storage and get some pictures on the track.

@Ted Bertiger posted:

I want to swap out the regular 18 volt Bayonnet bulbs for LED Bayonnet bulbs. The heavyweight passenger cars are Lionel and KLine and each car has 4 bulbs in each one.

I’m trying to lower the amps on the transformer when running 8 or 10 cars on a passenger car consist besides the engine or engines.  

Just changing the bulbs will accomplish this? Or do I need to add something besides the LED bulbs?

LEDs will be fine, of get the 24 or 28 volt led strips/tape. The work fine easy to install and just install resistors if you want them dimmer. Also they come in warm white. All available on Amazon. Also as for the marker lights, again no issues remove the bulbs and control board and install 3 micro 12v LEDs wire them in series so the voltage drops across all 3 LEDs

PennCentralShops.

as my dad would say “ this is not rocket science we are not building the lunar Lem it’s a model Train let’s keep it simple”

I will just leave the incandescent bulbs in the observation car, not every real car has the same lighting anyway. This way, I don’t have to change out the micro bulbs on the rear.
As for the Bayonnet bulbs, I will have to buy 18 volt ones as I ran TMCC at higher track voltage. I see that 12 volt ones will burn out.
Not buying LED strips as I just want to swap out bulbs and will try the yellow bulbs first before buying the white ones.
I do have the aluminum foil adhesive tape if I have to make it brighter and/or to diffuse the lighting.

@Ted Bertiger, sorry I never got those pics for you.  We've had emergency issues with pet health and now we're preparing for a trip back to NYC for my son's graduation from the Suffolk Cty Sheriff's Academy. 

Joe,

No rush getting pictures, they can wait. Pets are far more important. Your dog or cat is a family member! And congrats on your son’s graduation.
Ted