LED light bulbs for passenger cars.

If you're trying to be thrifty LED replacements won't help.  They're more expensive than traditional lamps.

But you can stick with traditional bulbs and save money.   You'll need No. 1447 (18 V) instead of 1445 (14 V) and your excessive brightness problem and the potentially damaging heat due to excessive voltage, associated with it, will go away.

Mike

This might help you from Town & Country Hobbies.

https://stores.towncountryhobbies.com/leds/

Personally I would go with GUNRUNNERJOHNs LED Modules.  I have installed about 30 of these, they are very easy to do.  Just buy the LED strips do a little soldering and you got r done.

Here’s a comparison of the LED type 1447 vs a regular 1447. LED is on left regular 1447 on right.

Here's one of the PE set cars with LED lighting, note the even lighting across the whole car.  This is why I do the LED strips if I'm going to the trouble of opening the cars up anyway.

Here's another endorsement for gunrunnerjohn's approach to passenger car lighting.

Lonnie

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

If you're trying to be thrifty LED replacements won't help.  They're more expensive than traditional lamps.

But you can stick with traditional bulbs and save money.   You'll need No. 1447 (18 V) instead of 1445 (14 V) and your excessive brightness problem and the potentially damaging heat due to excessive voltage, associated with it, will go away.

Mike

Hey Mike, thanks for the input. I was also trying to reduce voltage draw as well & that was one of my thoughts. I have 5 sets of passenger cars, but the first set is 9 Lionel Aluminum cars. I do like the looks of the strips but think price may make them prohibitive. I have some 1447's on hand & will try a car or two. Thank you for your feedback.

@laz1957 posted:

This might help you from Town & Country Hobbies.

https://stores.towncountryhobbies.com/leds/

Thank you for your feedback. I did try Town & Country LED's & had a problem with 2 of the bulbs, 1 did not work at all the 2nd the glass globe twisted off. I glued the globe back on to fixture & all is well. I received a feedback notice but did not fill out. Instead I reached out to them about the bulbs. He said to send a email as to the problem & it would be resolved. I told him since I fixed the one that I would like one bulb  for the one that never worked which he said he would be happy to do. I don't know why he couldn't look it up then as I had the order number for the 18 bulbs. I sent the email & another phone call, never heard from him again. I would rather find someone else.

@romiller49 posted:

Here’s a comparison of the LED type 1447 vs a regular 1447. LED is on left regular 1447 on right.

Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate the comparison attachment. The left side is definitely much nicer & brighter. Is that the Warm White or bright white & if I may ask where did you get your bulbs? Thanks for your help.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Here's one of the PE set cars with LED lighting, note the even lighting across the whole car.  This is why I do the LED strips if I'm going to the trouble of opening the cars up anyway.

Thank you  for your help & feedback. It is great to see so many willing to help a fellow train person out. I do like the looks of the strips but concerned with cost, however not knowing the cost is something I should find out to consider this option. I also was a little concerned about possibly hurting the value of the old Lionel Aluminum cars. This way it is just a matter of changing the bulbs to back to stock. I appreciate your thoughts on this matter & if you want to contact me or me to contact you for a price on strips, just let me know the proper procedure. Looking forward to hearing from you. Sorry it took a little time to get back to everyone but with Holidays fast approaching & work it is a little hectic.

Well, if you're willing to do a little soldering, how about doing full LED lighting for a couple bucks a car?

You can get all the parts for a lighting module for a couple bucks and buy one or more 5 meter reels of LED strips for less than $5/ea.

GRJ's Original DIY Constant Current PAX Car Lighting Module Files

@DCS213 posted:

Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate the comparison attachment. The left side is definitely much nicer & brighter. Is that the Warm White or bright white & if I may ask where did you get your bulbs? Thanks for your help.

I got them from Town and Country Hobbies. You don’t have a choice in the brightness. The only benefit is less current draw. Too bright for me. As others have posted, try the LED strips along with the the kit from GRJ available from Hennings Trains. A super product at a very affordable price. Adjustable brightness. All my cars will have his product.

@romiller49 posted:

I got them from Town and Country Hobbies. You don’t have a choice in the brightness. The only benefit is less current draw. Too bright for me. As others have posted, try the LED strips along with the the kit from GRJ available from Hennings Trains. A super product at a very affordable price. Adjustable brightness. All my cars will have his product.

Agree, GRJs kit is the best.

Ray

Hello DCS213,

I don't have the electronics knowledge that GRJ or Stan2004 have, but I can tell you that I've purchased and installed GRJ's kits and installation was pretty easy. Stan2004 has assisted me with other kinds of advice on model railroading electronics. I don't think that you can go wrong with either.

Ron

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@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, if you're willing to do a little soldering, how about doing full LED lighting for a couple bucks a car?

You can get all the parts for a lighting module for a couple bucks and buy one or more 5 meter reels of LED strips for less than $5/ea.

GRJ's Original DIY Constant Current PAX Car Lighting Module Files

What is the maximum current these modules can support without getting too hot?  Thanks!

I am a little confused as far as what I am ordering & where. First set of passenger cars to do is 9 aluminum Lionel passenger cars 14" long inside roof length. I looked at two of the places mentioned but 1 sight was 2019 prices ,so I'm thinking prices may be much higher & more importantly if available. Digikey did not list the kits, looked like I have to look up the individual components. Where & what do I order for roll of lighting. I need 9 cars X 14" cars = 126 inches however not knowing the cutoff points not sure of length I need, unless I can cut them off anywhere. Your help as to what to order where is greatly appreciated. I never knew my question about lighting passenger cars would create so much interest & replies.

DCS213,  I've been upgrading passenger cars and cabooses with GRJs LED lighting module and 5 meter rolls of Warm White LED strip lights from eBay.  They are about $5 as GRJ said. Probably would do 16 cars at 18 LEDs per car.  You can get the modules directly from him.   Then all you need is a little wire and some soldering.    

My passenger cars had two mini Christmas tree lights in them. They drew about 220 mAs.     I put 15 to 18 LED strips in my passenger cars, could have used 12 just as easily.   After the upgrade the cars drew about 50 mAs.  

A caboose I upgraded had two small globe bulbs in it.  It drew 310 mAs.  I used 9 LEDs in that.  I measured 30mAs after the upgrade.  

Quite a savings in Amps, better lighting, and no flicker.  

Hope that helps.

Ward

DCS213,

  All you need is the 3528 LED strips, they come in 5 meter rolls.  Every three lights there is a place to cut the strips off at, that measure about 2 inches.  Then you’ll need GUNRUNNERJOHNs modules.  2 modules per pack.  You’ll need 5 packs.  Below is the 3528 strips from Amazon.  Hope this helps.  This is an easy project.

https://www.amazon.com/Flexibl...670766081&sr=8-9

GRJ's kits are the way to go.  Look at all the advantages - Low current draw, flicker free, choose what LED's you want - bright white or soft white, save even more and assemble your own using his board. I just finished building these and they came out to around $3.00 per unit less the led strip.