Led Lighting

You can install LED lighting directly from the light outputs, no need to have a separate power supply.  A 470 ohm resistor and a 1N4003 diode with the LED and use the R2LC lighting output.  Note that the light outputs are positive ground, so the actual light output from the R2LC is the negative side.

Paste this Google search in your browser for the endless threads on this topic.

ogr forum led lighting kit sitegrforum.ogaugerr.com

Thanks Jim for the info!

Gunrunner, I will be replacing both front & rear dual headlights, including the ditch lights. Will each individual led require its own 470 ohm resistor and 1N4003 diode?  Also, what leg of the led do I attach the resistor and diode to (+or-) ?  Lastly, what order do I attach the resistor and diode to the led?

Thanks, Mike

First off, what are the ditch lights connected to?  If they're just connected to the headlight output, they can be treated as another headlight.  Here's a wiring diagram for an engine with bi-color directional markers and LED headlights, there is only one diode in the frame ground path to serve all the lighting.

This engine's insides look very much like a 2001 Dash 8 of mine in terms of light wiring and the 4 spring contactor plate between the frame and the shell. Mine needed new ditch lights (one was shattered) which is all I changed on it. I used 2 x 3mm bright white leds wired in parallel with a 680R resistor in series, hooked to one of  the ditch light wiring harnesses. works great and the ditch lights are nice and bright. You can likely use the same idea for each pair of headlights too if you want to change them out.

Rod

Thanks Rod for your input, good additional information. Have not had a chance to get back to the locomotive with all the info that has been provided up to date.

I really appreciate everyone’s input!

Thanks, Mike