LAST CALL: More DIY Passenger Car Lighting PCB Kits Now Available!

@Dave Funk posted:

Hi Rod

Can your pcb kit be used for caboose lighting with Markers?

I operate with TMCC primarily.

A lot depends on the particular caboose Dave. Some have side markers only, some have a center taillight also. For most cabeese the board should fit and work fine. If there is no center taillight you can jumper those pads and increase the R1 value accordingly. You would also need to install diode D1 for straight connection to track AC.

If the cupola is close to the rear such that the front of the board would be visible thru the windows, you can dremel the front 1/2" or so off, and use the center led spots for the markers. This causes no ill affects with the board as long as you cut forward of the +/- power connection pads. Hope that helps.

Rod

@Rod Stewart posted:

One user has brought to my attention a snaffu with the obs marker led board. When using the D1 pads to power a drumhead led, the typical strip led voltage of 9 to 9.5 volts is not enough to drive 4 series leds and get any brightness.

I have a fairly simple workaround which puts the 4 leds in two parallel sets of 2 in series. Its fairly straightforward and does not involve trace cutting or any mods to the pcb. So if anyone else has encountered this issue, or is planning to light a drumhead, let me know and I can send the mods!! Easy peasy.

Since our last chat this user tried Hokie71's method and found it works well. Basically all you do is jumper the D1 pads, and attache the drumhead led to either D3 or D5 pads. He used a 330RM load resistor R1 and  apparently all is good. And this is easier than the parallel-series mod, so all is good.

Rod

Attached is a modified set of Observation Car Marker LED Board notes, modified with recent user feedback, especially in the area of drumhead lighting. It is specific to board rev R1.2 which now ships with all new kits. The main difference between this board and R1.0b is the new board has provision to mount both a 3362P style trim pot, or only a fixed resistor. The trim pot of course allows adjusting the marker intensity to your liking. The pot pattern also allows the use of side adjust styles 3362S or 3306K.

I should mention that pots are not included with the kits, but are readily available at Digikey et al.

Rod

Thank you very much for the update, Rod!!

Last call for kits in this batch; I am down to only a few left. If you are wanting some please let me know ASAP!

Rod