26. Wiring LED lights to your Layout or Diorama

[@peterlutz7191]

Terrific idea using clothes pin to hold the light poles up as the glue dries!

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you Peter, just make sure you don't glue the pegs lol.

[@ShaileshPatel-c2d]

Hi Mark, really interesting watching how you clearly explain, and the ideas that I never imagined to put to use. Thank you and keep up the work

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you so much for the nice comment. Glad it was helpful!

[@malcolm1933]

Just found your site and subscribed . It's actually quite nice to see someone doing what their talking about instead of just showing it done

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you Malcolm, I appreciate it. I hope you find the other content equally helpful.

[@MarkoAbo]

Thanks from Portland, Oregon USA

[@DonegalDadRail]

You are very welcome.

[@jusam6854]

Good content, well explained. Thank you for taking the time to upload it!

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you, Glad it was helpful!

[@XORRAIL]

thanks for sharing, makes me feel like giving it a go on my layout

[@DonegalDadRail]

You are very welcome

[@shortybond7546]

Well done, thanks for that. Now I have a better idea on what I need to do. Cheers.

[@DonegalDadRail]

You are welcome. Glad to help.

[@theangelsmodellingandrailways]

You make some great points in wiring up the LEDs, the warning about using 9v battery makes sense, easy to grab the first battery you have to try out new lights and its usually one of them lying around. Enjoyed the latest update. All the best.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you Angels Share.

[@Knappist]

Great idea using cable ties, some great tips thank you 👍

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thanks, glad you found it useful.

[@artkingofwholefoods74]

Great stuff!

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thanks!

[@charleswalsh9895]

All your videos are great.!!

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you Charles

[@DruSteel69]

Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Glad you liked it

[@cillianandaoibheannsadvent3917]

Excellent job looking to do something like this for under Christmas tree this year

[@DonegalDadRail]

Go for it, I have a layout for Christmas with lights and running Santa trains.

[@cillianandaoibheannsadvent3917]

@@DonegalDadRail I'm hoping to replicate the layout in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaLSqZh-gatpnK8 . Might use Dcc hornby train sets.

[@normanrowe2831]

Hi ya Mark. Another informative tutorial. Thanks. See ya.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thanks Norman

[@rydermike33]

Hello Mark. Really enjoying your 'how to' videos and the history of Donegal station and railway. Many thanks and keep up the great work.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you Mike I'm glad you are enjoying them.

[@roystudds1944]

Another great video, thanks for sharing. Thanks also for your advice on the colour light signals. It was a wiring issue causing the problem. However, on one of the signals I think we’ve blown the bulbs somehow. Looking for replacement bulbs now! Roy.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Glad it helped

[@neilbarnett3046]

Testing the lights: I use a little CR2032 3V lithium cell that I have taken out of the kitchen scales. Can't blow anything with that, but it's enough to just make an LED glow. And there's a + mark on the top, so you know. Might not work with some white ones, but I don't use them.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Good tip Neil.

[@Astro-rq5vp]

This video is very helpful

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thanks for watching, glad it helped.

[@peterbrown4768]

Hello Mark, I've watched this video again now I'm closer to actually needing to wire up some lights myself. Some of the wires from lights are as thin as cats whiskers - can these be soldered to and extended with 'normal' wire to reach a buck converter for instance?

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi Peter yes they can be soldered , be careful stripping the insulation as you can easily break the wires. I use the soldering iron to melt/burn it off.

[@SkipRoGlo]

Great video. Which resister for 12 volt to 3 volt! What is your power source? Can I use 1/8” rubber mat for my track bed? Will it cause me trouble?

[@DonegalDadRail]

Thank you 4.8kohms put will depend on LED and how bright you want them. I use a 12v power supply. Never used rubber may cause problems with gluing ballast. I use 2mm cork. Hope this helps.

[@paulwilson2118]

Fantastic vid very informative. I got a question where do you get wire to contect the lights I have tried local electrical wholesalers but to no avail. Thanks for any help and advice.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi Paul Thank you I get this wire www.rapidonline.com/unistrand-7-0-2-red-stranded-wire-def-stan-61-12-part-6-nominal-100m-01-0631 or if you have any old phone charger, HDMI, scart cables etc. they can be striped down for wires. Hope this helps.

[@R.D.G.C.]

Thank you for this. What are those wire strippers called? I have never seen a set like that. What gauge do they go down to?

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi got them from Lidl if you google Lidl Parkside/Powerfix Crimp pliers Wire cutters/strippers. Similar ones are available from most places. They can be adjusted for different gauge wires

[@DiggerEvans]

hiya Mark, Im just on with adding more 3v street lights to my layout too

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi Digger lights really add something to a layout

[@FALCONMINISTUDIOS]

hello there friend I appreciate your video, very easy to understand. I'm not new to miniatures but I am to Led lighting models and currently soaking up info and learning as much as I can since I have a project I'm currently working on which will be lit up, it will be an HO scale little Christmas town and I would like to do the lighting correctly since it will be a gift for a friend on December 1st. I purchased some HO scale lamps as well as the distributor board from a company called Evemodel. they make stuff for miniature train layouts. I was wondering if you know about them and if possible some more guidance on how to connect and add lights, I need to understand voltage and those other important things. thank you!

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi have not come across Evemodel before, the important thing with LED's is wire them the right way round and use the correct voltage so they do not burn out. Decide are going to wire them in parallel (each connected separately) or series (connected one after another). Recommend parallel so if one LED fails then they all don't. Hope this helps.

[@AngelusGB]

?: Hi Mark, I’m brand new to modelling & I’m trying to work out street, building lighting etc, your video was very helpful - Can I ask when you contacted each separate light to the main live & neutral did you connect all the light wires to the one main L/N wire? Or did you use separate? It looks like one but I would like to make sure. Thanks in advance, Angel ✌🏻

[@DonegalDadRail]

I have the one 12v supply running around the layout. All lights are connected to this. If using LED's, make sure each one has its own resistor or they may not work. Hope this helps.

[@AngelusGB]

@@DonegalDadRail thank you for replying 🙏🏻 totally helps! I’m researching as much re lights as possible first for common sense! I do not want to blow them or me up 😆

[@lenedamaki8603]

Hi Mark , Thank you for your video it was easily understandable, but I wonder if I can wire the lights to a cord with a switch that will plug into a wall socket.

[@DonegalDadRail]

You would need a transformer to reduce the voltage to what every type of lights you are using.

[@beatlebrad5339]

Hi. So I was wondering win you put on a resistor on . What do you do with the other end of the resistor ... Do you but tape on it or leave it bear . And is that ok. Thank you so much for your help great video . And I am just now starting to put out my track lay out see you later!!!!!

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi, with the other end of the resistor it should not be left bear incase it causes a short. I usually cover it in heat shrink. I am currently working on another video on LED's which should be out shortly so keep an eye out. It may help. Thanks Mark

[@beatlebrad5339]

:).

[@beatlebrad5339]

Thank you Mark for responding. Take care!!!

[@gil6114]

Could I use a 6v power adapter as a power source and eliminate the resistor? I plan on using use a toggle switch for on and off for non led lamp post.

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi BNSF7084gh, most LED's are between 1.5V and 3.3V. So even with a 6V supply you will still need a resistor. One way around would be to wire the LED's in series instead of parallel i.e. connect LED's together instead of individually to the power supply.

[@gil6114]

@@DonegalDadRail So if I use a 6v or lower adapter example a phone charger and run a +/- bus lines throughout my layout are you saying I can connect each lamp post individually. Note my lamp post are old and are not LED.

[@DonegalDadRail]

If they are not LED they should be OK with 6V, most of those type of bulbs are 12V. But you need to test one first to make sure they don't blow.

[@gil6114]

@@DonegalDadRail Ok thanks!

[@paulmacey9084]

can you help me where can I get the three batter tester from

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi Paul, I got my battery holder out of an old electronics set. But if you search on eBay for Battery Holder plenty will come up.

[@danlevay5657]

Extra points for intro music.

[@DonegalDadRail]

LOL thanks Dan

[@darrencoyle3290]

Hi , What value of resistor did you fit and how did you determine it ????

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi Darren if you do a google search for "reduce voltage with resistor calculator" you will find plenty of calculators to help you out. The resistors I use are 1Kohm, these work for my setup. If I find the lights to bright then I just wire two resistors in series. Hope this helps.

[@darrencoyle3290]

@@DonegalDadRail Thanks..

[@dancerjim]

If you are adding to an older layout, you can’t turn on its side and you can’t solder upside down, what would you do?

[@DonegalDadRail]

You can use electrical connectors like thesewww.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Quality-Connector-Strip-12-Way-Block-3-5-10-15-30-60-Amp-Electrical-Wire/132358819204?hash=item1ed1334d84:g:-aYAAOSw9hdZ7z2l or splice connector like these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scotch-Lock-Wire-Connectors-Quick-Splice-Scotchlok-Electrical-Cable-Joints/132083799109?hash=item1ec0ced445:g:m7UAAOSw241Yk2M3

[@dancerjim]

Thank you.

[@HumancityJunction]

Is your layout DC or DCC? Will you be using DCC to control the lights? If not, what will you use? (I do not mean the power source, but how you will turn them on and off.

[@DonegalDadRail]

This is a simple DC layout for the museum so it will have a push button timer for children to work it.

[@paulmacey9084]

how did you connect the bus wire to your controller please

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi Paul I used electrical connectors sometimes called chocolate block connectors. If I need extra wire I use bell/speaker wire. Hope this answers your question. I do a live on Thursday evenings if you pop in and leave a comment in the chat I can show you.

[@paulmacey9084]

@@DonegalDadRail I mean the train controller to the bus wire under the layout board

[@DonegalDadRail]

Not sure what you mean, I use electrical connectors but I also soldier connections on to the bus wire

[@martinwalsh3228]

The Reopening of the Western Rail Corridor would cut down on Traffic Jams, Car Accidents, Road Deaths & Pollution and 24 hour trains in summer & St. Stephen's Day trains too put it on 4 RTE programmes The Week In Politics, Nationwide, Claire Byrne Live & Prime Time.

[@DonegalDadRail]

👍

[@martinwalsh3228]

@@DonegalDadRail Contact all RTE programmes about it sooner rather then later.

[@johnkennedy1242]

Hello from Dublin 12

[@DonegalDadRail]

Hi John from Donegal.