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Home > What Are The Pros And Cons Of LED And DCC Lighting On Model Railroad Layouts?
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of LED And DCC Lighting On Model Railroad Layouts?
by Robert R
There are so many possibilities for DCC lighting within your layout. Since there are so many choices there are some that are better than others, and everyone has their opinion on which is best. I don't want to take sides, but I will pass on some comments and observation made to me on the subject. You'll then be able to draw your own conclusions as to what's best based on your skills and your model train layout.
LED lights aren't preferred by some:
Initially, you may be drawn to LED lights because they have a longer lifespan compared to a regular light bulb. This may be true but they have not been recommended by some experts for use in fireboxes and special headlight effects because of their stiff, uninsulated leads. So if they don't recommend using LED's what do they recommend? A few ideas are grain of wheat and rice bulbs. These are recommended because they generally have black, insulated leads which are much easier to install on your locomotives and layouts. The complexity of installing LED's is just not a fun process for everyone, thus you should really consider other options before you make the decision to go with LED lights.
There are lights on the market that have a similar lifespan to LED's and are easier to install. They are called Circuitronics bulbs. These bulbs have a lifespan of 10,000 hours, which is an amazing amount of time. You won't even have time to burn them out because you will probably be on to another layout or project. Circuitronics bulbs come in clear, red, green, and yellow.
But, LED lights are preferred by some:
The lifespan of LED's is the one of the best selling points. But if the lifespan just isn't that big of a deal, there are other factors that make LED's a good choice for DCC lighting. LED's are actually better at producing light. This is one reason why they are brighter and more easily seen. It is said that LED's produce light and some heat, while lamps produce heat and some light. The light that is produced by an LED bulb is less sensitive to a change in voltage and current. Since LED's are less sensitive they can be more reliable within a layout because a change in voltage and current is likely to occur, it just happens.
LED's produce light in a beam like a flashlight which is why they work so well in headlights. You may want to use LED bulbs in the headlights of your locomotives because they will light up the area in front of them very well as they travel along the track. This look is more realistic. However, lamps are good for the interior of cabs and passenger cars because the light isn't as focused as an LED bulb. Lamps can also be good as headlights simply because they will also light up the cab of the locomotive, but they do not produce as much light in front of the locomotive.
The fun and realistic touch of flickering fireboxes:
If your interest is strictly in steam engines, or maybe you just have a steam train layout for no particular reason, you may want to consider incorporating a flickering firebox. These features add a more realistic touch to your locomotive, making them look like they are actually burning coal.
The brightness and appearance of your flickering firebox is strictly based according to your own opinion. The flicker will depend on the value of the resistor you use. The lower the value of the resistor the more the flicker will be visible. So if you don't want the flicker to be too much you may want to have a higher resistor in place.
DCC lighting is simply a matter of opinion and desire to make your layout look realistic or not. Some consider installing DCC lighting a lot of work, but it is another good project itself.
About the Author
Mike recommends you download free sample pages of Model Train Help at modelrailroadhub.com to learn more about DCC, building scenery, wiring and everything you need to know to create the perfect model railroad layout.
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