Bulk supply of 402 led

[ridinshotgun]

So does anyone know of a proven source for bulk quantities of 25 plus pre wired led? Preferably red to start and some white?  Also needed to be lacquered wire. Preferably not at the $3-4 cost of the Richmond Control LED everyone is selling.

I have been burned twice now with eBay and Amazon sellers advertising such items only for them to be either silicone coated or ptfe coated wires which will not work for signal installation.

[Lemosteam]

eBay shop owner evemodel-usa has never sent an improper product to me. Here are his red led’s, search for item number 263474496805

Here is a link to their eBay store https://ebay.io/m/QB5prA

Hopefully the seller has not been one you have been burned by. Also, you did not mention the size. He primarily offered 0402 size led.

[Sumner]

These are supposed to be lacquered wire...(see that John posted as I was typing so these are probably what he was linking to)....

https://www.eve-modeler.com/products/c0402-20pcs-pre-soldered-smd-led-0402?variant=41518993440922

The same number comes up on Amazon, but only see white  ( HERE )

I bought some of the 0201 ( HERE ) that the wire appears to be magnet wire and lacquered coated but can't say that for sure (very little) and haven't used any yet.  I only see white on Amazon but maybe red somewhere else.

Sumner

[ridinshotgun]

eBay shop owner evemodel-usa has never sent an improper product to me. Here are his red led’s, search for item number 263474496805

Here is a link to their eBay store https://ebay.io/m/QB5prA

Hopefully the seller has not been one you have been burned by. Also, you did not mention the size. He primarily offered 0402 size led.

No that isn’t one of the ones I have dealt with. I had them on my saved list but it was a different item number for pre wired 402 red led with copper wires but was shipping from China. Was trying to avoid that. But the listing you linked appears to ship from here in the US. I’ll give them a try.  Thanks.

It seems like most sellers pictures are not of what they are actually selling and just a copy paste of someone’s original page item that was lacquered magnet wire. Hey as long as it is a 402 led everything else is irrelevant. 

[Lemosteam]

Here is a night shot of my red channel obstruction marker lights on my layout…

[robtracy]

I get all of my leds from AliExpress in 0604 and 0402 sizes. All come with leads attached and choice of colours. Also available are bi-coloured leds in 0604 size. You can purchase in large quantities and there are many suppliers on there. I initially used Evemodels, but went to AliExpress.
Also, you can many items that are usable in the hobby, including tools.

[peteski]

I get all of my leds from AliExpress in 0604 and 0402 sizes. All come with leads attached and choice of colours. Also available are bi-coloured leds in 0604 size. You can purchase in large quantities and there are many suppliers on there. I initially used Evemodels, but went to AliExpress.
Also, you can many items that are usable in the hobby, including tools.

But do they use solid enameled magnet wire for leads, or a thin stranded wire with some sort of plastic insulation?

[robtracy]

I have some with magnet wire and some with plastic insulation. The difference in thickness between the magnet wire and insulated wire is miniscule, plus the insulated wires are red, power, and, black, negative. having them coloured saves having to fuss about sorting polarity. for the very small cost for micro leds. I have just opened AliExpress, and found prices from Au$3.48 for 10, Au$16.59 for 100 pieces, and Au$35.59 for 220 pieces. These prices are for 0402 sized LEDS. I don't know how much you are paying at 'bricks and mortar' stores, but I don't think you can go wrong with these prices.

[robtracy]

Further to my rely re 0402 leds. I don't know what scale you model, but our signal guru has had no problem fitting 5 pairs of insulated wires down small brass tubing.

[ridinshotgun]

I have some with magnet wire and some with plastic insulation. The difference in thickness between the magnet wire and insulated wire is miniscule, plus the insulated wires are red, power, and, black, negative. having them coloured saves having to fuss about sorting polarity. for the very small cost for micro leds. I have just opened AliExpress, and found prices from Au$3.48 for 10, Au$16.59 for 100 pieces, and Au$35.59 for 220 pieces. These prices are for 0402 sized LEDS. I don't know how much you are paying at 'bricks and mortar' stores, but I don't think you can go wrong with these prices.

No the thickness difference is not minuscule as you say.  Especially when you are trying to get 4 leds into a signal mast.  I have the poly/PTFE whatever coated wires and compared with some 602 led with magnet wires I have they are almost twice the thickness.

And thanks but no thanks on aliexpress.  I have had multiple issue with things ordered through them and there was no support at all to fix the issues unless a vendor is feeling generous that day.

[peteski]

Also keep in mind that different vendors could also be using different gauge of magnet wire.  I have some magnet wire almost as thin as human hair.

[ridinshotgun]

Also keep in mind that different vendors could also be using different gauge of magnet wire.  I have some magnet wire almost as thin as human hair.

I think the 604 I have are either 38 or 40 gauge wire.  They came from Showcase and I am positive they are supplied to them by Richmond Controls.

[peteski]

I think the 604 I have are either 38 or 40 gauge wire.  They came from Showcase and I am positive they are supplied to them by Richmond Controls.

Yeah, Richmond Controls uses very thin magnet wire with their LEDs (at least that is what I see on their EOT marker LED circuit which I just worked on last Sunday).

Have you considered reducing the wiring by connecting all the common leads (either anode or cathode, whatever is common in your application) and only running a single common wire? Or if the signal mast is brass, use that as the common connection.