Weekend Update - 2/21/2010

[Hiroe]

Tom,

The Delorean is offered by Vitesse, as part of their 1:43 line of scale-ish toys.

David,
Great minds must think alike, eh? I originally picked up a few batches of 0603, 0805, and 1206 leds for use as 'external light fixtures', specifically the bright white and yellow/amber colors. Not only do i agree that the bright white makes an excellent stand-in for mercury-vapor;  but the 590nm wavelength amber leds are almost dead-on for 589nm wavelength sodium-vapor lights. Only problem is, the amber leds are typically offered in *half* the MCD brightness that the white ones are; so either you need to shop around for matching MCD range; or make up the difference with lower operating voltage on the white leds.

--Drew

[ednadolski]

Here's what i was working on this weekend over at Cherry Valley:
...
--Drew

Awesome work, Drew!

[davefoxx]

Great minds must think alike, eh? I originally picked up a few batches of 0603, 0805, and 1206 leds for use as 'external light fixtures', specifically the bright white and yellow/amber colors. Not only do i agree that the bright white makes an excellent stand-in for mercury-vapor;  but the 590nm wavelength amber leds are almost dead-on for 589nm wavelength sodium-vapor lights. Only problem is, the amber leds are typically offered in *half* the MDC brightness that the white ones are; so either you need to shop around for matching MCD range; or make up the difference with lower operating voltage on the white leds.

Is this description in reference to the streetlight or the flux capacitor?  ;D

DFF

[chuck geiger]

get it up to 88 mph

[Freighttrain]

Too bad the one in Part 3 had the box O tubes on the hood.....

[Hiroe]

Too bad the one in Part 3 had the box O tubes on the hood.....

Well, Vitesse does offer that version; but it's apparently far rarer than the Mark 2 version. (...and about 5 times the cost.)

--Drew

[Freighttrain]

yea,I went over to BTTF.com and found a bunch of cars for the movie.....might have to get that 1:24 scale one and make a G gauge version....wish there was an HO scale or a N scale version.....that would be fun at club functions....Maybe you can add some lighting effects to it....Next time your at walmart ask them for a used disposable camera and the flash would make a good Quantum jump flash thingy.

[Hiroe]

I've been contemplating milling out the headlight and taillight details for installing working lights; and i've already got the circuit designed to give proper light flicker of the blue LEDs for the Flux Capacitor. The only hold-up left is just how to keep the car free-rolling while still having all-wheel power pickup.

[Ian MacMillan]

Are you guys getting your SM LED's on ebay in the bulk packs?

[SquirrelHollow]

Are you guys getting your SM LED's on ebay in the bulk packs?

I get mine from Mouser or DigiKey, ordered in ... whatever quantity, quality, brightness, color, and size, I need.  Whenever I have looked, most of the crap on eBay is far too bright for most applications.

[Hiroe]

I've been getting mine in bulk from eBay; as i actually prefer the ultra-bright LEDs. Should i need them less bright, i just run them at less than their rated voltage by adding additional dropping resistors.

[Freighttrain]

I've been contemplating milling out the headlight and taillight details for installing working lights; and i've already got the circuit designed to give proper light flicker of the blue LEDs for the Flux Capacitor. The only hold-up left is just how to keep the car free-rolling while still having all-wheel power pickup.

Why not hide a draw bar low down between the car and pusher locomotive?Run a couple small wires to the locomotive piggy backing on it's power pickup?

[DKS]

Are you guys getting your SM LED's on ebay in the bulk packs?

I'll buy T1 and T1-3/4 LEDs from eBay, but my SMDs come from a number of other sources, most of which I've got listed on this page:

http://jamesriverbranch.net/links2.htm

Lately I've been ordering most frequently from Kingbright USA.

[Ian MacMillan]

Thanks guys.

[Hiroe]

Took a couple of shots with the new lampposts on the layout, with all the regular lights turned off.





These leds were supposedly rated for 2500mCd each, in an extremely dark room. They seem to be just about right for brightness, and the intensity tapers off appropriately as you move away from the spot directly beneath.

--Drew