A 'workaround' for Class 33 due to no available spares.

Discussion in 'Heljan RTR' started by Keith M, Jul 24, 2016.

  1. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,446
    Likes Received:
    2,902
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2015
    Toto was kind enough to help me out with the spare parts list for Class 33, as a used one I bought recently didn't have one, and the 4 "Light transmission bars" for the headcode lighting were missing. Once knowing the part number, a quick email to Howes, the UK parts agent for Heljan, resulted in my being informed that the parts I needed were out of stock, the only time Heljan made parts was during a production run for that model and no more were expected , as this model has recently been retooled......so basically, I'm stuffed! Anyway, a bit of thought, and I came up with a fix, using a couple of SMD LED's. I removed the bulb from the lead end of each connector feeding the headcode via these "light transmission bars", soldered in a 1K resistor to the positive lead, then an SMD LED, glued into place with said SMD down the slot at the back of the headcode area, thus illuminating the headcode. With both ends plugged back in and loco reassembled, job's a 'gud un', though I may need to dim them down a bit by altering CV's in the decoder. Below is a pic showing the leads from the LED's, ready for plugging into the sockets on the loco's PC board. Extra white/yellow/blue wires are for cab lighting in my usual manner.
    Keith.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  2. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,446
    Likes Received:
    2,902
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2015
    .....and the finished article, maybe a bit bright, but what else can you do in a 'no spares' situation but try a 'workaround'?
    Keith.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  3. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

    Messages:
    15,419
    Likes Received:
    3,842
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2017
    Excellent job Keith. Maybe a resistor would subdue the brightness a bit . Regardless though, I'd be more than happy with that.

    Well done Sir. :thumbs:
     
  4. SRman

    SRman Full Member

    Messages:
    895
    Likes Received:
    429
    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2015
    A devilishly clever solution, Keith.

    As you said, they are a little on the bright side but it should be possible to tame them using CV settings.
     
  5. Marty

    Marty Full Member

    Messages:
    132
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2016
    Nice work Keith, and there is, to my mind, a certain amount of satisfaction when you come up with a working solution.

    It's what this hobby is all about.

    Marty
     
  6. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    3,896
    Likes Received:
    3,622
    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2018
    Is that subject to which decoder you have?
     
  7. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,446
    Likes Received:
    2,902
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2015
    It's a while since this was posted Andy, but as far as I'm aware, it should be possible to reduce the voltage of any of the function switched outputs by altering the CV's, but you'd need to look at the user manual of the decoder manufacturer for more information. I would assume that most if not all decoders would have this facility, but again, the User Manual will confirm (or otherwise) this.
    Keith.
     
    Andy_Sollis likes this.

Share This Page