Hey all,
I am scratchbuilding an HOn30 locomotive onto a Kato 11-109 chassis. I would like to add lights. I have some prewired 9v-12v LEDs that I would like to use. Do I need to add another resistor to these lamps if I jump of the wipers? For that matter, can I just jump off of the wipers? Not my area of expertise to say the least.
TIA,
Matt
Matt,
You can run the LEDs off the wipers or the motor + or - power leads.
I use current limiters for the LEDs as you don't need to worry about what type of resistor to use. One current limiter will handle from 5 to 95 volts.
https://www.railroadkits.com/product/ml-cl-current-limiters/201?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=7
Here is a quick view on how to wire them. Instead of the battery you can use the wipers or motor poles.
Hope this helps.
Tom
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-210126160544-567791801.jpeg)
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 21, 2026, 04:07:02 PMMatt,
You can run the LEDs off the wipers or the motor + or - power leads.
I use current limiters for the LEDs as you don't need to worry about what type of resistor to use. One current limiter will handle from 5 to 95 volts.
https://www.railroadkits.com/product/ml-cl-current-limiters/201?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=7
Here is a quick view on how to wire them. Instead of the battery you can use the wipers or motor poles.
Hope this helps.
Tom
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-210126160544-567791801.jpeg)
Not sure, though, the current limiter would fit in the HOn30 loco body. An SMD resistor might be the only choice.
dave
QuoteHere is a quick view on how to wire them. Instead of the battery you can use the wipers or motor poles.
To connect current limiters and LEDs to either DCC or DC track power, you need to put a bridge rectifier between the track power and the circuit Tom shows. The downside is the rectifier will eat up another 1.5 volts from your track power. I'm about to buy some of these for similar purposes: MCC DB-101 1A 50V bridge rectifiers .25 x .32 x .13"