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 Posted - December 10 2014 : 9:44:38 PM
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Earlier this week, I visited a Wal-mart, and found they had some neat battery powered LED lights, and the box controller offers 3 functions - On, Flash, and Fade. Now, finding a fader circuit has been one of my quests for awhile, I did buy a kit last year at the Micro Centre computer place, but that cost about $17. This set has 18 LEDs ( either multi-color, or red ), with the x3 AA battery power, and it has all the functions I could want for $4 !  I went to another Wal-mart tonight on the way home, and got 3 more of them. I need a fade circuit for my Halloween haunted train consist, and figured this was the cheapest way to get it done. I'll bet the fader could be usdd for a Mars light, too. The LEDs look like water beads on a windshield, not the typical dome-shaped type. I will probably cut them out to use green ones anyway, since they don't have a green version apparently. Anyway, for $4, I figured some of you guys might be interested, so I post this here. They come in a clear plastic box with green label, called Holiday Time. In a green cardboard tray on a shelf. Some wal-marts don't have these, though, I've been to 4, and 2 didn't have them ( the 2nd and 3rd wal-marts I went to didn't ). Just a heads-up if you're looking for a neat little item that could be very useful on a layout for some lighting tricks.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - December 11 2014 : 12:28:02 PM
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Hey Jerry. Any idea how hard it would be to change the power source to a wall outlet? For instance if you got an old train powerpack or cell phone charger would it be an easy hook-up? I picked up a dollar store string of lights to mess around with...no flasher unfortunately.  I'll have to watch for those!
cheez
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Posted - December 11 2014 : 1:35:12 PM
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3 AA's equal 4.5 volts DC, so you just need a 4.5VDC wall adapter, or set a powerpack to 4.5 volts.
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - December 11 2014 : 4:13:31 PM
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Wouldn't be hard at all, DaCheez, to open up that little "black box" and rig in direct power. Or could just wire it in at the batter connections. Since I want to install mine INSIDE the train, I will probably take the electronics out of the box and put them in a boxcar anyway. :) I also happen to have plenty of 4.8v power bricks from a dumpster dive, might be Blackberry wall-warts. So I'm good there myself. :)
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - December 11 2014 : 7:24:53 PM
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quote:Hey Jerry. Any idea how hard it would be to change the power source to a wall outlet? For instance if you got an old train powerpack or cell phone charger would it be an easy hook-up? I picked up a dollar store string of lights to mess around with...no flasher unfortunately. I'll have to watch for those!
cheez
Originally posted by DaCheez - December 11 2014 : 12:28:02 PM
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The 5 volt side of an old PC power supply should work just fine without overloading anything if it's a 3 cell string. Use the 3 volt side for a 2 cell string.
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - December 11 2014 : 7:27:25 PM
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It almost sounds too easy.  I'll have to give it a shot when I get around to lighting my buildings.
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Posted - December 11 2014 : 11:16:56 PM
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USB supplies like phone chargers are all standard 5 volts, and the circuit should handle the extra 1/2 volt easily. Depending on the flash interval, they might work for emergency vehicles. There are lots of possibilities.
Jerry, do you have a photo or a link?
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - December 12 2014 : 09:31:51 AM
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quote:
Jerry, do you have a photo or a link?
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â December 11 2014Â :Â 11:16:56 PM
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I knew this would come up eventually. LOL ! Ok, here 'tis, both kinds , in and out of box, with a Tyco hopper for scale.
Jerry
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 Posted - November 25 2020 : 6:13:48 PM
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Visit your local Walmart.
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Posted - November 25 2020 : 10:10:44 PM
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This is a great idea. I'm seriously considering this for the EVRR....will have to check Walmart soon, as I need more Goody's anyway. 
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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