Page 18 - May June 2010
P. 18

Lighting from Digirails
Digital carriage lighting
A new self­contained LED lighting bar has been produced by Digirails (from Holland). Aimed at the DCC (including Motorola) user, but also set up “out of the box” to operate on any DC or AC power sources from 5 to 30 volts, these units cover all scales. Simple to use, but technically advanced; the 12 LEDs are con­ trolled by a microprocessor in three interleaved groups of four (ie 1234­1234­1234), which permits a number of uniquely realistic pre­programmed effects, such as the start­up flicker of fluorescent tubes, or the flicker and soft fade to full brightness of gas lighting. Of course normal filament lighting is simulated, without the harsh “on” that other LED lighting provides. Other effects that may be selected are randomly failing/flickering “faulty bulbs” and even a disco effect for those so inclined! (Perhaps a party in the camping coach?) After programming with a DCC controller, the effects will operate on any power source.
Initially available in a universal “Golden White” colour, they are suitable for all eras, and are fully dimmable. No additional external circuitry is needed, as Anti­Flicker is built­in, along with an eight­function DCC decoder (four functions to control the light bar, and four powerful 500 mA “spare” outputs); the addi­ tional functions can be used to control other lighting or acces­ sories, and are fully programmable.
The light bar measures 6 mm wide by 280 mm long by 3 mm thick, and can be shortened by simply cutting the strip and linking a solder pad. Supplied with English instructions, and concise DCC programming information.
Retailing at an introductory UK price of £24.63, they are available from DCC Supplies – www.dccsupplies.com (01905 621 999) (and dealers).
Anti­Flicker protection. As with the DCC light bar, the strips can be shortened LED by LED, or cut in half and used in two carriages, as they contain two control circuits!
Dimming is simple – just adjust the built­in control with a small screwdriver. Full English instructions are supplied.
The light bars can be directly connected to the track by means of pickups (available as an accessory), the auxiliary outputs of a DCC locomotive decoder, or a function decoder.
Measuring 6 mm × 280 mm × a slim 3 mm thick and operating on 5–30 V DCC, AC and DC (analogue), all scales are covered at a budget introductory price of £14.77 (Yellow £9.82!).
Available from DCC Supplies – www.dccsupplies.com (01905 621999) (and dealers).
Accessory pickups
Sophisticated carriage lighting requires sophisticated pickups, and of course Digirails have exceeded the challenge! These precision die­cut pickups have been made from quality phosphor bronze material, and are shaped to provide maximum electrical contact with minimal friction and drag. Mounting holes and wiring points are part of the design (OO/HO versions already have a wire attached). Although labelled as N or OO versions, they are easily fitted to larger­scale and narrow­gauge models. Designed to collect power from both wheels and to be used in pairs (one per bogie), they contact the axle using both wheels to collect current from the rail. They are easily attached to the underside of a bogie using the central mounting hole and the increasingly common plastic rivet/bogie pivot, or using double­ sided tape/epoxy.
An introductory price of £9.83 for a pack of 10 (N or OO/HO) permits budget fitting of up to five carriages. Available from DCC Supplies – www.dccsupplies.com (01905 621999)
(and dealers).
Locomotive lighting
Due to be available soon in the UK is the range of ROCO locomotive lighting kits. These lighting boards are specifically designed to retro­fit to popular ROCO locomotives to offer prototypical illumination and control of head and tail lamps. Best used with a DCC decoder, but will operate directionally on an analogue layout.
Soon to be available from DCC Supplies – www.dccsupplies.com (01905 621999) (and dealers).
  LED anti-flicker light bars
Digirails’ DRC110 “standard” light bars in Bright White, Warm (Golden White) and Yellow are ideal for those who do not need the sophistication of a DCC­controlled light bar but still require an elegant technical solution, at a keen price. These bars contain voltage stabilisation, dimming circuitry and ten LEDs; the addition of an external capacitor (available as an accessory) adds
  18 ROUNDHOUSE














































































   16   17   18   19   20