Kato V1 vs V2 passenger car lighting

[kmcsjr]

Folks

11110, vs 11112

I just installed my first set of version 2 LEDs in a passenger set. At least, over the first few days it seems the flickering is MUCH better. I contacted KatoUSA and I can't get just the new boards to update all my other installs.

1) is the a source for the better boards

2) has anyone easily and cost effectively modified the originals, to decrease flicker

3) are they really better, or have the new ones just not wiggled, to a point, that they flicker?

4) what's the difference between 11111 and 11112?

 

Thanks

Marty

 

 

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[mrp]

There's some good information on lighting in this old thread.

 

I believe the V1 board has just a 560 ohm current limiting resistor in series with the LED. The newer V2 board has a 15mA SemiTech CRD constant current diode in series with the LED - which reduces flickering and gives a more constant light output.

 

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201110/07/02/a0008202_016312.jpg

 

Photo from: http://comingsoon.exblog.jp/13762559/

 

It looks like you could maybe upgrade the V1 to the V2 by replacing the 560 ohm resistor with the S-183T CRD, although the space is a little tight.

 

Neither board has a capacitor. I added ceramic capacitors to my own Kato V2 boards (using the same 1uF value as on Tomix boards) and that reduces the flickering even more - plus helps them work better with Tomix CL Constant Lighting power packs.

 

There are some nice close-ups of someone else's capacitor installation here.

 

http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/27/2f/a35eab738f4db3b43a14a577b77d45c0.jpg

Edited April 28, 2017 by cteno4

[kmcsjr]

mrp

Thank you. Right now, that much, that delicate,soldering is beyond me. Really hoping the boards are available.

 

 

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