Post by mrz on Oct 6, 2019 15:00:08 GMT -5
Hello from across the pond in the UK
This will be the first time I have started a thread, so I hope it all works OK
Myself and my good friend Steve have been looking at our older style Marklin locos and have been disappointed with the light bulbs and have been thinking for a long time about upgrading to LED. The latest locos mostly have LED lights that are so much brighter even at low speed – yet there are still a few new releases that have the old bulb style light fitted.
We have looked at buying replacement LEDs that are either expensive, difficult to buy, either being on back order or simply not available - to others requiring soldering and loco alteration to fit.
So over the last year we have been working with a UK electronics company and have been developing a suitable quality replacement LED which is a lot easier to install at a really competitive price, AND we have added the addition of a combined white and red unit to add tail lights on a loco.
Finally 3 weeks ago they have been finished (we had to order quite a lot to try and keep the price down – which was still a scary 4 figure amount !) however the end results came out really well.
They are ratted to 12v and illuminate at approx. 2 volt, so are nice and clear at really low speeds. We have called the CK LED which are our surnames – I know, not that original !
We have made more than enough to sell the surplus to all our friends in the Z world at a great price per pack of
1 x LED White @ £7.50
2 x LED White @ £12.50
5 x LED White @ £25.00
Or
1 x LED Red/White @ £9.00
2 x LED Red/White @ £15.00
5 x LED Red/White @ £30.00
We have made a video to show the upgrade difference at
We have added an instruction video to change the bulbs at
We listed them on EBay on Friday and they have started very well – just type in CK LED Z Scale and they should come up – or alternatively the listing number is 333350210040
The White CK LED are a direct replacement unit that will offer, in most examples, a clear brighter upgrade starting at low speeds and are directional in all locos with lights front at rear that we have tried. The red & white LED offers an attractive red tail light (admittedly, not strictly prototypical on Swiss locos; yet we feel very worthy of change). These do require removal of the diodes in the loco which will require a little skill and effort to change on the electric plates – a lot easier on the crocodiles as the diodes are under the silver contact which are under the light units.
The red & white kits also include a silver washer to fit as a replacement for the diode on the electric plate and a brass washer to fit the crocodiles. The crocodile diodes are a slightly different size.
The only loco we have currently found that will need a small modification for the LED is the Marklin 8854/88541 - Class 103 express loco, as the lenses in the loco slightly fouls the LED – however we have found an easy modification to still get them to fit.
I will try and add some pictures in to the tread as well – not done that before either so fingures crossed
What do you all think ? Thanks Paul
This will be the first time I have started a thread, so I hope it all works OK
Myself and my good friend Steve have been looking at our older style Marklin locos and have been disappointed with the light bulbs and have been thinking for a long time about upgrading to LED. The latest locos mostly have LED lights that are so much brighter even at low speed – yet there are still a few new releases that have the old bulb style light fitted.
We have looked at buying replacement LEDs that are either expensive, difficult to buy, either being on back order or simply not available - to others requiring soldering and loco alteration to fit.
So over the last year we have been working with a UK electronics company and have been developing a suitable quality replacement LED which is a lot easier to install at a really competitive price, AND we have added the addition of a combined white and red unit to add tail lights on a loco.
Finally 3 weeks ago they have been finished (we had to order quite a lot to try and keep the price down – which was still a scary 4 figure amount !) however the end results came out really well.
They are ratted to 12v and illuminate at approx. 2 volt, so are nice and clear at really low speeds. We have called the CK LED which are our surnames – I know, not that original !
We have made more than enough to sell the surplus to all our friends in the Z world at a great price per pack of
1 x LED White @ £7.50
2 x LED White @ £12.50
5 x LED White @ £25.00
Or
1 x LED Red/White @ £9.00
2 x LED Red/White @ £15.00
5 x LED Red/White @ £30.00
We have made a video to show the upgrade difference at
We have added an instruction video to change the bulbs at
We listed them on EBay on Friday and they have started very well – just type in CK LED Z Scale and they should come up – or alternatively the listing number is 333350210040
The White CK LED are a direct replacement unit that will offer, in most examples, a clear brighter upgrade starting at low speeds and are directional in all locos with lights front at rear that we have tried. The red & white LED offers an attractive red tail light (admittedly, not strictly prototypical on Swiss locos; yet we feel very worthy of change). These do require removal of the diodes in the loco which will require a little skill and effort to change on the electric plates – a lot easier on the crocodiles as the diodes are under the silver contact which are under the light units.
The red & white kits also include a silver washer to fit as a replacement for the diode on the electric plate and a brass washer to fit the crocodiles. The crocodile diodes are a slightly different size.
The only loco we have currently found that will need a small modification for the LED is the Marklin 8854/88541 - Class 103 express loco, as the lenses in the loco slightly fouls the LED – however we have found an easy modification to still get them to fit.
I will try and add some pictures in to the tread as well – not done that before either so fingures crossed
What do you all think ? Thanks Paul
