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Mark 3 carriage lighting voltage question

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adc82140

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A bit random, does anyone know the voltage that feeds the 1st class reading lights on a HST Mk 3?

Just working on a desk light project using a salvaged one.
 
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43096

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A bit random, does anyone know the voltage that feeds the 1st class reading lights on a HST Mk 3?

Just working on a desk light project using a salvaged one.
I’ll ask someone who may know...
 

Energy

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At a guess 5v or 12v, you can get DC transformers with 2 wires on the end which you just plug into the wall. I'd wait till 43096s source gets back or see if the bulb has what it wants written on it.
 

adc82140

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At a guess 5v or 12v, you can get DC transformers with 2 wires on the end which you just plug into the wall. I'd wait till 43096s source gets back or see if the bulb has what it wants written on it.
Thanks. They use a bank of LEDs rather than a bulb. The casing warns of a danger of electric shock, and has an earthing point, so I'm assuming something a bit higher.
 

Energy

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Thanks. They use a bank of LEDs rather than a bulb. The casing warns of a danger of electric shock, and has an earthing point, so I'm assuming something a bit higher.
hmmm, maybe 3v then, I don't really know.
 

dosxuk

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hmmm, maybe 3v then, I don't really know.
3V is not "something a bit higher" than 5V or 12V.

Generally you won't see warning notices on anything less than 48VDC, so the suggestion of 110V is much more likely.
 

Nym

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I have been reliably informed they're connected directly to the battery supply via some MCBs and a contactor, so will be 110V DC.
 
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adc82140

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Many thanks. That gives me food for thought. Either acquire a 110v DC supply, or have the guts out and replace it with something a little less heavy duty.
 

Energy

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3V is not "something a bit higher" than 5V or 12V.

Generally you won't see warning notices on anything less than 48VDC, so the suggestion of 110V is much more likely.
I only read the LED bit so I assumed it was something low, didn't think that there would be a transformer built in :D
 

DelW

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Unless things have changed since I did physics A level many years ago, transformers aren't much use on DC ... ?
 

david1212

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If 110V DC is correct a transformer with secondary output of 80V AC followed by a bridge rectifier and capacitor would give a nominal 110V DC. The ratings required and the capacitor value would depend on the current draw but as LED logically that will be low.

The actual LED bank probably requires rather less than 110V DC. Inspection of the internals would reveal if the ' dropper ' is separate or integral to the LED assembly. If the former you could bypass it and supply whatever voltage is at the output of the dropper.
 

Nym

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If 110V DC is correct a transformer with secondary output of 80V AC followed by a bridge rectifier and capacitor would give a nominal 110V DC. The ratings required and the capacitor value would depend on the current draw but as LED logically that will be low.
None of which is really commonly available or accessible to "normal" people.

The actual LED bank probably requires rather less than 110V DC. Inspection of the internals would reveal if the ' dropper ' is separate or integral to the LED assembly. If the former you could bypass it and supply whatever voltage is at the output of the dropper.

You could, but in order to meet the requirements of the standards, it is very likely that there is a thick layer of conformal coating on the PCB mount components that would need to be removed first.
Perhaps one hope is that separate boards were used by LPA Excil at the time of design, but from their later work they tend to like to include everting on a single PCB.
 

adc82140

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The highest output domestically available plug in transformer seems to be 50V DC. Getting 110v isn't in itself a problem, a UK to US power adaptor would do that. However it would still be AC. I need to be able to rectify that.

I do retain the second option of gutting it and replacing the innards with a 12V system.
 

Energy

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Personally I'd gut it for a 5v or 12v system, getting 110v dc will be difficult and expensive.
 

davart

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Why not contact the manufacturer? You never know - they may provide you with wiring diagrams and or other technical documentation...
 

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david1212

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....
You could, but in order to meet the requirements of the standards, it is very likely that there is a thick layer of conformal coating on the PCB mount components that would need to be removed first.
Perhaps one hope is that separate boards were used by LPA Excil at the time of design, but from their later work they tend to like to include everting on a single PCB.

I suspected the construction would be like this both for electrical protection / isolation and physical immunity to vibration. My thought was based around separate boards / modules.

The highest output domestically available plug in transformer seems to be 50V DC. Getting 110v isn't in itself a problem, a UK to US power adaptor would do that. However it would still be AC. I need to be able to rectify that.

I do retain the second option of gutting it and replacing the innards with a 12V system.

Simply rectifying 110V AC will give an average rms 110V DC but derived from UK mains with 100Hz ripple and a peak of 155V. Further adding a smoothing capacitor to reduce the ripple to around 10V will result in around 150V DC not 110V. I suspect the specification for the train 110V DC has a tolerance of at least 10% and maybe more but not 35%.

110V AC is considered relatively safe and hence the industrial hand held tool voltage. For DC 50V is considered the maximum safe voltage. Hence why a lot of telecomms uses 48V.

If you could source two small isolated 48V DC supplies wired in series that would be 96V. Most though will have a far higher current output capability than you need and unless sourced as surplus expensive.

Just like the voltage requirement needs to be confirmed to be 110V DC so too does the current draw. I would expect the current draw to be low given that a typical 40W equivalent LED household bulb will around 6W. A test would be twelve 9V alkaline batteries ( e.g. Kodak from Poundland ) in series and a current meter / multimeter in current mode in line to measure. I would be surprised if more than 100mA as that is 10W. Taking one then two batteries out would find if the lamp still worked fine if a little dimmer from 99V then 90V.

..... getting 110v dc will be difficult and expensive.

That depends on your definition of difficult and expensive.

My approach if a little under 110V would suffice is two small transformers each with two 18V secondary outputs. The smallest other than PCB mount will be around 12VA and the regulation of small transformers is generally around 20%. With the secondaries in series the total will be around 80V DC at 50% load. Rectify this with a small bridge rectifier and follow with a 100uF capacitor so the ripple is around 10V / 10%. With a 100mA load the nominal output would be around 100V DC.

With a higher input e.g. one 18V transformer and one 24V transfomer there would be enough overhead to regulate to 110V DC without too much heat dissipation but to me over the top to replicate a rail supply for a lamp.

Add fuses and fuse holders on both input and output. Parts cost I guess around £30 plus a suitable enclosure. If this was hidden just a simple diecast box at perhaps £10, if exposed something suitable and decent looking would cost rather more.
 

Energy

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That depends on your definition of difficult and expensive.

My approach if a little under 110V would suffice is two small transformers each with two 18V secondary outputs. The smallest other than PCB mount will be around 12VA and the regulation of small transformers is generally around 20%. With the secondaries in series the total will be around 80V DC at 50% load. Rectify this with a small bridge rectifier and follow with a 100uF capacitor so the ripple is around 10V / 10%. With a 100mA load the nominal output would be around 100V DC.

With a higher input e.g. one 18V transformer and one 24V transfomer there would be enough overhead to regulate to 110V DC without too much heat dissipation but to me over the top to replicate a rail supply for a lamp.

Add fuses and fuse holders on both input and output. Parts cost I guess around £30 plus a suitable enclosure. If this was hidden just a simple diecast box at perhaps £10, if exposed something suitable and decent looking would cost rather more.
Alternatively a kit of an LED strip and small 12v plug transformer is £15-20 on Amazon.
 

adc82140

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I've worked out how to get the thing apart, so it's going to get a new bank of 12v LEDs. Much easier in the long run.
 

david1212

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I'm too ' old school ' ....................

A 48V power supply is now cheaper than a transformer !!!

Power Supply

Data Sheet

Two in series is 96V but if as I suspect the fifth line means +/-10% adjustment you can set at top limit 105 - 106V DC.

Then the lamp remains totally original.
 

Nym

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Or just look at what it will work on. It's complaint to RIA-12 (or should be) so that's a much wider operating range than one might expect.
 
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