TimberSurf’s Model Railway
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Lumsdonia Railway
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Dimming
How do I control the brightness of my LED’s? (Or Motor speed)
If you vary the voltage to an LED, it will reduce the brightness, similarly varying the voltage to a motor will vary its speed. However, the percentage of voltage is NOT proportional to the brightness (speed). In fact a small reduction from the nominal value will produce a marked reduction in brightness (speed) and about mid way will extinguish the light (stop the motor)!
A far better way is to reduce the power input, by means of switching the supply on and off very quickly (hundreds of times a second).
How do I reduce the brightness of my LED’s without using different resistors than those supplied or alter all of them with one control?
You could build a PWM {Pulse Width Modulation} electronic circuit from discrete components or spend lots of wonga on a “Woodland Scenics Just Plug” system or program an Arduino and transistorised output.
But here are a few ways to make it more centrally controlled, use a computer and a Ledwiz or lots of DCC accessory decoders. It still works out expensive and complicated!
So here are a few cheap ones!
The two on the right are designed for LED’s and have a remote key fob control panel.
Those below are designed for controlling motors and have hard wired controls
ANY of these can be used for either LED’s OR motors!
There are many more with even higher current outputs:
10A for< £4
20A for< £5
40A for <£8
1
Wireless Controller
With this article you can adjust the brightness of the LED power.
Mainly used to control single color LED lamps.
Material: Plastic;
Net Weight: 46g
Power: max 8A
Voltage: DC 12V
Power: max 92W
Connection: Anode
Remote Control
UP: increases the brightness
DOWN: Decreases brightness
ON/ OFF
Price guide= <£4
Dimmer & Dynamic Remote
8 Dynamic Effects
Ultra Slim Design
10-Level Dimmer
Smooth Dinner Effect
256-Garde PWM
1 to 2 Remote Paired
Speed Adjustable
Auto Save Function
Specification:
Dynamic 8 modes
Dynamic speed 10 levels
Lighting brightness 10 levels
PWM grade 256 grades
Smooth dimmer effect Yes
Working voltage DC 12~24V
Output current Peak 6A
Remote control mode RF Wireless
Remote frequency 433.92MHz
Remote distance >30m at open area
3X(Low Voltage DC PWM Motor Speed Controller Module 1.8V 3V-5V-6V 12V 2A F4P43X
(This motor speed controller allows the direction of a DC motor to be controlled using a pulse width modulated (PWM) DC voltage.
With a back-up fuse, it can automatically break the connection and restore it automatically.
With an LED indicator and a rotary switch, convenient to use..
Material: PCB
Power, Output: Max.2A
Input voltage: DC1.8V,3V ,5V,6V,12V
Item Size: 3 * 5.5 * 1cm / 1.2 * 2.2 * 0.4in
Item Weight: 14g / 0.5oz
Price guide= <£3 for 3
6V 12V 24V 3A PWM DC Motor Speed Controller Forward Reverse Switch Contr T6D2
Input voltage: DC6V-28V
Maximum current: 3A
Potentiometer with switch function
With reversing control
Size: 32mm * 50mm * 15mm
COLOR:black&green
Package including:
1pcs PWM DC Motor Speed Controller Forward Reverse Switch Control 1203B
Price guide= <£3
PWM DC 3A 6V 12V 24V 28V Motor Speed Control Switch Controller
This DC Motor Speed Controller allows controlling the direction of a DC motor using a Pulse-Width-Modulated (PWM) DC voltage with a Duty Cycle fully adjustable from 0%-100%.
The motor speed controller can easily provide a continuous current of 3A to your DC motor or other DC load.
Main technical parameters:
Input supply voltage:6V-28VDC
The maximum output power: 80W
The maximum continuous output current :3A
Duty Cycle adjustable:5%-100%
Price guide= <£2
DC 6V-12V 6A Motor Speed Control PWM Controller Switch 50 x 37 x 28 mm
- With switch, can turn off motor.
- Regulate DC motor's speed to 0% -100% of original speed.
- Widely apply to industrial production. Product Size: 50 x 37 x 28 mm (exclude switch size).
- Power tube number: 1 power FET.
- Input voltage: DC Power 6V-12V, wide voltage, applied to 6V, 9V, 12V motor,
Price guide= <£3
PWM Dimmer Controller LED Light Lamp Strip Adjustable Brightness 12V-24V 0.8A
- Great dimmer for the LED lights
- Solid and durable, works stably
- Easy to install and simple to use
- There is a black knob, just twirl it to adjust the brightness of LED lights
- It's suitable for DC 12V - 24V power
- Output Current: 0.8A
- Output Power: 96W
- Dimension(L x W x H): Approx. 88 x 60 x 56mm(3.5 x 2.4 x 2.2 inch)
- Colour: Beige
Price guide= <£3
Price guide derived from items on Ebay from China with free shipping in 2018
This is just small enough to fit in a track powered carriage to give remote On/Off and dimming!