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LED train headlights.

C

Clive Mitchell

Jan 1, 1970
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I was waiting for a train in Glasgow Central Station (Scotland) today,
and had a good look at the LED side lights and headlights on one of the
Virgin trains. The side lights are quite smart. It's basically a
square PCB with standard 5mm amber LEDs mounted on it in three
positions. The middle cluster for creating a round shape when viewed
from the side, but also two vertical strips of 12 LEDs at either end
that were reflected out sideways by angled reflectors on the cover. It
was a clever approach, since it meant that all the LEDs could be mounted
with their bases against the PCB.

The front and rear LED lights were particularly impressive. Anyone
who's noticed them will probably have assumed they are a grid of Luxeon
emitters, but again they are standard 5mm LEDs mounted on a PCB with the
front lens assembly containing a series of moulded lenses to direct the
output from each LED forward in a narrow angle.

These aren't the main headlights, they are front and rear markers with a
set of red and white fro each end of the train. When you see them lit
they certainly look bright enough!
 
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