LEDs not working

[Paul M]

Hopefully someone can help with a few suggestions here. My railcar suddenly stopped working, as in just stopped. After a quick investigation, we found a detached wire, which solved the problem of no movement. Unfortunately we found the the red/white bi-coloured LEDs at both ends failed to work, other than the white lights at one end only light up when the engine has stopped. I've looked at all the cables and can't find anything amiss, but then again I'm only really guessing, no more loose wires etc. Would it be that one of the electronic boards pictured have blown?

The one with the green cover seems to be a bit iffy, with the marks on the capacitors(?)

 

[Gizzy]

The installation looks a little 'untidy'. If you can see scorch marks on capacitors, then they will have probably ly popped....

 

[pugwash]

Let's give our resident loco-leccy exsquirt a call. PhilP can you take a look please?

 

[GAP]

In the top photo there is a hole in the heatshrink covering.
I'd be looking at what caused that first.
As Gizzy said maybe something has failed that caused it. Overheating perhaps caused by the detached wire touching something it shouldn't.

 

[PhilP]

I see a Brian Jones Mac5 controller. - Which are pretty bomb proof..

Guessing, but the green shrink-wrapped item looks like it was fastened out of the way?
This might be the receiver, but more likely a relay unit to swap polarity to the bi-colour LEDs..

If this is a c/o relay, it is probably controlled by an output on the Mac5. This unit is possibly the weak link in the system.

PhilP.

 

[Paul M]

Thanks for your replies. The railcar came to me second hand, and seems to be quite elderly. Perhaps i should really be looking at a total rewiring, because as said it's a bit untidy in there, and i think the batteries may be on their way out. Not some thing to look forward to.

 

[Rhinochugger]

I see a Brian Jones Mac5 controller. - Which are pretty bomb proof..

Guessing, but the green shrink-wrapped item looks like it was fastened out of the way?
This might be the receiver, but more likely a relay unit to swap polarity to the bi-colour LEDs..

If this is a c/o relay, it is probably controlled by an output on the Mac5. This unit is possibly the weak link in the system.

PhilP.

I'm pretty sure the Mac-5 will deliver directional lights, so, even with bi-colour LEDs do we really need a relay

 

[Rhinochugger]

I see a Brian Jones Mac5 controller. - Which are pretty bomb proof..

Guessing, but the green shrink-wrapped item looks like it was fastened out of the way?
This might be the receiver, but more likely a relay unit to swap polarity to the bi-colour LEDs..

If this is a c/o relay, it is probably controlled by an output on the Mac5. This unit is possibly the weak link in the system.

PhilP.

I thought I put a comment in here, but I can't see it - so here goes a repeat (just in case)

I think the Mac5 delivers directional lights, so is a relay really needed.

Or, have I simply got standard LEDs wired to the same outlet in opposite polarities I have a Mac5 in Big Bertha and the memory is fadin...........................

 

[PhilP]

I think the Mac5 delivers directional lights, so is a relay really needed.

It's complicated..

I am not sure if they are 'logic' type outputs (so a V+ when on, and 0V when off) or more-likely transistor switches (connection to ground, 0V when on, and open-circuit when off)..

If the latter, then yes, a relay wired as a DPDT changeover (reversing) switch will be needed to reverse the polarity to a two-wire bi-colour LED.

The wiring is a bit untidy, so difficult to work out what everything is doing.
If the OP can provide more information, it should be possible to provide guidance and diagnose the fault. - Don't 'just rip everything out' without working out which the main feeds and components are!

PhilP.

 

[pugwash]

P Paul M it might be an idea to gently move things apart and take more pictures, I would be inclined to take half a dozen or so and concentrate on one section per shot. As PhilP says more information is needed but a picture says blah blah blah and I don't suppose a handbook is available. Also if you do rewire everything then a pictorial reference would be helpful to look at when absolutely nothing works.
How do you know all of this pugwash?
It's a car.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Thanks for your replies. The railcar came to me second hand, and seems to be quite elderly. Perhaps i should really be looking at a total rewiring, because as said it's a bit untidy in there, and i think the batteries may be on their way out. Not some thing to look forward to.

I'm pretty sure the Mac5 terminals are labelled - that's probably a big help. if not, I'm sure that if Brian Jones is still making them, he'd send a copy of the instructions.

Don't know if I still have my Mac5 instructions