Secure Site

Shop with

Confidence

Home
What's New
Search Site
Lighting Products
Lighting Accessories
Lighting Effects Products
Lighting Kits
Little Sounds
Tubing
Photo-etched Products
Stamped Metal Products
Other Detail Stuff
Soldering Aids
Other Cool Tools
Tips 'n Tricks
Ordering & Delivery Info
Feedback
Feedback
Retailers/Distributors

Best viewed using:

 Internet Explorer

or

Mozilla Firefox

Connecting the N8071/B Tower Beacon/Strobe Simulator

 

Installing the N8071 or the N8071B is very straightforward. Because these modules have circuitry on both sides, care must be taken to be sure that their components or wires soldered will not make contact with any metal object which could cause a short circuit.

Included with these modules are three 6” lengths of #32 insulated wire. If necessary, these can be used for power and input control wires. If used, we recommend the red wire be used for the + DC connection. It would be connected to solder point 1 as shown in Fig. 1. This wire could also connect through a switch to the + DC connection for remote control of the lighting effect. The black wire should be connected to – DC and to solder point 2. The violet wire can be used for input control. See below for details regarding this feature.

                                Figure 1

 

Important note: A low-wattage iron with a pointed tip should be used for connection of wires. Too much heat or solder can easily damage the wires, decoder or module and void the warranty.

Also, all connecting wires should be pre-tinned before soldering them to the module. This will make connection quick and easy and ensure excessive heat is not applied to the solder points.

 

Connecting LEDs to the N8071

When connecting the LED, proper polarity must be observed. LEDs are “polarity sensitive” and will not function is connected backwards. The N8071 is configured for connection of up to five (5) 20 ma LEDs with device voltages of 1.85-2.0 VDC. This covers all of Ngineering’s Micro and Nano red or yellow LEDs, as well as many of the red and yellow LEDs available.

Connecting the “primary” LED

The primary LED is the LED that will function as either the beacon or strobe output. This is usually the top-most light on any tower. Using wire appropriate for the size of the LED and its placement in your project, connect the LED cathode (the – connection) to point 3 on the module and connect the LED anode (the +) to solder point 4.

Connecting the “primary” LED to the N8071B

The N8071B is configured for connection of one (1) 20 ma LED with a device voltage of 3.2-3.6 VDC. This covers all of Ngineering’s 2x3, Micro and Nano white LEDs as well as many white LEDs available. This LED is for the primary (top of tower) lighting function.

Connecting secondary (continuously-on) LEDs:

In addition to the primary LED, up to 4 more LEDs can be powered by this module. These LEDs will have continuous power (on all the time). You have the option of connecting a single LED or up to 2 series pairs (4 LEDs), depending on the type of project you are building. Figure 2 shows the wiring diagram for connection of all LEDs to the module.

Each additional LED must be wired with an external resistor in series to limit the current flow through the LED. Included with this module are several 1/8-watt surface-mount resistors. There are two 150Ω (ohm) resistors (plus a spare). These resistors have a surface marking of 1500. These resistors are to be used when a single red (or yellow) LED is connected between points 5 & 6, or points 7 & 6.

Also included are. two 81Ω resistors (plus a spare). These resistors have a surface marking of 80R6. These resistors are to be used instead of the 150Ω resistors if a series pair of LEDs are connected (again, see Figure 2). The resistors are tiny for easy placement and have pre-tinned tabs so soldering is easy.

 

                                                                      Figure 2

 

Once again, be sure to use a low-wattage soldering iron when connecting wires to the module. Our N40M2 12-watt Iron with either the N408I (iron clad) Needle Tip, or the N408X (bare copper) Needle Tip would be an excellent choice for this operation (or any DCC decoder work).

 

Input control

By default, the primary LED connected to this module will produce a beacon effect. If it is preferable that it produce a strobe flash, with a 3-second delay between flashes, connect solder point 8 to DC – (or connect a wire between solder point 2 and 8). This will change the default to strobe.

 

This completes hookup of our N8071/B Universal Strobe module. We hope the added realism it provides enhances your enjoyment of the hobby.

 

© 2012 Ngineering