These tiny little circuits are the same small size as our Lighting Effects Simulator boards (.310" x .310") and a bit thinner at .100". They use a very tiny high-precision pass-through 3.3-volt regulator to maintain a  constant output voltage and can handle DC input (track) voltages of up to 16-volts. This makes them perfectly suited for N and Z scales. The NL8014 is designed as a uni-directional circuit for up to 2 LEDs with device voltages of 3.3 (standard "white varieties"). It contains a schottky barrier diode that prevents the circuit from functioning when track polarity is reversed which make this version ideal for locomotive headlights operating in an analog (non-DCC) environment. The NL8104-2 is a 2-pack of the modules.

The NL8104B is configured for bi-directional operation and up to 3 LEDs ("white varieties"). This makes the circuit ideal for passenger car lighting in an analog environment. The NL8104B-2 is a 2-pack.

Both circuits have connection points for external capacitor hookup for flicker control.

This little board supports an extremely wide range of input voltage (up to 25-volts!) while maintaining constant output  for up to 3 LEDs. Unlike other circuits, ours uses a "pass-through" regulator, not a buck or buck-boost type which keeps output off until regulation threshold is achieved. That means that whatever the low-end track voltage is, it gets passed through to the output. In short... the lights will start turning on at lower voltages. Input is schottky bridge rectified to ensure the lowest voltage loss and circuit power regardless of track polarity. Our N8104 boards are ideal for HO, S, O and even G-scale using DC or DCC.  Flicker control is maintained by a powerful 680uf 25-volt electrolytic capacitor with the smallest case size available in industry today. If track voltages are AC, the upper voltage limit is 14.5 AC volts. This is because the RMS value (peak rectified voltage) will actually be 20+ volts DC in the circuit.

The N8104-2 is the same circuit with the flicker control capacitor included in the package but uninstalled on the board. This provides more flexibility for limited space applications where remote location of the capacitor would be beneficial.

The N8014-3 is the circuit without the flicker control capacitor. This would be either for applications where customers have their own capacitors or, for lighting stationary structures.

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Using

Do's and Don't's

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Applications

These miniature capacitors are manufactured by Kemet and use a tin over nickel barrier for easy end solderability. Rated at 50-volts, these 0.1 microfarad ceramic capacitors will support a wide range of circuit voltages and are very useful for suppression of high-frequency or transient voltage spikes in electronic circuits. Their .125" X .063" case size makes them easy to handle yet small enough to be located in the most confining situations. Click on the Applications link under More Info above for more information on use related to model railroading.

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You asked and we responded! These highly versatile miniature circuit boards can be used for mounting resistors, LEDs, and other components and have thru-hole solder points for easy wiring. They are backed w/double-sided Kapton® tape which can withstand 500° F. Each strip of 10 boards is pre-grooved between the boards for easy separation (after tape is cut). Now, placing an LED with its appropriate resistor couldn't be easier - solder it up and stick it in place! These boards will support SMD resistors up to 1/2-watt in size and LED sizes up to our 2x3mm ones.

Our 5-pack of 3/64" diameter shrink tubing is back in stock. The package contains 5, 4-inch lengths of green polyolefin shrink tubing. Ideal for insulating those tiny decoder wires or any small wire that requires solder joint protection. 2:1 shrinkage. Shrink temperature 120 deg C (248 deg F) Operating temperature -55 to 135 deg C (-67 to 275 deg F). Can be painted with any acrylic paint after shrinking

This tiny device manufactured by Supertex is a high voltage, temperature compensated, constant current source. It provides a constant current of 20mA±10% over an input voltage range of 5-90 Volts DC, and can be used as a constant current source or a constant current sink. Multiple devices can be connected in parallel to provide higher current such as 40mA, 60mA, 80mA, etc.