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

 

                         NLD8062 Navigation Simulator Effect and Installation

Description of Lighting Effects

This simulator is programmed to run a red LED beacon (varies in intensity to simulate  rotational effect), and 2 white LEDs configured as strobes for wingtips. Timing of the beacon is approximately once per second, and after every second cycle the strobes pulse for a short 25ms burst. This mimics many tail beacons and wingtip strobes seen on WW2 and modern aircraft.

            

            All solder connections explained below

                                   Figure 1

NLD8062 (DCC/RC) input power connections:

The NLD8062 Simulator is configured for DCC environments and sound decoders having 3.3-volt accessory functions They have an on-board jumper in place of the barrier diode used in the analog version. This allows them to operate fully at 3.3-volts (even slightly, below allowing for LED brightness). Since track polarity is not a factor in DCC the need for this protection is not required. Also, in an RC modeling environment, battery power is known so this is not an issue. However, since this family of Simulators doesn't have polarity protection, care must be taken during wiring to ensure polarity is correct before power is applied. Otherwise, the circuitry will be damaged. Figure 2 below shows the front side of the NLD8062 with the jumper installed and the barrier diode not installed.

                       Figure 2 

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 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.

Solder point #2 is the -DC (or ground) power connection.

Unlike our traditional Simulators, these new low-voltage modules have two on-board current limiting resistors. The second resistor can be connected either to the circuit's +DC voltage or to it's –DC (ground) by solder jumpering either of two pairs of jumper pads on the rear-side of the module. Figure 2 below show the location of the resistors and solder jumper pads. Never place solder on both pairs of jumper pads, this would destroy the Simulator. See Fig. 3 below for a complete overview.

                                              Figure 3

 

Connecting LEDs

When connecting the LEDs, proper polarity must be observed. LEDs are “polarity sensitive” and will not function if connected backwards. The NLD8062 is configured to allow connection of one 20 ma red LED with a device voltage of 1.75-2.0 volts DC (Ngineering’s Micro and Nano red LEDs, as well as many red LEDs available). This LED will use the on-board current limiting resistor so they can be wired directly. Two additional LEDs will be connected using external current limiting resistors (supplied).

Using wire appropriate for the size of the LEDs and its placement in the model, connect the red LED to the simulator module as shown below. Connect the cathode wire (the – connection) of the LED to point 3 on the module and connect the anode wire of the pair (the +) to solder point 4.

The next two (2) LED connections will be for the white strobe lights. Each LED must be wired with an external resistor in series to limit the current flow through the LED. These two LEDs cannot be wired as a series pair due to their combined higher device voltages so each must use its own resistor. Included with this module are several 1/8-watt surface-mount resistors (we’ve included a spare just in case).  These resistors are tiny for easy placement and have pre-tinned tabs so soldering is easy. The first white LED’s cathode is to be wired to solder point 5 on the module. The resistor should be wired in series between this LED’s anode and point 6. The second white LED's cathode is to be wired to solder point 7 on the module. The resistor should be wired in series between this LED’s anode and point 6. See Fig. 4 below for a complete overview of wiring.

                                                             Figure4

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.

This completes connection of the NLD8062 module. It is recommended that a thorough re-inspection of all connections and module placement be performed prior to applying power to your model. We hope you enjoy the added realism our module provides.

 

© 2008 Ngineering