Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Flashing LEDs can be very useful on a model railroad to add a little animation to water towers, buildings, and radio transmitters among others. And if you have a DC power bus on the layout, powering them can be quite easy. However with DCC power there is a secret to making them flash. In this video I'll show you how to power them using good old DC power and then I'll share my secret for powering them using DCC power from the track power bus or from an accessory power bus.
Below are the part numbers as I promised. Be aware that you can use a smaller bridge rectifier such as the 1/2 amp one I have also listed. You also probably can use a smaller capacitor if you only need to light a couple of LEDs. In this case I was able to do 5 with a single capacitor. The url for my website is larrypuckett.wordpress.com and feel free to download anything there.
Parts—the following are All Electronics part numbers.
LED-4 Red flashing LED
FEB-48 1/2 amp bridge rectifier
FEB-11 1 amp bridge rectifier
220R25 220 uF 25 volt capacitor
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:13 Flashing LEDs
3:18 Flashing LEDs on DC battery
5:13 Adding a resistor for 12VDC
7:10 Now add a bridge rectifier
10:50 Next add a capacitor for DCC
13:52 Lift out bridge installation
16:22 Lift out bridge back in place
18:12 Wrapup
Flashing LEDs can be very useful on a model railroad to add a little animation to water towers, buildings, and radio transmitters among others. And if you have a DC power bus on the layout, powering them can be quite easy. However with DCC power there is a secret to making them flash. In this video I'll show you how to power them using good old DC power and then I'll share my secret for powering them using DCC power from the track power bus or from an accessory power bus.
Below are the part numbers as I promised. Be aware that you can use a smaller bridge rectifier such as the 1/2 amp one I have also listed. You also probably can use a smaller capacitor if you only need to light a couple of LEDs. In this case I was able to do 5 with a single capacitor. The url for my website is larrypuckett.wordpress.com and feel free to download anything there.
Parts—the following are All Electronics part numbers.
LED-4 Red flashing LED
FEB-48 1/2 amp bridge rectifier
FEB-11 1 amp bridge rectifier
220R25 220 uF 25 volt capacitor
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:13 Flashing LEDs
3:18 Flashing LEDs on DC battery
5:13 Adding a resistor for 12VDC
7:10 Now add a bridge rectifier
10:50 Next add a capacitor for DCC
13:52 Lift out bridge installation
16:22 Lift out bridge back in place
18:12 Wrapup
