I've got this LED thing figured out

[waaytoomuchintothis]

[TuscoTodd]

Looking forward to seeing your "lit" projects!
:handgestures-thumbup:

[TsgtRet]

So what size and wattage is the resistor? Using the old color code doesn't make sense (1 Blk, 2 Brown, 3 Red, 4 Orange, 5 Yellow, 6 Green, 7 Blue, 8 Violet, 9 Grey, 0 White) or my monitor is a bit "off" Will you do a schematic for the different circuits, Please?

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I'll give it a shot, Sarge, but you may as well know, I'm completely in the dark, so to speak. My diagram may be confusing to those who actually know what they are doing. I'll see about a materials list with links, too.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Feel free to ask. I know I don't know what I'm doing modifying someone else's drawing.

[MrAdept]

[TsgtRet]

Looks pretty good to me, I was just worried about the basic head/taillight circuit. As for the resistor, now I can adjust my color :mrgreen:
Thanks!

[dr fabio]

[MrAdept]

As a word of caution that the supercaps comment will only (just) work with 12V, so not with Carrera and not with Ninco etc.
For all capacitors you should be downrating the voltage by 40% or so otherwise they may fail. (i.e. you want at least 25V rated caps).
Supercaps are a world of their own and you need to read the datasheet carefully...

The circuit above is a copy of the scalextric light/brake circuit from the 90's.

Mark

edited to clarify Supercap comment not for the brake circuit

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Thanks guys. And I say that with faith in your good intentions because I have no idea what you are talking about. But I appreciate you both.

[MrAdept]

Glad to know we are appreciated :P
Sadly it's the world I live in - I do system design for a living and it really comes down to - not letting the circuit go bang for a long time...

Mark

[dr fabio]

Just insert a LM78L05 5V regulator after the first diode. Its a small 3 pin device and you can get it in a TO92 package. It can supply 100mA and 30V max input voltage. Even at 10mA per LED and 15V input that would be 0.4W power consumption which should OK for the regulator to handle. Pin 3 to the cathode of first diode, pin 2 to negative side of motor and pin 1 is the output to the supercaps and resistors feeding the LEDs. This set up would still occupy a lot less space than using 2 x 470uF caps. The one I built weighed in a less than 4 grams. Works a treat.