Some VERY basic questions regarding LED headlight wiring.
In a few days, I'm going to make my first attempt at changing an HO loco headlight from incandescent to LED.
For my first try, I intend to rewire an old [Lifelike] Proto2000 SD9 with a new SoundTraxx [non-sound] decoder:
I'll be using these "pre-fab" LED lights that I picked up on ebay:
They have resistors pre-installed and are ready to attach to a 12v power output.
HOWEVER:
A few questions I need clarified.
I understand that LED's have a "positive" and "negative" side, is this correct?
If so, will I damage an LED if I mistakenly connect it "backwards" to the decoder?
(of course, I want to know this BEFORE I make the mistake!)
Once those issues are sorted out, more info is needed.
When connecting an LED to the decoder board, the "switched" side of the LED (i.e., the wire that is actually "controlled") is the NEGATIVE side, is this correct?
And... so it follows... the NON-switched, "common" side is actually the POSITIVE side, is this also correct?
That should do it, unless there are any other "first time tips" you might wish to pass along...
In a few days, I'm going to make my first attempt at changing an HO loco headlight from incandescent to LED.
For my first try, I intend to rewire an old [Lifelike] Proto2000 SD9 with a new SoundTraxx [non-sound] decoder:
I'll be using these "pre-fab" LED lights that I picked up on ebay:
They have resistors pre-installed and are ready to attach to a 12v power output.
HOWEVER:
A few questions I need clarified.
I understand that LED's have a "positive" and "negative" side, is this correct?
If so, will I damage an LED if I mistakenly connect it "backwards" to the decoder?
(of course, I want to know this BEFORE I make the mistake!)
Once those issues are sorted out, more info is needed.
When connecting an LED to the decoder board, the "switched" side of the LED (i.e., the wire that is actually "controlled") is the NEGATIVE side, is this correct?
And... so it follows... the NON-switched, "common" side is actually the POSITIVE side, is this also correct?
That should do it, unless there are any other "first time tips" you might wish to pass along...