{"id":477,"date":"2015-10-27T08:30:59","date_gmt":"2015-10-27T15:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thenscaler.com\/?p=477"},"modified":"2015-10-26T17:39:31","modified_gmt":"2015-10-27T00:39:31","slug":"chasing-electronic-gremlins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thenscaler.com\/?p=477","title":{"rendered":"Chasing Electronic Gremlins"},"content":{"rendered":"

I built the test loop for a couple of reasons<\/a>. First I needed to revive my long unused track laying skills. Second, I needed a place to test and repair locos and rolling stock. Third, and perhaps most importantly, I needed to learn how to deploy Arduinos on a layout in a bullet-proof sort of way, before investing time and money building the main layout.<\/p>\n

If you’ve been following along, you know that lighting is one of my big challenges<\/a> in building the layout in the chosen location. The soffits above the bar are a thin skin of paneling, with little structure supporting it, hiding HVAC duct-work. Standard light fixtures are not possible here.<\/p>\n

\"Addressable<\/a>

Addressable RGB LED Strip<\/p><\/div>\n

That constraint started a search for a lighting solution that was light enough to affix to the paneling with 3M Command Strips<\/a>, but would produce enough light to effectively light the layout. When I found strip ALEDS<\/a>, I knew I’d found a solution. The first two light bars I made are demonstrated here (a simple light show accompanied by a little Debussy):<\/p>\n