I'm a retired electrical engineer and the safety ensured by the UL/CSA double insulated devices are not just safe in your home but also safe enough for patient contact in Medical institutions like Hospitals. Use with confidence.
Hi Larry. Thanks for all of the leg work chasing down info on the Barrina lights. I still love mine and have had no problem with them. I really like the function of the Kill-A-Watt. So much easier than a traditional meter for those applications. I will be investing in one of these for model railroad and home use. Thanks. 👍🏼👍🏼
Great share Larry cool light’s .Always enjoy how you take us through the process of installing or wiring. That’s what’s it’s all about helping us understand the way to do installations Thanks have a great rest of your day and weekend
I won't buy anything but Wago connectors for my model railroad. I don't care for any crimp or crush connectors, and the real Wagos are perfect with no tools of any type needed for usage!! So simple, and great quality.
Just make sure to get Wago 221 originals for anything mains powered. Lot of not as good lever nut clones appearing. Wago are massively popular and proven in Europe so much better than twist on wire nuts.
LEDs tend to draw less energy than halogen bulbs, which can help you save money on your electric bill. The Barrina lights seem like a good option for large rooms or even a workshop if someone wants to use them for those applications.
Hi Larry, thanks for this video, it answers some of the points I raised and, because I was querying the safety of these lights rather than trying to shoot them or you down I'll draw a line under the issue, particularly as I am aware that there are differences in the US and UK/EU test standards. By the way the 'U' in the '1000 + 2U' calculation is the line voltage - 110V for you in the states.
It's interesting that people got concerned about the aluminum extrusion. We've been watching people hang fluorescent shop lights for decades without much concern, and those things are all steel. These appear to be far more isolated than most of the fluorescents I've had the pleasure to crack open. I remember reading the article back in the day by Allen McClelland about hanging neon lighting on the V&O and his wife getting suspicious the evening he came up early from the basement. He had touched the wrong thing and had been blown off the top of his benchwork (he liked it standable) by the high voltage of the neon power source.
as regards to prior video in the past, I used your DIY stay alive circuit but added a 120 ohm resistor to the super capacitor to keep my Digitrax system from shutting down on startup - prevent inrush current to the super cap.
I have used twenty LED strip lights (6500K) for about three years. Other than one or two bussing, they work very well for the cost. The do get pretty hot, so be careful what type of material the are mounted to. I use Wago for house wiring and the cheaper knock-offs for train wiring.
Brilliant explanation of the light. With getting the manufacturer to comment removes the my take and my thoughts. Great Spot on. One question. With the 3 pin cord having an earth / ground core is this earth / ground core taken from one end of the fitting to the other! If it is great and brilliant. BUT if you decide to add an additional item to the end that needs an earth / ground to be safe ! You may consider it is connected to earth / ground, but MAY not be! A simple ohm test between the ends will prove it. Keep going g its always great stuff Amacf
I use this style light, though 8' in length, in my 32x36 shop, twenty seven in fact. But I did have one that in which the aluminum casing was in contact with the electrical current. Ask me how I know! 😖
I want to divide my layout into power districts, each with a separate 5 amp booster. Do I need to total my potential amp draw and provide enough circuits to supply the load? For example eight power districts would be a potential 40 amp draw, and would need two 20amp circuits.
You first must decide whether you really need 40 amps. After all that would mean running 80 locos simultaneously. On the Piedmont Southern I am using 2 8 amp Digitrax systems for almost 400’ of mainline and currently have over 60 locos. Also a 8 amp power supply may only draw a max of 3 amps at full tilt somI can easily power my 2 8 amp units off a single 15amp household circuit. As I showed in this weeks video my system is currently only pulling a little over 2 amps so you likely will never reach 40 amps! I power my individual blocks using PSX power managers which act something like the breakers in your electrical breaker box. I bet if you added up the total amperage of all the circuits in that box they would greatly exceed the 200 amp service coming in from the utility transformer. You need to watch my videos on power management and also on using the PSX devices.
Please remember that a 5 amp power booster draws under 2 amps of 120 volts. The stepdown of voltage allows for the higher curreent at the lower DCC track voltage. So your 8 5amp districts will only draw about 12 amps of 120 volts AC.and that would be at full load of every district.
Google is your friend. Amazon has several vendors. Daisy chain modular self install system, been around as a fluo version for decades. Other brands are also available, just may not be interchangeable.
WAGO connectors are the best thing since sliced bread. I used them when I wired my train building. Haven't used wire nuts since.
I love these lights. I light my whole train room and work room with them. Great product in my opinion
I have the same brand or similar in my train room. Been up and working about three years and never once had any issue from them
Thank you for this video. You've done a public service as it might have saved someone's serious electrical issue.
I'm a retired electrical engineer and the safety ensured by the UL/CSA double insulated devices are not just safe in your home but also safe enough for patient contact in Medical institutions like Hospitals. Use with confidence.
Thank you for doing the extra reasearch, Larry. I never saw that in line Wago before, it should be great for modular layouts too.
Thanks for all of this info, Larry. I've just ordered some of the Wago connectors and the kill-a-watt meter. I wasn't aware these existed until now!
Your videos are fantastic and so helpful. I also learned a lot from your book, which I highly recommend to all modelers.
Take care and happy easter 🐰
Hi Larry. Thanks for all of the leg work chasing down info on the Barrina lights. I still love mine and have had no problem with them. I really like the function of the Kill-A-Watt. So much easier than a traditional meter for those applications. I will be investing in one of these for model railroad and home use. Thanks. 👍🏼👍🏼
Great share Larry cool light’s .Always enjoy how you take us through the process of installing or wiring. That’s what’s it’s all about helping us understand the way to do installations Thanks have a great rest of your day and weekend
I won't buy anything but Wago connectors for my model railroad. I don't care for any crimp or crush connectors, and the real Wagos are perfect with no tools of any type needed for usage!! So simple, and great quality.
Just make sure to get Wago 221 originals for anything mains powered. Lot of not as good lever nut clones appearing. Wago are massively popular and proven in Europe so much better than twist on wire nuts.
I absolutely agree. I use Wago on all my wiring now. So much easier than “suitcase” connectors and 100% reliable. Plus, they can be reused.
Use these lights in a number of areas. Have never had an issue. Thanks for sharing.
LEDs tend to draw less energy than halogen bulbs, which can help you save money on your electric bill. The Barrina lights seem like a good option for large rooms or even a workshop if someone wants to use them for those applications.
Hi Larry, thanks for this video, it answers some of the points I raised and, because I was querying the safety of these lights rather than trying to shoot them or you down I'll draw a line under the issue, particularly as I am aware that there are differences in the US and UK/EU test standards. By the way the 'U' in the '1000 + 2U' calculation is the line voltage - 110V for you in the states.
It's interesting that people got concerned about the aluminum extrusion. We've been watching people hang fluorescent shop lights for decades without much concern, and those things are all steel. These appear to be far more isolated than most of the fluorescents I've had the pleasure to crack open. I remember reading the article back in the day by Allen McClelland about hanging neon lighting on the V&O and his wife getting suspicious the evening he came up early from the basement. He had touched the wrong thing and had been blown off the top of his benchwork (he liked it standable) by the high voltage of the neon power source.
Seems to me alot of people that watch this channel are not the smartest of people......or they lack comprehension of how things work. (In general)
Thanks Larry. As always, great informative video.
as regards to prior video in the past, I used your DIY stay alive circuit but added a 120 ohm resistor to the super capacitor to keep my Digitrax system from shutting down on startup - prevent inrush current to the super cap.
Yes, I think I had suggested a 100 ohm but anything in that range will work.
I have used twenty LED strip lights (6500K) for about three years. Other than one or two bussing, they work very well for the cost. The do get pretty hot, so be careful what type of material the are mounted to. I use Wago for house wiring and the cheaper knock-offs for train wiring.
I light my whole train room with Barrina lights. No qualms about them, they’re great!
Thank you for the info on the lights, as you know I had concerns. Thank you for the other items too.
hello Larry & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Larry & Friends Randy
Good to know about the lights.
Thank you for sharing.👍
Brilliant explanation of the light. With getting the manufacturer to comment removes the my take and my thoughts. Great Spot on.
One question. With the 3 pin cord having an earth / ground core is this earth / ground core taken from one end of the fitting to the other! If it is great and brilliant. BUT if you decide to add an additional item to the end that needs an earth / ground to be safe ! You may consider it is connected to earth / ground, but MAY not be! A simple ohm test between the ends will prove it. Keep going g its always great stuff Amacf
I use this style light, though 8' in length, in my 32x36 shop, twenty seven in fact. But I did have one that in which the aluminum casing was in contact with the electrical current. Ask me how I know! 😖
Guess you got one made by the late shift on the way out the door to a Chinese New Year celebration.
Handle your Kilowatt gingerly. The ground plug broke off on mine after a couple of plug insertions.
Will do!
How big is your layout?
which model of the Kill-a meter did you purchase....thanks
In the description
I want to divide my layout into power districts, each with a separate 5 amp booster.
Do I need to total my potential amp draw and provide enough circuits to supply the load?
For example eight power districts would be a potential 40 amp draw, and would need two 20amp circuits.
You first must decide whether you really need 40 amps. After all that would mean running 80 locos simultaneously. On the Piedmont Southern I am using 2 8 amp Digitrax systems for almost 400’ of mainline and currently have over 60 locos. Also a 8 amp power supply may only draw a max of 3 amps at full tilt somI can easily power my 2 8 amp units off a single 15amp household circuit. As I showed in this weeks video my system is currently only pulling a little over 2 amps so you likely will never reach 40 amps! I power my individual blocks using PSX power managers which act something like the breakers in your electrical breaker box. I bet if you added up the total amperage of all the circuits in that box they would greatly exceed the 200 amp service coming in from the utility transformer. You need to watch my videos on power management and also on using the PSX devices.
Please remember that a 5 amp power booster draws under 2 amps of 120 volts. The stepdown of voltage allows for the higher curreent at the lower DCC track voltage. So your 8 5amp districts will only draw about 12 amps of 120 volts AC.and that would be at full load of every district.
Did you put a plug on Romex wire? Is the approved by the electrical code?
That is just a temporary test of concept. I just got a standard appliance cord to connect to the Romex inside a junction box.
What about Australia
Google is your friend. Amazon has several vendors. Daisy chain modular self install system, been around as a fluo version for decades. Other brands are also available, just may not be interchangeable.