Making illuminated 20-0063 block detection silent !!
The ESU Ecos Detector family like many block detection solutions use current draw detection to designate/detect occupancy. This means when a nice device like an illuminated bumper in N scale comes along and you have to have it - you are in trouble !
So I decided to take the piece apart and isolate the lamp and separately power it from my DC bus in the layout (see post on powering a layout).
20-063 As it comes
Remove the light staff and housing.
Flip over and pry out back cover.
The LED card is attached to two contact prongs.
Drill one or two holes for the wires depending on the gauge of wire.
Cut the contacts a short distance from board. You can desolder them all the way but, that risks melting the tabs holding the light board in alignment.
Solder two wires and pass them thru the holes.
Snapb back the back plate.
Power with 3-12 V AC/DC
And reassemble ..
Voila!
This isolates the current to the lamp from the DCC and the detector does not falsely indicate occupancy!
