The first use of a FRED, or Flashing Rear End Device, is attributed to Florida East Coast Railway in 1973. Soon thereafter other Class 1 Railroads began using them as an alternative to the much-more-costly caboose. By the 1980's their use was widespread. Our module produces a flash rate and duration that replicates the prototype and has a latching function that provides versatility for most applications. See Connecting in the More Info table for a detailed explanation. For those using a battery as a power source, try our N8040A super-low current version. If you use a typical 1.75-2.0 volt, 20ma LED, the whole circuit draws only 3ma!

More Info

Connecting

Video of effect