Power socket of rear of LGB locos

stockers

stockers

Trains, aircraft, models, walking, beer, travel
Country flag
It would appear that the sockets are not all wired the same way round. I have made a couple of pick up vans/coaches to assist small locos on less than perfect track which plug into this socket. Works brilliantly on small locos such as the tram. On a couple of locos they create a short and I have confirmed this to be a cross over with the wiring. Has anyone else noticed this.
I know that the socket originally was intended for coach lighting so the polarity would not matter.

Most locos link the left rail to the left pin (viewed from behind) but these ones are 'tother way round.
Mallet, Rugens, Stainz 20212.
The mallet was a total rewire when I chipped it so I might have crossed over that one but not the others.
 
Something to be aware of thanks Alan....
 
i would always check with a multimeter 1st .. ive re wired a few locos, and seen the state off others handywork.. i would recomend testing 1st everytime
 
mike said:
i would always check with a multimeter 1st .. ive re wired a few locos, and seen the state off others handywork.. i would recomend testing 1st everytime
Click to expand...

Another good tip!

On a loco like the V52, which has sockets front and back, could it be possible these are different?

I ask as, if normally the left pin is connected to the left rail, then the front could be different to the back?

If needs be, I will check this out on my own loco at somepoint....
 
it normally dosnt matter, the power socket was intended to power just coach lighting, nothing more... modlers discovered the benifits off linking, power shareing.. check 1st, regreat later
 
Be careful with early 2 car rail buses as the 2 ends of each unit are the opposite way around. After coupling them together I always raise the power slowly, watching the ammeter on the power unit.
 
I too help power my locos via the lighting socket. I have found one or two locos where the polarity is reversed. This method greatly reduces stalling, particularly when more ball bearing wheels are used on the trailing cars.
 
Just to complicate matters I seem to recall a photo of an older Stainz(?) on here recently where the socket was arranged vertically
 
stockers said:
Most locos link the left rail to the left pin (viewed from behind) but these ones are 'tother way round.
Mallet, Rugens, Stainz 20212.
The mallet was a total rewire when I chipped it so I might have crossed over that one but not the others.
Click to expand...

All my (six!) Mallets have the left rail/ left pin arrangement as standard, so I suspect it's a bodge job by someone without a multimeter. As others have written, always check before connecting. I too use the pins for extra track connectivity on occasion: it's a very handy feature given the poor pickup characteristics of some smaller locos.
 
French Chuffed said:
Nodrog1826 said:
I remember reading in some sort of official blurb once, that it was inadvisable to use the rear plug as an additional pick up source.
Click to expand...

Probably just covering themselves.
Click to expand...

Too true.
My tram must have done 200 or 300 hours now and the Spreewald cant be far behind.
 
Although I have been relying on trailing pickup vehicles for decades to get my single-motored locos over my unclean track, the cautions are well-advised. Additionally there can be unpleasant consequences if the loco derails and keeps receiving power from the trail car, not the least of which is a set of wheels sitting on the wrong rail and creating a devastating short circuit. This can happen with two-motored locos as well, which explains why I have had to repair all the circuit boards of my 2085 mallets. Since I am traditional analogue and operate at low speeds, my damage incurred is probably minimal compared to those operating on 24 volts -- not to mention decoders. A long time ago I did operate a temporary setup with automated reversing loops, and here again the trailing pickups caused problems in the form of momentary short circuits that burned up the springs in the wheel contact brushes.
 
798.03 said:
, the cable used between the electronics board and the rear plug is generally very lightweight and much thinner than the wires that bring track power to/from the board,
Click to expand...

Don't think so guv'nor! :bigsmile: Incidentally, the gauge of wire used between pickups and main board is much smaller than might be expected for a 1.5 amp load. Compare with the gauge of wire used on your 1 amp transformer, for example.
 
If there is any chance of a short circuit, wire in a pair of self resetting fuses similar to the ones now used by LGB on the power socket. Polyswitch or similar from Rapid, Squires or any electronics supplier. One in each wire as either can short. I use 1 amp rating.
Also useful for wiring in trailing wheels or bogies. I was once asked to repair the destruction caused by a Forney derailed across a DCC supply (and allowed to cook). Not a pretty sight
 
On Saturday 20th at the whitehouse model railway show, similar problem happened with lighting from metal wheels and blew the lights either side of the car, this seemed to be either end of rake but not the coach which picks up.
 
Have to say my MTS3 just drops out at a hint of an overload.
 
LVT said:
Although I have been relying on trailing pickup vehicles for decades to get my single-motored locos over my unclean track, the cautions are well-advised. Additionally there can be unpleasant consequences if the loco derails and keeps receiving power from the trail car, not the least of which is a set of wheels sitting on the wrong rail and creating a devastating short circuit. This can happen with two-motored locos as well, which explains why I have had to repair all the circuit boards of my 2085 mallets. Since I am traditional analogue and operate at low speeds, my damage incurred is probably minimal compared to those operating on 24 volts -- not to mention decoders. A long time ago I did operate a temporary setup with automated reversing loops, and here again the trailing pickups caused problems in the form of momentary short circuits that burned up the springs in the wheel contact brushes.
Click to expand...



I am not quite following you on the reverse loop thing. I too have a layout with a reverse loop at each end. They are controlled via the LGB reverse loop track sets. And I also run analog, and have ball bearing wheels on every trailing car. Each car is plugged into the car in front of it, then into the lighting socket. Once the train enters the section of track between the 1015K and 1015T, the polarity of the exiting section has been reversed. Where would the wheels short?
 
LVT said:
Although I have been relying on trailing pickup vehicles for decades to get my single-motored locos over my unclean track, the cautions are well-advised. Additionally there can be unpleasant consequences if the loco derails and keeps receiving power from the trail car, not the least of which is a set of wheels sitting on the wrong rail and creating a devastating short circuit. This can happen with two-motored locos as well, which explains why I have had to repair all the circuit boards of my 2085 mallets. Since I am traditional analogue and operate at low speeds, my damage incurred is probably minimal compared to those operating on 24 volts -- not to mention decoders. A long time ago I did operate a temporary setup with automated reversing loops, and here again the trailing pickups caused problems in the form of momentary short circuits that burned up the springs in the wheel contact brushes.
Click to expand...

VERY good point on the reverse loops, my father and I were having this exact same discussion. Basically one has to ensure the entire "pickup" is in one area of the block and not in another. I also have an "interchange" area on my branchline (branchline incomplete at writing) where there is about 1M of track that can be switched between two blocks....same issue applies. Especially important as my 20851 mallet will work the branch due to the heavy grade into Neustadt.
 
Nodrog1826 said:
stockers said:
French Chuffed said:
Nodrog1826 said:
I remember reading in some sort of official blurb once, that it was inadvisable to use the rear plug as an additional pick up source.
Click to expand...
Probably just covering themselves.
Click to expand...
Too true.
My tram must have done 200 or 300 hours now and the Spreewald cant be far behind.
Click to expand...

Ah well don't say you wern't warned:laugh:
Click to expand...
There was quite a thread on using the sockets for additional pickup, it may have been in the "MAD" days. Basically the rear contact plugs are for "Lighting Only". I have used them to join two vehicles for pickup purposes but was warned off it by the aforementioned thread. Now I rewire in NEW plugs direct from the Track Pick Up right inside the locomotive. Thus I am always sure that the Track Power is on the correct size of wire. If you use the sockets you could be pushing Track Voltage through a some of the Circuit Bioard that is only expecting low amp and voltage lighting current. If you do not believe me ask Peter Skinner of Chalk Garden Rail.

http://www.chalkgardenrail.co.uk/acatalog/index.html < Link To http://www.chalkgardenrai...uk/acatalog/index.html

JonD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top