CTT Issue that discusses Conventional engine lashups.....

[stjr]

Hello!

I seem to recall seeing/reading an article in one of the CTT issues that discusses how to lashup conventional engines. As I recall, the article was pretty detailed. The instructions even included installing a micro switch used to disable one of the engine's E-Units?

Does anyone know what issues that articles is in?

Thanks!

[Bob Keller]

This probably isn't what you are recalling, but it is the closest article that I can find on the subject:

Wiring together two single motor locomotives – Double your power, Ray L. Plummer, September 2000, p95

[stjr]

Thanks Bob! That's more than enough info to get me started......let the experimentation begin! You CTT "guys" are the best!

[lionelsoni]

Plummer says to disconnect the e-unit wires in the "slave" unit. Don't do that!

All you have to do is to wire the two locomotives' motors (and the pickups, for more reliable operation) in parallel.  Before running, cycle the locomotive that will be the "slave" into neutral and then shut off its e-unit.  This will disconnect the e-unit both from the motor and from the pickups.

This leaves everything intact in both locomotives; so they both can easily be used separately without any wiring changes--just unplug them from each other and turn the "slave's" e-unit back on.

Lionel rated their e-units for as many as 4 motors.  So you can have up to 4 locomotives on the point, or double-head 2-motor locomotives, and so on.

[stjr]

Thanks Bob....that's a great suggestion. i was definitely not planning to disconnect any wires from the slave E-Unit. After reviewing the wiring schematic in the CTT issue (and if there's enough room in the slave engine), I was thinking about adding a SPDT micro switch to toggle the power from the slave engine roller pickup between the slave and the new master. This would allow me to disconnect the E-Unit in the slave and pass control to the master, then restore power to the slave a the flip off a switch. I was also thinking about adding a DPDT micro switch to allow the slave to run in either direction when connected to a master engine. Again....it all depends on available room in the engines. BTW...the engines are fairly old MPC/Lionel GP9s.

[lionelsoni]

You shouldn't need the SPDT, because cycling the slave's e-unit into neutral disconnects the slave's pickup from its motor; and shutting off the slave's e-unit effectively disconnects the pickup from the e-unit coil.  (It's actually still connected at one end of the coil; but the other end of the coil is open-circuited, which accomplishes the same thing.)  And plugging the two units together connects the slave pickup to the master pickup.

As for the DPDT, consider that having different ends of the locomotives together means that you will need a connector at each end of at least one of the locomotives.  So you can just wire those two connectors with the armature wires swapped, which will accomplish the same thing you're trying to do with the switch.

[stjr]

Using the slave's E-Unit as the SPDT is very logical Bob.....and the plugs at both ends of one of the engines is exactly what I was envisioning. This configuration in itself acts as the DPDT switch. Very slick! Thanks for all you help!