Lionel 167C Controller

[krapug1]

I am in the process of building a new layout, new layout by very "old-school" in approach. I only use conventional powered engines, the track is either Lionel or K-Line 031 tubular rail (if rolling stock can't clear 031 I don't buy it).

For power I picked up a great working 'Z" transformer, and per one of the Greenberg books, this transformer has the advantage of a higher power output to the tracks, and to use the 167C Controller to provide Direction and Whistle Control.

I found one 167C to start, anyone know how to connect it?? I ask this as an example, the K-Line external whistle controller has 2 posts to connect it to the transformer and 2 posts to make the connection from the controller to the track. The 167C simply has 2 posts.

Thanks for any help.

Ken

[lionelsoni]

Just put it in series with the transformer. The polarity wouldn't matter unless you were using modern bells and whistles, which I gather you aren't. See
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/whi-tend/acc167c1.pdf

[krapug1]

Thank You!, and it works. I was trying to wire it every way possible except for the seris the diagram shows.

It's quite a tribute to the Lionel designers of yesteryear that we are talking about a transformer that is well over 50 years old and a controller that is probally 55 + years old, and they still work as if they were new.

Ken

[Anonymous]

Much of that old equipment was very ruggedly built but that can be its downfall. Many of the circuit breakers on the old Z transformers do not work as well as they once did. Some train shops now cary 8 to 15 amp circuit breakers that can be connected in line with your track power lead to help prevent transformer overload from unatended shorts. One of these would be a good investment.

[lionelsoni]

You can get 5 or 10-ampere auto-reset ATO-type automotive circuit breakers at auto parts stores.

The single circuit breaker that Lionel used protects against a short in any individual circuit, but not against a fault in which two circuits get connected together, which can be just as harmful. The ATO breakers are small enough and cheap enough that you could put one on each of your Z transformer's circuits.