A Few Misc. Layout Questions

[ben10ben]

Hello All,

As I progress on setting up my layout, I keep running across things which I've forgotten in the year since I've really run any trains. I would be much abliged if I can get some assistance in answering these. 

1. I have four O22 switches on my layout, but only have two of the proper O22 lighted controllers. For the other two, I have one of the 1122-style double lever boxes which has a single light bulb and a flapper mechanism to light the apropriate gel. 

At this point, I only have it connected to one of the two switches to which it will eventually be connected. The controller controls the switch fine, however the lamp will only light with the switch set to the straight through position. 

What do I need to do to get the lamp to light all the time? I know I've had it working in the past, but don't recall what I had to do.

 

2. Can anyone perchance tell me how the American Flyer 799 Talking Station and Sam the Semaphore man are wired? Again, I've forgotten, and can't seem to locate any of my reference material which would contain this.

 

3. What size screws are reccomended for securing Standard O track to plywood? 

 

4. Does any company still make O72 straight sections? These are straight sections that are 14" or so long. I find that they work well for the times when a straight and a half are just a hair too long, and one piece of track is smoother than two pieces. Plus, I hate cutting fitters. At the present, I have four of these, but could use at least two more. 

 

Thanks,

Ben 

 

 

[Blueberryhill RR]

Ben...You could try running a jumper wire from the two outside terminals on the switch. That way you'd have power to the controller light in either position.

Or you could just get 2 more 022C Controllers.

Chuck

[lionelsoni]

The 022C-1 controller gets the current for its two lamps from the two turnout solenoid coils, one of which is always disconnected at the turnout, thus lighting only one lamp at a time.  The 1121C-60 and 1122-100 controllers have only a single lamp, which gets its current from only one of the solenoid coils.  However, both coils of the O27 turnout are connected all the time; so the lamp is always lit (except while actually throwing the turnout in one of the two directions).  When you use the latter controller with the former turnout, the lamp lights only when the turnout is in the position in which the coil supplying lamp current is connected.

You could modify the controller by disconnecting the controller's lamp lead inside the case and wiring it directly to the turnout supply that you are using.

Or you might put a resistor between the turnout supply and the turnout terminal that supplies the lamp.  The lamp is supposed to be a number 53, which draws 120 milliamperes at 14.4 volts.  A 33-ohm 1/2-watt resistor (better 1 watt) would be about right for an 18-volt turnout supply voltage.

I don't think you will be able to operate the turnout if you jumper the two control terminals together.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

2. Can anyone perchance tell me how the American Flyer 799 Talking Station and Sam the Semaphore man are wired? Again, I've forgotten, and can't seem to locate any of my reference material which would contain this.

Thanks,

Ben 

When I get home I will get the info for you and post it.  You mean like accesory hook up to the track not as in rewire / repair right?

Jim

[ben10ben]

Thanks to all for the responses. I think I'm going to just live with it, as these are switches that will probably be rarely used anyway. I might also just hook the light up separately from the switches.

 

Jim,

Thanks for offering, but I did manange to remember how to hook up the Talking Station and currently have it working very well.

As for the Semaphore Man, on mine at least, the control box wires are permanatly soldered  to the 4-wire ribbon cable and to the accesory, and the control box just has two wires coming out of it which need to be connected to the transformer.

Even though I don't run my AF trains very much, I do really like all of the AF accesories that I've acquired. The Talking Station has to be one of my all-time favorites. 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

In that case the black goes to base and yellow to the constant voltage, white to insulated section of track

Don't have a 799 but do have a 755