Atlas Switch getting hot, why?

[Fred Bear]

I have Atlas switches wired into my system. I have the middle post on the switch going to hot, the the other two leads wired to the outside wires on a Lionel controller and the middle wire on the controller going to common. Why are the switches hot? The get hot enough to met the plastic, as if they are stuck on all the time, but I do not hear a buzz or anything. Any suggestions or ideas from anyone? The wire coils are hot hot hot! I took the plates off and sure enough, you could not touch them. Jake

[Fred Bear]

Well, first time I've posted and then answered my own post, but if you are going to use Lionel Controllers and Atlast switches, one must first remove the bulbs from the controllers! They permit current to constantly pulse through the coil. Ummm, I wonder sometimes if a wind up would be in my best interest! Jake

[Fred Bear]

Just tried my theory and sure enough, no heat once the bulbs are removed. Jake

[phillyreading]

Jake,

Any incandescent light bulb will allow some current flow thru it even if it don't light up.

Lee F.

[Fred Bear]

Would LED's work OK in the switches and not heat the switch? Or is it the connection itself that creates the problem? Thanks, Jake

[lionelsoni]

Whatever you use will draw current; and that current will heat the coils.  But...a typical LED draws about 20 milliamperes, compared to a number-53 lamp's 120 milliamperes.  Furthermore, the heating is in proportion to the square of the current.  So it's likely that you will reduce it to something like 3 percent of what it was.

If you go for it, be sure to use a ballast resistor proper for the voltage and protect the LED from reverse voltage.  Or use an LED circuit designed to replace an incandescent on AC.

[Fred Bear]

In your opinion Bob, would this still damage the switches? I just received 3 new ones from Atlas and I really don't want to cook them. Are there screw in bulbs that are LED? Is there such a thing? I really don't care if the lights are even on, but it would be nice if they were. Thanks for your help, Jake

[lionelsoni]

I doubt it.  I have never used them; but here is a company that makes (pricey) replacements for incandescents:

http://www.ledtronics.com/

 

[Fred Bear]

Wow, you weren't kidding about that! I guess a guy could go ahead and take the two sockets out of that circuit if he just wanted them to light up, and run them off the board somehow. that might be an option I guess.

     Anyway to bypass the switch, then come back to the controllers and still make them activate as normal? I seem to remember when they were hooked to Lionel switches they only had one lamp lighted at a time, which indicated the direction of the switch. Could this be somehow accomplished with the Atlas switches? I'm asking for a lot, but seems as if all electrical problems can be solved here. I have faith!  Thanks much, Jake

[lionelsoni]

The way the 022 controllers work exploits the way the Lionel 022 turnout works.  That turnout disconnects each coil after it has moved the points; so only one coil is connected at a time.  Therefore only one controller lamp lights at a time, showing which position the points are in.

Some brands other than Lionel also have this feature.  If your turnouts don't have it, the Lionel controller's indicator function is of course useless to you; and there is no reason why you can't disconnect the lamps from the two wires that run to the coils and connect them instead directly to an accessory voltage.

[Fred Bear]

Would there be a way to somehow rig this Atlas switch and Lionel controller to indicate switch travel?  Jake