Lionel 8251-50 Horn Controller

[lisican]

Does anyone know how to connect this? I've tried running it in between the ZW and the track, and it doesn't seem to do anything. Do I need to run it off of a DC power pack to give the DC charge that runs the whistle/bell? 

The only information I can find about whistle/horn controllers says that you run one wire from the transformer, and the other to the hot rail. Our horn controller has 4 wires, two for the track, and two for the transformer. So, I connected the two track wires and the two transformer wires, and nothing. I guess the button could be fried, it's pretty old. Any ideas?

[ADCX Rob]

The solid color pair, green or black, I think(from memory), goes to the transformer.  The white & red pair go to the track.

The controller has two small diodes and a rudimentary make-before-break copper leaf switch that was intended to be pressed quickly & firmly to switch the diodes into the circuit.  It was problematic to say the least.

What sound system are you trying to active with it?

Rob 

[lisican]

My dad has a few of the newer MTH engines, and I'm trying to active them. The one I'm working on is the M-10000, which is from Rail King, I think. Anyway, the instruction booklet mentions activiting the sounds by pushing the horn and whistle buttons in a certain order. The ZW only has the one controller, for "whistle" I think, so I thought that maybe the extra button might give us the ability to select sounds when desired, instead of just cycling through them when the engines are idle.

[lisican]

Also... should the button and wires be used instead of the normal track leads? Or along with them?

[ADCX Rob]

Instead.  This was one of the problems.  You were expected to run your whole layout through the controller, & the diodes burned out easily.

Switch the output wires(to the track) if the bell & whistle functions are reversed.

All in all, this controller is not a good choice for MTH sound control.  For PS-1, the ZW is fine, the Z-4000 is ideal.

Rob 

[PABresler]

Here is a link for the wiring diagram for the 5906 horn controller that works with this unit. I have it working on mine!

http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/6951_5906soundbutton.pdf

 

 

[sir james I]

As mentioned above find a Lionel # 6-5906 controller and it will do the job. Most like the one you have fried years ago and do not work.