Hello, I have 4 standard gauge #25 Bumpers that I would like to illuminate. I have the 4 bumpers in my freight yard and on the section of track they are on, I have a fiber insulation pin in the middle rail. I did not want these bumpers powered by track power. I want them to have their own power source on my Z transformer. I have the 4 bumpers insulated, and I have lockons on those 4 pieces of track that are insulated and have bumpers attached to the track. How do I wire the lockons to the A knob on my Z transformer?? Do I just wire all the middle rail terminals to the A post on the Z transformer?? Or do I have to include a ground with another lockon on the main line? I had it wired up briefly and had it working right, but now when I go to turn on the bumpers, my loco on that line starts up and moves. Not sure if I did it right. Looks as if something is wrong. Let me know how you do this and any help will do. Thanks.
So far you should have the bumpers wired correctly, unless the Z transformer also needs a seperate common feed from the transformer. Try to keep the insulating pin close to the bumper, about six inches away.
A ZW has all four common terminals hooked together inside the transformer, not sure if it is the same for a Z.
Lee F.
The problem is when I apply voltage to the A knob on the Z transformer, the A knob is wired to the bumpers and common ground on the main line. But, when I apply voltage the loco moves. But, I have the A knob wired to the middle rails which are insulated from the rest of the layout. Humm. I don't think I have it wired right. Thanks.
All the U terminals of the Z are wired together, just like the ZW.
The way you describe the wiring is correct. All the outside rails should be connected together and to the U terminal(s). There should be a center-rail gap between the short piece of track under the bumper and the siding. The center rail under the bumper should be connected to the A terminal of the Z transformer. Could one of your gaps have failed?
Another interesting way to wire bumpers is, in addition, to isolate the outside rail on one side of the bumper and to put a gap in the other outside rail some slight distance into the siding, to make a control rail (with the control rail insulated from the siding's other rail). Then, when a train entering the siding approaches the bumper, the leading pair of wheels will connect the control rail to common and light the bumper.
Bob Nelson
Still does not work...I have the Center rails of the insulated sections all wired together to the A termianl on the Z. Then all the outside rail of the insulated sections all wired to the common ground or outside rail on a lockon on the on mainline. Do I have to run it to the U terminal or can I use a lockon and just connect that to the outside rail and terminal on the lockon?? How could one of my gaps fail?? I checked, I have brand new fiber pins in the center rails by the bumpers. The bumpers dont even light up. Humm. What next?
Are your outside rails--on the main line, on the sidings, and under the bumpers--all connected together and to the transformer's U terminal, except for any control rails for non-derailing turnouts or track-operated accessories?
I have the outside rails of all tracks under the bumpers wired together and to a lockon on the main line to the outside rail terminal, not a wire run all the way to the Z transformer's U terminal. I do have a 115 station that is wired up correctly to use the train stop feature on it. I have no idea why the loco would move if the power wire is going to the insulated sections under the bumpers.
Do you have a voltmeter? If so, connect one lead directly to the transformer's U terminal. Turn up the A control and check the voltages on all the rails, outside and center, on the main line, the siding, and the bumper.
Check the installment of your insulating pins again. Do you have your switchyard isolated from the main track power. I suspect a track wiring or other problem.
How is the # 115 station wired? That may be the problem with the track power.
Lionel switches in O gauge supply power to both center rails coming out of the switch from the incoming center rail and should be the same in Standard Gauge. One of the outside rails should supply power to the outgoing outside rails on both tracks coming out of the switch, at least that is how the Lionel 022 switches work for track power.
If all else fails, but shouldn't, insulate all three rails with fiber pins and supply the power from the U terminal seperately to the bumpers.
Disconnect all wires from each of the 4 lock ons. Turn up the A knob and see if the engine runs. It shouldn't be getting any power. Next hook up one lock on and turn up the A knob. Then wire the next one and test. Wire up the 3rd and the 4th testing after each one. If your engine gets power, you'll be able to isolate the problem either to the lockon or your track.
Ok, I disconnected the last 3 bumpers. The first one works as should, but when I go to attach the 2nd bumper the loco moves. Not sure why it does this. let me know what you think is wrong. Thanks.
The switch yard is isloated from the rest of the main line, only one way into the freight yard, and I have a fiber pin at the first switch into freight yard. I will try something else now. The 115 is wired the way the instructions say how to wire it up, using 3 wires to the 3 posts on the 115 station to 2 seperate lockons, one inside the fiber pinned section and one outside the insulated sections. thanks.
I got it all working right. Turns out that one of the lockons had a back connection with either the middle or outside rail. Replaced that lockon, now it works. Thanks for the help.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month