SC-2 with lionel switches & constant voltage plugs plus other ?

[jmkk]

I'm considering purchasing a few  SC-2's. Here are the questions. these all pertain to using them with Lionel O-72 tubular switches NOT Fast track.

1)  With Lionel switches do you still use the constant voltage plugs? I have them all wired to operate at 18 volts. Bulbs are separated and run at 6 volts.

2) Can I still "manually" throw them from my control panel using the toggles I already have while they are hooked up to the SC-2?

3) I would like the switches to illuminate my control panel as to the way they are pointed. Is this possible when hooked up yo the SC-2?  I  think would so.

4) I'm pretty sure this is possible. Can I hook up more than one switch to a SC-2 output? 12 switches instead of 6. They do operate 6 a piece dont they?

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm rewiring my lower two connected levels to be command only. My two new levels 3 and 4 will be conventional only.

[Buckeye Riveter]

jmkk

I'm considering purchasing a few  SC-2's. Here are the questions. these all pertain to using them with Lionel O-72 tubular switches NOT Fast track.

1)  With Lionel switches do you still use the constant voltage plugs? I have them all wired to operate at 18 volts. Bulbs are separated and run at 6 volts.  Have you thought of changing the bulbs to handle 18v? I had to change bulbs in several older cars to handle the higher track voltages used for TMCC.

2) Can I still "manually" throw them from my control panel using the toggles I already have while they are hooked up to the SC-2?  I have a toggle and the SC-2 both wired to the same switch.  Works perfect.

3) I would like the switches to illuminate my control panel as to the way they are pointed. Is this possible when hooked up yo the SC-2?  I  think would so.  I don't have a control panel, so I don't know for sure, but it seem feasible. (The only controls you see when you walk into the train room are the CAB-1.  Everything else is hidden. )

4) I'm pretty sure this is possible. Can I hook up more than one switch to a SC-2 output? 12 switches instead of 6. They do operate 6 a piece dont they?  I had two switches connected to on SC-2 terminal along with the one toggle switch.  It worked but I didn't like the limited options for train control and seperated the switches to two SC-2 terminals.

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm rewiring my lower two connected levels to be command only. My two new levels 3 and 4 will be conventional only.

Suggestion:  Draw a diagram of your wiring and how things are connected to the SC-2.   Name or number the SC-2s.  Test and retest.

[jmkk]

Thanks for the quick reply. 

 Question 1) do you leave the constant voltage plug hooked up? 

 As far as wiring goes they are all already wired for 18 volt power to the content voltage plug and 6 volts to the bulbs . Before installing the switches I modified the switches so the bulbs could be run at a lower voltage. I plan on modifying my lighted cars to use either 18v bulbs or LED's. The control panel is there and I dont want to remove it after all the time I put into it. Glad to know I can put more than one switch on a single output. This will be temporary till I acquire more SC-2's. I have 28 switches and plan to double up the yard in and outs till I have the funds to purchase more. As far as wiring goes all my wiring is color coded and or labeled. and yes I have a schematic of where they go and what there labels are. Thanks again for the info.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Can't help you with the plugs.  Sorry about that.

Since you have a Berea location, thought you might recognize this on Bagley Road:

[ADCX Rob]

jmkk

Question 1) do you leave the constant voltage plug hooked up?

You can, with no issues.  The SC-2's switch "common" current, so can be integrated right in to existing layouts very easily.  Accessories are more of a challenge to change over to as most conventional layouts use a switched "hot" scheme. 

All of your existing toggles can remain, and with this wiring already in place can simplify the addition of TMCC controls.  Buckeye is right on though, doubling up switches can be very restrictive.  You're better off leaving them controlled by your toggles, especially in the yard areas.  You may want to double up a cross-over or two, but depending on how you operate this too can bring restrictions.

[jmkk]

Buckeye  Yes I do know the bridge. I live about a mile from it. Matter of fact when I I pick my kids up from school I can see trains pass over it from a distance. There is some good rail fanning in Berea. The bridge to the north (was supposed to be a underpass) is completed now. There are some nice vantage points of a vary heavily trafficked area.

Rob -  good to know. Now all I need to do is add a shelf under the layout for the SC-2's and connect them to the toggles (basically) I may leave the yard alone until I have the funds for 3 at once.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Jason...I worked on the design of both of those bridges.  The bridge on Front Street was planned to go under the four sets of tracks, but due to various reasons, such as the block plant surcharge on the proposed retaining walls, the size of the cranes needed to lift the new structure into place, the amount of train traffic and the division signal blocks, the price went through the roof for an underpass.  Since the old switch tower is considered historic, that even created some problems.  

Berea is one of the best train watching spots in Ohio.  I believe the number of trains passing through the city was at one time nearly 120 per day.