Lionel 213 Lift Bridge

[ezmike]

I recently acquired this bridge but the original controller is missing. The Lionel parts information on their site notes that it is no longer available but the common 027 switch controller, part # 600-5122-200 is the substitute. I don't have one around but do have plenty of 022 controllers so I tried one and no matter how I attach the wires the bridge does not respond to the controller. It either goes up continuously, down continuously or does nothing.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

By the way, if I connect 2 momentary switches independent of each other it functions as it should. Press one button, it goes up. Release it and it stops. Press the other and it does down, release it and it stops.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[lionelsoni]

The 022 controller is wired differently from the O27 controller.  The 022 controller's common is the center wire in the flat cable, while it is one of the outer wires for the O27 controller.  Furthermore, the 022 includes a lamp between the common and each of the other two wires.  You will need to remove those lamps and then wire the cable to the bridge a little differently.  (There are only six ways to wire it to the bridge; and it should work properly two of those ways.)

[ezmike]

Bob,

I knew I could count on you. So then it would just be easier to find a 027 controller, the train shop where work from time to time has dozens of them. Or, use 2 separate momentary switches or, a SPDT center off switch.

Thanks again,

Mike

[lionelsoni]

I don't think you would have much trouble at all using one of your 022s, if you just remove the lamps and spend a few minutes experimenting with the connections.  Since the middle wire of the 022 is the common, connect it to the place that you connected to both of the momentary switches.  Then connect the other two 022-cable wires to the other two bridge terminals.

[ezmike]

Oh, I get it, I misunderstood. I thought I'd have to remove the lamp sockets and re-wire the controller. I'll try removing the bulbs and see what happens.

Mike

[ezmike]

Bob,

Yep, just remove the bulbs, connect the center wire to the center post and the others to the posts on both sides and it works perfectly. Thanks

Mike

[lionelsoni]

You're welcome.