Lionel O Turnout wiring

[Anonymous]

I am new to designing layouts and have set up a complex layout with back to back turnouts I am using the Lionel 022 turnouts and have 11 on a 4x8 layout. I am having conflicts btween some of the swithces and at the moment using track power . Should I change to separate transformer adn use the fixed voltage posts? How do I get the trunouts to work correctly with some chattering when a use a switch.

I could use a little help

[Back2Trains]

Definitely use auxillary power for your switches. Track voltage may at times be too low for proper operation. I use one variable output on a KW just to power 13 of them. Set the transformer to supply 12-14 volts to the power line for the switches, or if you don't have a voltmeter, bring the voltage up to the point where you hear a strong snap when a switch is thrown. Also, be sure the switch is fully locking in each position when it is thrown.
If you have purchased old switches, they may need cleanup before you use them, otherwise the may be sluggish and not lock in position which may cause derailing, chattering and malfunction of the non-derailing feature.
Maintenance of 022s has been covered both in this forum and (I belive in CTT magazine). Perhaps someone can be of help in locating the articles.
By the way, I also use auxillary power for my uncoupling/unloading track sections. It works better there, too.
Jim

[Anonymous]

Thanks - The switches are all new. In the back to back configuration one chaters and the other works fine. How do I correctly setup the insulators or does it matter if I am using the side post

[lionelsoni]

The control rails should all have insulating pins. See http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/swt/stc022a.pdf if you have any doubt which ones are the control rails.

All the other outside rails should be connected to the common of your transformer. If two track sections are joined through switches, notice that the insulating pins in the control rails can keep the normal outside rales from being connected between the switches, since one control rail plugs into a non-control rail on each side of the track. In this case you have to provide a second connection to the outside rails so that both track sections are wired.

If you use multiple transformers, connect their commons together. This includes any transformer used only for auxiliary power for the switches.