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Lionel AC (Pullmore) Motor Help

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  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
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Posted by ADCX Rob on Monday, November 24, 2014 11:08 PM

dbaker48
Rob, I'm confused, isn't there 2 brush connections, and 1 field connection on the motor? Or do I have that wrong

Yes, wrong. You need a complete series circuit... you are forgetting about the second field connection, which in many/most cases is the motor/locomotive chassis, but it doesn't have to be(such as when running the motor on DC when you need to isolate the field from chassis ground).

Rob

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Posted by TrainLarry on Monday, November 24, 2014 9:58 PM

Glad to hear the good news.

Enjoy your trains!

Larry

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  • From: Sunny So. Cal.
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Posted by dbaker48 on Monday, November 24, 2014 8:10 PM

Larry,

Just wanted to let you know, SUCCESS!  Everything installed and works great.  I probably would have been better off if I would not have tried to test the motors out without connecting them to the AC Commander.  But didn't want to risk the boards with a miswire.  As soon as I connected the motors up as you suggested, they just took right off.  I really appreciate your help!! Thanks a lot!!

Don

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Posted by TrainLarry on Monday, November 24, 2014 11:30 AM

You're welcome. You do not have to interconnect the wires to the 2 motors if you are using the AC/DC Commander. Just connect wires to both motors, and then connect them to the board. Put 2 wires in each connection on the board. Easy to set up both motors to run in the same direction.

Larry

  • Member since
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  • From: Sunny So. Cal.
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Posted by dbaker48 on Monday, November 24, 2014 2:50 AM

Thanks Larry,

Fully understand, makes perfect sense.  I was trying to ensure I have the motors wired  correctly prior to connecting to the AC/DC Commander.  Didn't want to take a chance internal shorting the board out because of a motor connection.  That is why I was trying to make sure I have correct motor interconnection.  And also that I have the motors connected together correctly before connecting them to the board.  (I dont think I would have had the problem if I wouldn't have replaced the cloth covered wire, but it was in sad shape.)

Thanks Again!

Don

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Posted by TrainLarry on Monday, November 24, 2014 12:54 AM

There are 2 brush connections and 2 field connections. The second field connection is permanently grounded, and you do not hook any wires to it. To power the motor, one  transformer wire is connected to one brush connection. The other brush connection gets a wire to the field connection, usually on the center of the brushplate. The other transformer connection goes to chassis ground. This will get the motor turning. To reverse the motor direction, interchange the 2 brush connections. This is exactly what the e-unit does.

Assuming you have the ERR AC/DC  Commander, the motor hookup is very simple. Page 4 of the instruction manual shows a simple diagram to hook up the motors.

Larry

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Sunny So. Cal.
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Posted by dbaker48 on Monday, November 24, 2014 12:23 AM

Rob,

I'm confused, isn't there 2 brush connections, and 1 field connection on the motor? Or do I have that wrong.

                                        ---------------- 0  Brush 1

                          0    Field Connection (Center Pole)

                                      ---------------- 0 Brush 2

Don

  • Member since
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Posted by TrainLarry on Monday, November 24, 2014 12:11 AM

If you wish to wire up the motors without any reverse function, e-unit or electronic, then here is the basic  wiring for one motor. Scroll halfway down on the left side.  Wire up both motors the same way. If they spin in opposite directions, reverse the brush wires on one motor. This will get you wired up and running in one direction. You can then wire in your electronic board from there.

Larry

 

 

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  • From: Hopewell, NY
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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, November 23, 2014 11:32 PM

No.

You are misunderstanding the function of the E-unit. It is a DPDT center off switch that simply switches the relationship of the field with the brushes.

These motors are series wound(universal) and are reversed by transposing the two brush connections. To get the motor running w/o a reverse unit is very simple - one power lead to one brush, the other brush to one field connection, the other field connection to the second power connection. Switch the brush connections to reverse the motor.

Rob

  • Member since
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  • From: Sunny So. Cal.
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Posted by dbaker48 on Sunday, November 23, 2014 10:32 PM

Larry,

I really appreciate the wire diagram.  It will really help.  However, IF you remove the E-Unit, can you "simulate" the E-Unit operation, by just connecting one side to the armature side?

Thanks

Don

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 969 posts
Posted by TrainLarry on Sunday, November 23, 2014 10:10 PM

Here is the wiring diagram for a post war twin AC motored F-3. This should help you get things wired back up and running.

Larry

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Sunny So. Cal.
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Lionel AC (Pullmore) Motor Help
Posted by dbaker48 on Sunday, November 23, 2014 9:35 PM

OK, having a Sr Moment or maybe just not too bright.

Doing an upgrade with a ERR kit for a dual motor F3.  Everything went very well UNTIL I put it on the track.

After installing the upgrade, I tested the engine using a set of wheel rollers.  I even added some marker lights, and operating couplers.  EVERYTHING GOOD.  Tested the engine on the rollers both in a conventional mode and TMCC mode.  (I did have to remove the E-Unit, wasn't enough room to leave it in.)

So I set it on the track, its starts fine!  The lights, coupler all work.  Change the direction a couple of times, that is good.  So now to set it in motion, it is grinding but no go.  Of course I had the motors out of phase.  OK, no big deal just reverse the wires on one.  (Need to use a little caution to keep in sync with the lights.)

So that's what I start out to do.  In the process break one of the wires going to the front motor.  So repair that, and another comes off.  Then another!  Decide to replace the OLD cloth wrapped wire.  It's all gone down hill from there.

Now I have both motors, completely disconnected, and trying to figure out how to hook them back up.

Given the motor has 3 connections on it, the two outside are the BRUSH connections, (-) and the center is the FIELD connection (+).  I realize that if the Brush connections were connected at the same time (both -) the motor would not run.  (Because the E-Unit, flip-flopped between the two fields to reverse direction.)  However IF you connected just one side or Field connection, and applied transformer (+) to the center connection.  Then the motor should rotate in ONE direction, then if you moved over to the OTHER field connection.  The motor should rotate in the opposite direction.

But, that's not what I get.  Nothing!!  I even put new brushes in the motor, no help.  Anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong?

                0  --- Brush Side 1  (Transformer - )

         0 ----  Field Connection   (Transformer  +)

                0 --- Brush Side  2   (Transformer -)

Thanks For any Advice !

Don

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