I have an 8900 Lionel motorized unit I would like to run with my current postwar collection, but also would like to have a switch to allow me to flip it between AC and DC current without removing the rectifier I believe I would need to install. What size rectifier would I need, what kind of switch would I need, and how would I wire them to the motor?
What kind of motor and electronics (if any) does it have now? How do you reverse it? Do you want to be able to reverse it remotely when running on AC? When running on DC?
Bob Nelson
I do not care for reversing it in AC, it currently has a DC can motor, the original one from 1988. I just want to be able to run it in AC, then just have to flip a switch to run it in DC, rather than rewire it to do so.
I understand that it has a DC motor and they you don't care about being able to reverse it when running on AC. If you also don't care whether you can reverse it on DC, you don't need anything but a bridge rectifier to run it on AC or DC--no switch. So, do you want to still be able to reverse it remotely when running on DC?
Yeah. Planning on giving to a much younger friend after I figure out how to make the conversion, and replacing it in my work train consist with a 610 NW-2. So I'd prefer for it to be usable in DC as it was originally manufactured.
Then it looks like you'll have to put in a bridge rectifier, with one of its ~ terminals connected to the frame or wheels, the other to the center-rail pickup; and a DPDT switch, to select for the motor either the voltage upstream of the rectifier for normal DC operation or the voltage downstream of the rectifier (the + and - rectifier terminals) for AC operation without reversing (or DC operation without reversing, for that matter).
Gonna try that.
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