wiring multiple lock ons to a lay out

[bob1951]

Hi   I just put of a table with track for 5 running lines biggest 8 by 7 foot smallest is 037 o gauge track 

I used a lighted Lionel brand lockon and 3 others. I used a wiring block and put wires for all number 1  ( four wires going to the lockons ) and then on to the transformer.  I did the same with the wires going to # 2 on the lockons and also the fifth to the transformers I am planing to add things like the watchman to the line. The green light on the lockon did not come on and nothing worked on the line. I powered the line with just the lighted lockon and it worked fine. I want to use older transformers like the T 1033 1044 and the Z with the added switch for whistle and direction

could someone please let me know how to properly add additional lockons to the 8 foot by 7 foot line

thanks in advance

and thanks for letting me join the group

bob1951

[lionelsoni]

I am finding it a little hard to understand your setup.  Is there any connection among your loops?  If so, you should not rely on the lockons' terminal numbers being the same on different kinds of lockons.  Instead identify which terminal goes to the outside rails and which terminal goes to the center rail, and then wire them all the same way with respect to the rails, not necessarily with respect to the numbers.

What size of wire are you using?  For the sake of safety, it should be rated for the circuit breaker of the transformer.  That's 14 AWG for the 15-ampere ZW.  That gauge will probably keep you from having voltage-drop problems even if you use a smaller transformer.  (Do I understand that you're trying to run 4 trains with a 1033?)

Just snap on an additional lockon wherever the train slows down.

(I think you meant O-27, not 037.)

[Penny Trains]

aboard!

Becky

[BigAl 956]

Each lockon is wired the same. All lockons should be wired in parrallel with each other.

There are 2 connections, center rail and outside rail. You must make sure that never flips.

In general the outside rails are all common tied together on a layout with isolations made by insulating center rails.