022 switches in command control?

[Anonymous]

I'm hooking up my first switches and read in the 022 switch manual that you shouldnt control the switches in command control all the time or it may cause damage to your switch. (manual page 9) Is this true or should i use it half the time either way? I just got my command control system so i'm a liitle new still (and my first train). dont want to start damaging stuff.

Thx, Cade[:D][:D]

[ben10ben]

Controlling a switch under TMCC with an SC-2 is no different from controlling it with the controller.

What can damage it with TMCC, though, is the voltage. The standard voltage for TMCC is 18 volts(although it can operate as low as 10), which can quickly burn out the lightbulbs and maybe even melt the lanterns. The solution to this is either run TMCC at a lower voltage(I like 16), or run your switches off fixed voltage from a separate power source. When I do it this way, I like to give the switches about 14 volts. It still gives the switches plenty of voltage to "snap" without letting the bulbs get too hot.

[Roger Bielen]

With my first TMCC layout I used O-27 with the O-27 switches and destroyed a couple before I realized what I was doing. With the anti-derail feature the selonoid is energized when a car is on the switch and with 18V it doesn't take long to "melt" a selonoid. There is a cure, to rewire the selonoid so that it can be powered from an accessory power source at a lower voltage. It doesn't remove the problem but buys more time before meltdown.

One of the mags. had a "how to" article a few years back on how to do this. It involves cutting the center wire to the selonoid and wiring it to the separate power source. I don't remember the exact details and don't know if I saved a copy of the article.

[nblum]

Even 14 or 16 volts continually applied will melt lanterns or burn out switches operated off track power. For command control, either replace the bulbs with 24 Volt bulbs or LED devices if you are going to operate at 14 volts, or power the switches from separate power supplies (not possible with the O27 switches, unfortunately).

[Anonymous]

So what you guys are saying is power from a separate power source, meaning, transformer or some other. Right now I have it into the main track and not using it because I needed a second one to fini***he turnout. Is it going to melt down sitting there not being used as long as there is power to it from the regular "loop" per say? thanks for the info because I didnt know they were such a deal to work with.

Cade

[Roger Bielen]

The meltdown problem is only when there is a car, or engine, parked on the section of the switch that completes the circuit for the anti-derail feature. This allows power to stay on the selonoid causing it to overheat. I've found the instructions for converting the switch, they were from the Lionel website. My printout is from 10/03 but here is the address from the bottom of the page, if it's still there. The article is "The Lionel Cammand Control System and O27 Switches",
www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/GeneralTipsAndFAQs/TechTip3.cfm

Might be easier to go to the website and look for it.

[Anonymous]

OH GOTCHA!! I understand now. shouldnt be a problem because i have a pressure lockon for my semaphore close to it and i make sure that the train is not on or around it to keep the semaphore going. cool. thx for all the help.