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Searchlight car

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  • Member since
    March 2013
  • 9 posts
Searchlight car
Posted by dkapteyn on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:35 PM

Thanks for the answers!  My car is an AF s gauge  Erie 7210 search light car, gray with a red plastic generator.  I tried to include pics but wouldnt let me.   Approx 1/2 inch in front of the search light itself is a brass pin that runs through the flat bed and connects the truck (3 axle) to the car.  This pin moves up and down as you put the car on the track.  When I plug in the transformer,  sparks fly out of the top of the pin on the flat bed and the transformer shorts out.  It looks like a copper and metal plate system below the flat bed that i guess opens a circuit?  What could be making the sparks?  Any ideas!

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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 9:01 PM

The insulation on the wires has deteriorated and the wires are shorting out. The car will have to be rewired if it's to work properly.

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Posted by twcenterprises on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 9:07 PM

dkapteyn

I tried to include pics but wouldnt let me.

This site does not host pics.  You will need to host them on a 3rd party site.  Photobucket is one, there are others.  An account is free.  Once you have an account, upload your pics.  Then copy the "IMG" code (or link) and paste it here in your post.  You can paste as many photos as you need.  The forum software will resize them automatically.

TIP!  Don't use thumbnail images!  We won't be able to see any detail.

Brad

EMD - Every Model Different

ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil

CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 9:51 PM

dkapteyn

What could be making the sparks?  Any ideas!

I am not at all sure why you started a new thread.  You have already asked this question.

Have you rotated one of the trucks?

It may be that the wheels are shorting out the transformer.  The wheels on one truck must be aligned the opposite of the wheels on the other truck.

Turn the car over and you can see the difference, plastic wheels on one side, metal wheels on the other side.  You cannot have all of the wheels aligned the same way.

At least eliminate that as a possibility.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, March 21, 2013 7:49 AM

Jeff,

Can you put this two threads, together??

Cheers,

Frank

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, March 21, 2013 7:50 AM

Probably need to lock one or the other.

Or, start a third thread.   Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, March 21, 2013 7:58 AM

richhotrain

Probably need to lock one or the other.

Or, start a third thread.   Laugh

Rich

Rich,

The OPs probably in wonderment , after not receiving any answers on the CTT, forums..LOL.

Cheers,

Frank

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, March 21, 2013 8:02 AM

Something is shorting out the system.

If it's not the wheels misaligned, then it is probably frayed wires touching each other or the metal frame.

Heck, it could be the transformer.  Do locomotive(s) run on the layout without the search light car on the tracks?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Thursday, March 21, 2013 8:25 AM

richhotrain

Something is shorting out the system.

If it's not the wheels misaligned, then it is probably frayed wires touching each other or the metal frame.

Heck, it could be the transformer.  Do locomotive(s) run on the layout without the search light car on the tracks?

Rich

That's interesting,, no one has asked that,,,  I also believe it to be frayed wires, I stand corrected if I'm wrong, weren't the wires wrapped in rubber and cloth, of some sort, that is how the wires on my 49ford were....I had to basically rewire the whole car...

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, March 21, 2013 8:55 AM

zstripe

I stand corrected if I'm wrong, weren't the wires wrapped in rubber and cloth, of some sort, that is how the wires on my 49ford were....I had to basically rewire the whole car...

Yep, the post-war wiring harnesses were wrapped in a cloth fabric, similar to a shoelace, at least in appearance.

Rich

Alton Junction

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