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red power pickup wire in Bachmann Niagra

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  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 106 posts
red power pickup wire in Bachmann Niagra
Posted by tedski on Sunday, September 20, 2015 11:24 PM

I did it this time.  I was installing a decoder and had the misfortune to disconnect (pull off) the red power pick up wire from the little circuit board in the tender.  This is not the red wire that comes from the decoder.  The engine is the Bachmann Niagra. The black wire is still attached.  The question is where do I solder the red one?  There are 8 round soldering points in a row on one edge of the little circuit board.  I don't see anywhere else to solder a connection.   This is the arrangement with letters below each:

 

O    O    O    O        O    O     O     O    -----> soldering points

L     L    L     L        M-  HL-  HL+  M+  -----> letters below each

 

The black power wire is connected to the far left solder point "O".  Anyone with a Bachmann Niagra know where the red power pickup wire is soldered?

Tedski 

Bang Head

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Monday, September 21, 2015 6:51 AM

 Well it's definitely not any of the 4 on the right - those are motoer (M) and headlight (HL).

 If you look closely (use a magnifier if necessary), you should see the blob of solder and tail of the wire you pulled off. That's the most reliable way of getting it back in the right place.

                 --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
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Posted by tedski on Monday, September 21, 2015 7:38 AM

Great idea.  If I can't see the solder tail, is there a reasonable way to experiment - try one of the two connections labeled R?

Tedski

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, September 21, 2015 7:57 AM

Almost certainly belongs on one of the ones marked R, if the black wire is on L - the L is for left rail and R is right rail.

              --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Monday, September 21, 2015 8:06 AM

tedski

I did it this time.  I was installing a decoder and had the misfortune to disconnect (pull off) the red power pick up wire from the little circuit board in the tender.  This is not the red wire that comes from the decoder.  The engine is the Bachmann Niagra. The black wire is still attached.  The question is where do I solder the red one?  There are 8 round soldering points in a row on one edge of the little circuit board.  I don't see anywhere else to solder a connection.   This is the arrangement with letters below each:

 

O    O    O    O        O    O     O     O    -----> soldering points

L     L    L     L        M-  HL-  HL+  M+  -----> letters below each

 

The black power wire is connected to the far left solder point "O".  Anyone with a Bachmann Niagra know where the red power pickup wire is soldered?

Tedski 

Bang Head

 

 

 

 

Where is the R in your diagram?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 106 posts
Posted by tedski on Monday, September 21, 2015 8:36 AM

O    O    O    O        O    O     O     O    -----> soldering points

L     L    R     R        M-  HL-  HL+  M+  -----> letters below each

I noticed this morning that I had not indicated the R positions properly - stayed up way too late last night. 

The far right R has the solder tail mentioned in the advice above.  I guess I'll try that unless someone can point me to the exact connection. 

tski

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, September 21, 2015 9:26 AM

tedski

O    O    O    O        O    O     O     O    -----> soldering points

L     L    R     R        M-  HL-  HL+  M+  -----> letters below each

I noticed this morning that I had not indicated the R positions properly - stayed up way too late last night. 

The far right R has the solder tail mentioned in the advice above.  I guess I'll try that unless someone can point me to the exact connection. 

tski

What color wires are connected on the board.  

The four on the right (M- HL- HL+ M+) would typically be, in order, gray, white, blue, orange.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by tedski on Monday, September 21, 2015 10:52 AM

The wires on the right are all colored black.  Quality on the low end?

tski

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Monday, September 21, 2015 11:48 AM

tedski

The wires on the right are all colored black.  Quality on the low end?

tski

Pretty much.
 
Here is the NMRA wiring protocol:
 
Black - Left Rail Pickup
x
x
x
Gray - Motor (-)
White - Head Light
Blue - Common (+)
Orange - Motor (+)
 
That color coding would correspond to your diagram.  The slots marked X are unknown at this point.  Only 7 slots are typically used, so the two missing wires would be red and yellow.
 
Red- Right Rail Pickup
Yellow - Rear Light 
 
So, you will need to guess the location of the red wire, but it is undoubtedly the the slot with the solder blob on it.
 
Sometimes, a green or purple wire is used in the eighth slot, but not typically.
 
Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 106 posts
Posted by tedski on Friday, October 2, 2015 9:31 PM

Just a quick followup.  I did attach the red wire to the R connection that had the little solder tail.  I also resoldered the black connection because it had become somewhat tenuous with all my goofing around.  Everything running fine.  Thanks everyone.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, October 3, 2015 6:39 AM

tedski

Just a quick followup.  I did attach the red wire to the R connection that had the little solder tail.  I also resoldered the black connection because it had become somewhat tenuous with all my goofing around.  Everything running fine.  Thanks everyone.

Thanks for the follow up.  Nothing more rewarding than solving a problem.
 
Rich

Alton Junction

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