Hi,
In November 2007, you gave OMK help regarding the wiring and operation of a Lionel 82N semaphore. I'm hoping you can do the same for me regarding a Lionel 99N Color Light Signal (it has three lights- red [at top], yellow, green, and a slide to control the bimetallic strip). According to a 1940 Lionel "Instructions for Assembling and Operating" guide, the 82N and the 99N are connected alike to the tracks. The setup shown uses a No. 41 contactor, but says you can use a 153C. I assume you would connect the wires to terminals 2 and 3 (NO setting) if using a 153C. I can also tell you this from the October 1941 issue of Model Builder that according to them: lead #1 "leads into the red bulb. It does not do this directly, however, but first passes first through a thermostat," lead #2 "leads into the yellow bulb," lead #3 is the "ground which carries the return flow from all three bulbs," and lead #4 "leads into the green bulb." (Amazingly, I was able to find this information since I only have a small handful of Model Builder magazines.)
I have tried to draw an electrical diagram but end up confused, especially how the yellow light is connected. I am also not certain about the sequence of operation.
Thanks for whatever help you might be able to give.
Dick
I have an 099; but I long ago gutted it to put in my own stuff. I have the back plate with the bimetallic strip and heater, but none of the original wiring. There's no wiring information on the Olsen site either.
Can you post everything you have from the 1940 Lionel paper and the full text of the 1941 article? And can you describe what's wired to what inside yours, assuming that you duplicated the original wiring?
The back plate of my 099 has terminal 1 connected to the stationary (but adjustable) end of the bimetallic strip and to one end of the heater wire. Terminal 3 has a strap that connects it to the frame. Terminals 2 and 4 and the other end of the heater wire are no longer connected to anything.
Bob Nelson
Well, I've pored over the documents you sent me and haven't gotten any farther than you did. When I try to combine the Model Builder description with the installation instructions, I get something nonsensical. The Model Builder however was describing the same sort of gutting that I did with mine and may not have worried too much about how carefully he described the normal wiring.
How about your wiring? Did you follow the original in your rewiring? If so, can you describe what you have?
I am working on a drawing now. The 99N that I acquired is missing two of its external wires (wire #1--red wire and wire #3--"ground" wire, and the yellow bulb was out of its socket, rattling around in the bulb housing. The internal wiring appears to be intact although it is in sad shape (the insulation is falling off). I'm guessing whoever had the 99N previously was using it in a different manner.
Lionelsoni,
I've sent you a wiring diagram of the 99N via email.
Thanks
I think that your diagram is probably the correct original wiring. It doesn't completely agree with the Model Builder description; but I think it might produce a plausible operation when connected according to the installation instructions, that is, with 1 connected to the center rail (outside the stop block), 2 connected to common (the outside rails generally), 3 connected to the control rail of the stop block or to common through a contactor, and 4 connected to the center rail of the stop block.
The operation would be something like this:
When idle, the yellow lamp would be lit. The red lamp in parallel with the series combination of the green lamp and the heater would supply its current. The red and green lamps would glow dimly, presumably dimly enough that they would appear to be off.
When a train arrives on the stop block, it shunts the yellow lamp with its wheels on the control rail and shunts the green lamp with the low impedance of the locomotive's motor. The motor also provides a return for the red lamp, which lights, and a return for the heater, which begins to heat the bimetallic strip.
When the strip moves far enough, it disconnects the red lamp. Soon after it connects the green lamp and the stop-block center rail to the center rail outside the block, lighting the green lamp, starting the train, and shunting the heater, which begins to cool.
Probably by the time the heater cools, the train is out of the block; so the yellow lamp comes on again.
I hope I've got it right! I wish I had made a schematic before I unwired my 099.
Thanks very much for taking the time to look at my problem.
MTH has made a reproduction of the 99N. I don't have their model number.
The Q's & A's section of the November 1993 issue of Classic Toy Trains, page 130, has a short article a 99N's problems working on the letter writer's set. This is the only place where I found the 99N mentioned in all of the CTT magazines.
If I come upon other interesting information regarding the 99N, I'll let you know.
Thanks,
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