1121 Switch work

[mgbbob]

Hi folks,

I worked on my new 50 year old switch controller last night.  I replaced the lamp socket.  I need a lot of practice to make this like new.  I patched the wiring up but I need to start from scratch.  Any advice out there?

I am also looking to brighten the green light on the controller and the switch.  Any ideas on that issue?

[Taranwanderer]

You can buy old-school Lionel 3-conductor wire to rewire the controllers, but I went to the hardware store and bought a length of blue CAT-5 cable--it's probably cheaper by the foot than the Lionel stuff, and it has 5 wires inside it, which I've found uses for other places as well.  The small wires inside are flexible, easy to work with, and are color-coded.  I have no ideas on making the lights brighter, but if you find something, be sure to post it.  Also, keep in mind that while the switch controller is made to control two switches, the light bulb inside the controller is only powered from one of them, so don't drive yourself crazy if you hook up one side and the light doesn't work--try the other.  Good luck!

[ADCX Rob]

Check the service documents for wiring:

1121

1122-100 (newer controller)

The lanterns on the switch are usually faded considerably - the green especially, even when stored in the dark.  You can restore them with glass stain from a craft store.

The indicators on the controllers are notoriously dim(but look OK in very dark rooms). 

They would be more effective with the original (lenses) removed & replaced with colored gels or gel plastic.  This could be easily reversed if you use rubber cement like Walthers Goo should you want to retain any collector value.

If you want to eliminate the flashing of the controller bulb, you could power the bulb from two small bridge rectifiers with the DC outputs wired together and the AC inputs powered through both leads(coils) of one switch.

Rob

[mgbbob]

I used some 4 wire I obtained from Radio Shack but I will try your idea.  There is just too much wire in a small place.  The bottom rivet on one side was bad.  I haven't checked to see if new rivets are available.  I was thinking of using a small screw. 

I actually moved the power wire to the other side because of the rivet issue. 

[mgbbob]

I was wondering about polishing or maybe drilling into the lens. I thought about using LED's but I think the regular bulb is brighter.

 

Bob