Trains.com

American Flyer Electronic Whistle Control

4981 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 151 posts
American Flyer Electronic Whistle Control
Posted by irontooth on Friday, December 4, 2015 10:20 PM

Greetings everyone

I aquired an AF Electronic Whistle Control that needs a new power cord, I hope to rewire the whistle and see if it will work. My problem is that I cannot find any instructions on how to wire the control to the track. It has one white wire, one yelloe wire and one black wire that come out of the control, but not sure where they should be connected. Thanks in advance all of you folks are great and I hope I can help someone one day. I still have my AF Black Diamond set that I got for Xmas in1953 and other stuff I have collected. I have soooo much fun getting them all up and running, glad it is not illegal.

Thanks Much

Irontooth

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 3,584 posts
Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Saturday, December 5, 2015 9:15 AM

What is the number of the whistle? If you know that you can get the specific wiring diagram for you.

With AF the wiring usually follows a pattern of black is base, yellow (or red or green) is the accesory or function, 15v constant, and white is the variable, 7 - 15 v.

Hope this helps

Jim

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 151 posts
Posted by irontooth on Saturday, December 5, 2015 1:14 PM
There is no number that I can find. This is the control that has a vacuum tube and is dated Sept. 13, 1950. I have found wiring diagrams for all of the AF whistles and horns, but this one eludes me. Thanks Irontooth
  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 151 posts
Posted by irontooth on Saturday, December 5, 2015 1:23 PM
This is the AF Electronic Whistle control that has the RCA 117P7 GT vacuum tube which activated the Electronic Air-Chime Horn in the B unit of the Santa Fe 360/361 diesel., I hope this helps Thanks Irontooth
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,207 posts
Posted by stebbycentral on Saturday, December 5, 2015 4:31 PM

According to the wiring diagram in Tom Barker's book, the connections are as follows:  Yellow from the controller to the base post on the track.  Black from the controller to the base post on the transformer.  And red from the controller to the variable output terminal on the transformer.  There is also an additional wire from the variable post on the transformer to the other side of the track clip.   

I have figured out what is wrong with my brain!  On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 151 posts
Posted by irontooth on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 2:22 PM

Finally found wiring diagram I was looking for. American Flyer Electronic Whistle ( Gray metal box with holes for coolong, wiring as follows:

Black wire from controller to base on transformer

Yellow wire from controller to base on 690 Track Terminal

Red wire(white on mine) to 7-15 volt post on transformer then from transformer to other clip on 690 Track Terminal.

Thanks to everyone 

Peace

Irontooth

PS I do not know if my controller had a red wire and the cloth covering has faded over the years, The instructions I found says red wire goes to 7*15 volt post

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 266 posts
Posted by rrlineman on Thursday, December 10, 2015 7:46 AM

the red wire fades to white badly over the years. Also the caps are pobably shot too.  I followed Tom Barkers advice and replaced the Caps with modern equivalents, and tuned it in as described in the repair manuels.  made a BIG difference in sound output and tone, but it still ain't no whistle !

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 151 posts
Posted by irontooth on Friday, December 11, 2015 10:09 AM

Hello RRLineman

Thanks for that info, I finally got the power cord replaced and was trying to figure out what part was bad so I could replace it. there are two matched pairs of caps on the bottom, are those the ones you are speaking of? Where can I find Mr. Barkers repair manual?

 

Thanks

 

Irontooth

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 3,584 posts
Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Monday, December 14, 2015 8:15 AM

You may find them on Amazon or Ebay

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 266 posts
Posted by rrlineman on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 7:29 AM

I replaced the big 1 with 3 leads, ( left it in place for looks) with modern ones that are 1/4 the size and put them in the bottom. also all the wax coated caps were replaced too. all the modern equivalents are much smaller then the originals, and can be hidden in the bottom for ease of wiring. hope this helps.

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 151 posts
Posted by irontooth on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 2:30 PM

Thanks for your help I was thinking of replacing all the caps, I am still looking for part sources. Which vacuum tube does your controller have, the two I have have a RCA 117N7 GT tube. I have read info that a RCA 117P7 GT tube was used? Thanks for the help

 

Merry Holidays

 

Irontooth

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month