Adding electrocoupler to Lionel Command-Ready Pacific 6-38641

Electrically, the R2LC already has electrocoupler outputs on the card.

Sounds good. Where do I find the board-level info to implement this? Checked the TMCC Docs thread, but most of the links are broken.

The coupler pins are noted. AC Hot means you ground one side of the coupler solenoid and the pin for the coupler goes AC Hot when the coupler is fired.

Perfect. I would not have guessed that the R2LC was capable of powering loads directly, I will need to trace out the loco, I suspect there might be a connector already prepared for this.

Thank you ever so much for all your help!

Here's another view with more info on where/which triacs do what...

If you change out a triac, it's really easy to get the soldering iron near a speck of an SMD capacitor and have a devil of a time getting it soldered back in it's spot.

The command ready locomotives already have a 2-pin plug for the electrocoupler, look around.

Will do-

Was a little disappointed that there were no service documents for this thing on the Lionel site.

John,

Didn't some of these have a wire hanging loose inside the tender? It was part of the harness between the engine and tender?  You tapped into that spare wire with one end of the coupler. The other end of the coupler to ground. I believe the ground is also using a wire nut...  So, there is no plug.

I've never seen a truly command upgradeable one that didn't have a standard connector on the MB.  I suppose one could exist, but I don't know of it.

I don't know if this might help you.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/72-8065-250.pdf

Look at page 21. This manual is for the earlier Hudson/Pacific locomotives that came out around 2000 and were command ready.

trestrainfan posted:

I don't know if this might help you.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/72-8065-250.pdf

Look at page 21. This manual is for the earlier Hudson/Pacific locomotives that came out around 2000 and were command ready.

That's it...the early wabash / Boston Albany upgrades were hard wired.. These unit  the coil connector is between the railsounds audio and power board..aka motherboard.

trestrainfan posted:

I don't know if this might help you.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/72-8065-250.pdf

Look at page 21. This manual is for the earlier Hudson/Pacific locomotives that came out around 2000 and were command ready.

Yes, your document shows what I see in my tender; apparently mine came from the factory with RailSounds installed. Curious that my manual doesn't mention an electro-coupler update or anything about the 9V battery, not that it matters at this point. My manual is dated 10/08 so it is considerably newer than the document you posted.

Anyway, I have an electrocoupler on hand that appears to be the correct mounting style and dimensions,so all I need to do now is scratch around for some connectors. 

Thanks to all for your terrific support!

Wow, that was easy!

Had a spare electrocoupler from an LC+ RS-3 that turned out to be an exact mechanical fit. Trimmed leads to length and soldered on a couple connectors and we are all set!

I was expecting much bigger project.

The electrocoupler connector.