I want to add power trucks to one of my K-Line FA ABA consists. Any pointers and suggestions? It appears to be a simple job and the parts are readily available.
I look forward to the inputs please.
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Don't they already have power?
John, the lead unit has front and rear power, but the B unit and trailing A unit does not. I would like to add at least 2 power trucks...possibly 4 to have up to 6 powered trucks. It may be overkill....what do you think?
I think the six motored K-Line sets were the most troublesome K-Line product going. The early ones tried to run all of the motors from one Lionel DCDR, and it was not all that successful. I'd recommend doing just the trailing A unit, not both.
How are you going to control these, conventional or command?
Conventional. I just finished putting a Williams ALCO sound unit in the B unit this afternoon. Your suggestion on the trailing A makes sense.
If you have the power trucks, it's a simple swap-in affair. For enhanced operation and to run all 4 motors from one reverse unit, wire the motors in each A unit in series, and then the two A units in parallel. The load on the reverse unit will be about the same as a single factory wired 2 motor A unit and the set won't run at rocket-like speeds at 6 volts.
Thanks for the advice. Would you be able to draw a simple diagram that shows what you stated please?
First, wire both powered units in series... here is parallel vs series:
Once that is done, tether the two powered units with a two wire connector, in parallel(only one reverse unit is needed):
Thank you Rob. This is exactly what I need.....I'm a novice when it comes to wiring and electricity.
I appreciate your assistance.
Being of limited expertise when it comes to circuit boards, my only concern here, is that the 4 motored K-Line Alco FA's came with a larger and more robust circuit board than did all the other models that had only 2 motors. I doubt K-Line would have used a more costly circuit board unless they found it was needed. I can remember from my original K-Line parts listing that there were 2 differing circuit boards for the Alco FA's and one of those was specified as for 4 motored units.
From what I am gathering from Rob's information (my interpretation) he is saying this would only work - that is using the smaller circuit board from the dual motored engines - if you wire all the motors in series.
All I know is all of the dual powered double A-A K-Line Alco FA units I've ever bought all came with the larger, more robust circuit board, connected via a tether that connected via a mounted plug adapter in the rear door way of the lead Alco. Later versions of these engines also came equipped with a slide switch beneath the engine so you could select between series or parallel wiring.
@brianel_k-lineguy posted:...the 4 motored K-Line Alco FA's came with a larger and more robust circuit board than did all the other models that had only 2 motors...
...this would only work - that is using the smaller circuit board from the dual motored engines - if you wire all the motors in series.
Ohm's Law. The load on the reverse unit will be about the same as a single factory wired 2 motor A unit and the set won't run at rocket-like speeds at 6 volts when each unit has series-wired motors.
Wanted to thank everyone for their assistance. I was able to get the K-Line parts from Brasseur's and hooked it all up today. I also installed a williams ALCO sound unit in the B unit. Runs and sounds great!
