Another freebie

Where does the capacitor get hooked up? What is its value, both capacity and voltage? Thanks.

100uf 50volts

You just hook it across the terminals of either your transformer or a lockon. You don't actually need to keep it connected once the engine starts up and you are running. Some people make up a knife switch and make the connection to start up their engines and then disconnect it once they are running.

It's only the initial startup of the MTH engines that need the filtering.

Someone e-mailed me with a constant horn/whistle blowing problem on their Lionel TMCC Steamer but this product would have no effect on that. I suggested he get his engine checked out at a service center.

He was using an American Flyer 18b transformer so I don't know if that is the problem since I don't know anything about them.

That was me, the problem exists not only with the 18b, it is just much most severe on those two lines affecting all (4) modern tmcc locos horns, hot box triggering, etc. everything but direction problems. 4 out of 5 my old transformers are doing this on tmcc units. Rollers, arms, connections etc. are all solid. Some disk, some diode rectifiers for horns. Only my KW gives perfect function. Don't see voltage spikes with an analog or digital ohm meters, don't have access to an osciliscope. Cant afford to check out 4 locos and 4 transformers right now. Would really like to try a couple, cant seem to find bi polars easily on my side of town. About 40 min drive to the nearest good electronics outlet. If they don't work out there, I have some other bi polar lighting experimenting Id like to try too.... could I try a couple?  Please? I promise, they wont end up in the garbage.(unless they fail or... POP!)

As I mentioned in my reply to you. They have no affect on a Lionel TMCC engine. The reason they worked with MTH/QSI PS1 engines was because the hardware/software was designed to detect the chopped sine wave put out by Lionel PowerMasters. The capacitor eliminates those chopped waves long enough for the MTH engine to start up.

They will do nothing to solve your particular problem.

However if you insist send me another e-mail and I'll reply with my mailing address. You will need to provide a self address envelope with two stamps.

With a little thought about your comments I think I understand how these could be more helpful for the mth folks in need and how they probably would not help my "horn sensitivity" by them selves. I haven't presented this to the guys in the tech form yet either. I have a bit of electrical/electronics tech & vending work background, but no real schooling. I have learned what I know mostly though logic, experimentation, schematics, and cross reference catalogs. And I have actually had the issue for a couple of years, but this newer C&O tender was driving me nuts. Last night I finally moved transformers around(+3 styles of track on this layout 027,O,Super O) PW-horns/Wh O.K. , Tmcc, now quiet. Too quiet no erratic op's, chuff but no horns/whst/bell on command...?..That's OK I got some electric air chimes to keep me grinning. The 18b is pretty nice, a little lighter, and weaker than my kw on the other layout, but very cool dead man handles, a pleasure to operate.  

  Any how its not really that big a deal. If you still got some kickin around after a while, sure Id like to play with a couple, but Ill survive.  

Need to make a correction about how to install. They were only ever installed on Lionel Powermasters. If you install them on a transformer or lockon just remove them once the MTH ps1 engine starts up. The knife switch would be recommended.