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Loose-Caboose,

    Jim remember if you are running DCS also to run one wire from the Legacy Base to the opposite outside rail, then run Legacy wires to each of the Black out channels on the TIU. This increases the Legacy signal thru out your layout, for all your different tracks, and Legacy Engines run great in this manner, this was Marty F's idea and it really works well.  I will let you know how Dale's Legacy Signal enhancer works, on the next Christmas layout. 

PCRR/Dave

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad
Originally Posted by MartyE:

Dales signal enhancer is not for the track signal and will not help track signal issues other than providing an earth ground from the base. It is for the serial signal out of the 9 pin To feed multiple serial devices. 

 

Marty, is there no inherent ground for the base without the Manco?  Seems like NOT having ground would be a significant source of noise.  is that the only way you know to provide a ground for the base?  I've been battling what I can only describe as noise signals that result in occasional bizarre behavior.

Gentlemen,

    A little more about using Banana plugs, for the older power supplies used for the Legacy & DCS set ups, allowing quick and stable connections, without the terminal post nuts.

 

In the past I posted how to upgrade the older Lionel ZW & KW transformers with female Banana plugs.  The upgrade works very well and helps secure all the power lines for Legacy and DCS running.  Recently however the manufacturer of the Banana plugs, used to upgrade the ZW & KW transformer changed how they constructed their multi piece Banana plugs, making them unless for upgrading the ZW & KW transformers.  This forced me to re-engineer how I upgraded the Banana Plug addition for the ZW & KW Transformers.  I now use the Radio Shack Single Gold Stackable Banana Plugs, that can be separated in the middle. I rework them, re-tapping the female end of the stackable radio shack Banana plugs, to fit the screw type terminal posts of the ZW & KW Transformers, I then use the original Red & Black ident covering on the installed female Banana plugs, on the ZW & KW transformers.

None of this is hard just a little tedious and time consuming.  

 

This upgrade works really well and the wires never come loose from the older type transformers, because the post nuts have been eliminated completely with the new

female Banana Plugs.  The upgraded ZW Transformer appears in the Picture below.

 

PCRR/Dave

 

 

 

 The upgraded ZW with the new Raido Shack Gold Stackable Female Banana Plugs with there Red & Black terminal coverings.

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Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad
Originally Posted by Pine Creek Railroad:

Chuck,

    The old ZW transformers really do operate perfectly with the female Banana plugs,

especially on all 4 ZW channels.  I use the Gold male Banana plugs with their large wire hole, for running lots of different wires, for both the DCS & Legacy units.  

PCRR/Dave

Wonder if these are the same insides of what you are using...

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-Pai...1082902543&rt=nc

Chuck,

   Actually I looked at those and decided they would not work, they are slightly to large to re-thread for screwing on to the ZW posts, for this reason I found the Radio Shack stackable Single Gold Banana plugs that separate, and re-threaded them.  You simply unscrew the spike mid section & re-thread the hole to fit the ZW posts.  The problem now is the RS cost for these Stackable Gold Banana Plugs, & $10.00 a set that's $60.00 to upgrade the old ZW transformers. Chuck if you can find a place that supplies RS with these Banana plugs, please let me know, I definitely want to drop the upgrade cost.

PCRR/Dave 

 

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad

Chuck,

   You are never a pest, I enjoy the conversations.  The RS stackable Gold Banana plugs I use are not available on line except directly at Radio Shack.com.  I need to go back and purchase one more set of them, for one of my KW's.  I will post pictures of them for you to see, your you can punch up Radio Shack.com for a closer look.  These RS Banana Plugs are listed on the RS sight, as 12 Gauge Locking Style Banana Plugs 278-307.

PCRR/Dave 

 

RS 278-307 Banana Plugs

 

 In the 2nd picture you see the female end of the Banana Plug, with the spike adapter, beside the black cover, the spike tip screws into the male portion of the Banana Plug, this needs to be unscrewed from the female portion of the plug, and the threads on that end of the female, need to be tapped slightly larger, to exactly fit the ZW Posts.  You then simply screw the female end of the Banana plug, on to the ZW Posts, works like a charm.

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Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
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