FasTrack Remote Switches

Lee,

Here's some info from the manual:

Or, in other words: remove the jumper and connect the external power supply to the AUX IN and AUX GND screw terminals

Here's a link to the whole manual:

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...s/57056712045250.pdf

Ed

That works fine for me, it's really as simple as that.

Lee I just installed about a dozen on my layout.  If you are still having trouble just let me know, but I did just as instructed earlier.

Yes, I understand that part. Remove the jumper, Add a wire from the aux in to a positive bus and a wire from aux gnd to the ground bus. It's the details that stump me. Do you run another two connector wire from the switch in addition to the four conductor wire already running to the controllers? Isn't this bulky coming out of each switch? 

Yes on the extra pair. It only needs to be 22 ga or so paired wire, which is hardly noticeable.

Have you tried running on track power only?

I have about 6 switches running on only track power on a small FasTrack layout, and they work just fine.

I am running in command mode at 18 volts, so I am not sure how they would work in conventional mode.

Rod

If you want a convenient and cheap way to wire them, try Ethernet CAT5 cable.  It's perfect for this task and has 8 conductors.  You can pickup CAT5 pretty cheaply, last time I bought a spool of 1000 feet, it was $64 including shipping.  You can even have a block occupancy sensor returned in the cable with your switch power and control.

It sounds like you're not having a problem with how to connect them, but rather the execution of said connections.  Other than physical assistance, what other help can we offer?

Gee if you could come by the house and show me, that would be great. lol

Just kidding (unless you live in Hendersonville, TN) but does anyone have any tips on how to get the phono connectors to fit on four of the wires from Mouser's six conductor cable? It's 22 ga wire and I did one and it worked on the bench. So I put it in the layout and used two saddle connectors to wire in the positive bus and ground. The light came on so the connection was good, but the controller didn't work. Maybe a better question wold be - how can I be sure I'm getting my 4 wires in the plug right before I wire it solid?

Is it necessary to use phone connectors?  I do a lot of Ethernet connectors, and I can tell you that they're sometimes a PITA.  I use little alignment blocks that get the wires straight to help get everything aligned, which makes the job a lot easier.  What are you connecting the phone connectors to?  I have no good things to say about saddle connectors either, could be part of the problem.

That's it in a nutshell. The PITA. I should state that I've only been at this since 2006. Therefore I could be calling it phone connectors and maybe it isn't.

When I started this thread I was hoping someone would tell me the big secret on how to wire the switches clean and simple to use xformer power and reach anywhere on the layout. So.... what is an Ethernet connector?

A phone connector has four (or optionally 6 connections, an Ethernet connector has 8 connections.  Here's examples of each.

This is a phone connector, RJ-14

This is an Ethernet Connector, RJ-45

OK now this is starting to make sense. So the PITA is jamming the wires into the connector so they make a good electrical connection. Maybe it would help if you explained the block clamps you mentioned earlier.

Also it seems getting a good connection should be easier with 4 pins that 8 no?

And why isn't my picture showing up? I added it this morning.

Can't answer why your picture doesn't show up.

As for the connections, do NOT strip the wires. stick them all the way in so you can see them butted up against the front of the connector through the clear plastic.  Then put the connector (with the wires inserted) into the crimping tool and squash the pins in, job done.

I have no idea what "block clamp" I talked about.

You referred to them as little alignment blocks. At this point I looking for anything that will help.

For the record I had a silver dollar sized chunk of my scalp removed last Tuesday (skin cancer) and most of my self is concentrated on healing so if I'm only borderline lucid at times, that's the cause. Also there are two more chunks to be cut out in the next month. (Shiver)

OK please describe alignment blocks.

OK, got it.   They are called load bars.  This is what I was talking about, and here's the url: http://www.lanshack.com/QuickT...-of-100-P3162C0.aspx

Here's another place with similar connectors: http://www.computercablestore....h_Loa_catID1061.aspx

GunRunnerJohn,

   Way cool stuff John thanks for the education!

PCRR/Dave

When you're trying to align the wires for CAT5-6 connectors, these things are a Godsend!   If you've ever tried to put the connectors on without them, you'll see what I mean.

Thank You Sir! I went to the site and watched the video. Amazing what you can learn talking to people who know.

One last little question. Does anyone offer a similar load bar for RJ 14 connectors? I looked at both those sites with no luck. At this point I'm certain that's where my problem is.

I have never seen them for RJ-11/14 connector load bars, I only stumbled across these because the Verizon guy used them when he came to install our fiber optic service.  I talked him out of a bunch of them, then I went looking for them on the Internet.

I want to thank all who offered advice and assistance on this thread. Especially gunrunnerjohn who seems to really know his stuff about fiber optics. Although this didn't go where I was hoping, I am now way ahead of where I was on my own.