Gabe the Lamplighter

Unless I misunderstand your question, I think you bought one that was missing the control box.

The MTH model had a button to pulse the figure up the ladder (you had to push it in rapid succession to get him to "climb"), a button to release the figure once at the top, and a button/knob to turn the lights on (and then back off) when the figure reached the top.

The Lionel one was similar, but it used micro switches at the top of the ladder to activate and deactivate the lights, you did not need to perform an additional switch action to do the lights.  It was similar in the other 2 buttons to climb and release.

I bought both back then, but I prefer the operation of the Lionel one personally.

-Dave

 Dave,

I have the MTH with the control box and it works fine. I was hoping to modify it

to make it like the Lionel one. The electronics for the Lionel one are no longer

available, ( unless there is a LHS that still has parts ), I was wondering of anyone else has done this and what they used to do it....

I found this video on you tube, and this Gabe is either the Lionel

model or modified by the owner. Maybe both.

I also looked up the parts for the Lionel version and there is a small circuit board

and a limit switch. As mentioned here do you still have to hit the button several times

to get Gabe to move ?

I was thinking some kind of flip flop circuit with a timer or end switch...

Anyway here is the video....

As delivered, yes.  You still need to push the button a bunch of times for Gabe to climb on the Lionel model. 

It's been a while since I've read the manual, but I don't think the micro-switch at the top of the ladder is functioning as a limit switch(meaning I don't think anything stops the solenoid from being continuously activated once Gabe reaches the top).  The manual may have words about not continuing to press the button after Gabe reaches the top so you don't risk breaking anything.

-Dave

If the Lionel version is not automated and you're back to a roll-your-own, it appears you can replace the ratcheting solenoid with a DC motor as described in this thread. 

https://ogrforum.com/t...amplighter-accessory

Doesn't show how to do it but your video also shows Gabe moving up rather smoothly suggesting that tower also was modified to use a motor rather than the ratcheting solenoid.

In the following video, Gabe actually climbs the ladder one "rung" at a time which is arguably more interesting and life-like.  You see the operator activating the solenoid push-button for each step. 

As described in the notes you can't activate the solenoid too quickly/often or it burns out.  So just make sure the pulsing circuit is set accordingly.  What makes things a lot simpler is there's apparently a micro-switch that senses when Gabe has reached the top.  Obviously this would be used to turn off the pulsing.  The other thing I'd look for is whether the solenoid(s) can be fired with DC pulses.  If so, you can use cheap transistors to emulate the switch closures rather than relays.  You need DC anyway for the logic components (flip-flop, timers, etc.)  This would probably allow you to fit the circuit in the existing control box if that's of interest.

Thanks for the link Stan. I was digging through my junk box and found a

geared motor with a shaft and end switches. So this is a good start.

I may do the wench thing as described in the link. Then maybe a lighting circuit.

This is getting more involved than I originally thought, I may have to put this on the

back burner, but I'll keep digging.  Thanks for the link, I left a note for Nick to see

what controller he used...

Bruce..

Yes, while the electronic components might only be a few dollars, there's a considerable assembly effort perhaps better spent on the geared motor approach.  Of course nothing says you can't "pulse" a geared motor to make Gabe earn his wages by climbing the ladder rather taking the elevator!

In your searching, please post back if you do find someone who has gone the electronic route.  I'd be interested in how they did it.  For example, if you can use DC to advance the ratchet, I'd think you'd hear a quieter click-click-click rather than the loud AC buzz-buzz-buzz on each ratchet advance.

I'd also think if you went the electronic route and are mucking around in the control box anyway, you'd switch to LED lighting for which there have been several detailed how-to threads for flood-light towers.

HI Stan...

I've been busy with other things but a formite sent this to me.

It might be a good start to a possible solution.

I have a motor with a gear box and a slow spinning shaft. It could be used

as a wench. It's a little larger than I wanted and would require adding end

switches. Could get messy.

This solution is interesting. What are your thoughts....

I like the idea of the plug interface so you can revert to the original manual controller. What happens if you continue pulsing the step button when Gabe has already reached the top?  Will it break or is there some kind of clutch that disengages further motion?  Not having one in front of me, this was my motivation to install a end-of-travel detector so that the climbing stops at the top rather than depending on a fixed number of pulses.

In any event, you should be able to find a 1 RPM DC gear motor I'd guess in the $10-15 range surplus.  Since you have virtually zero load torque (some cams which hit leaf switches), a higher RPM gear motor could be driven at a lower voltage to reach 1 RPM and still work smoothly...for example, a 5 RPM motor should be no problem.

If going the motor route, you might consider stacked cams with each concentric cam activating one function.  One cam could be the motor power control which closes its switch for 59 seconds or so.  To start the animation you press an electrical pushbutton which is in parallel to this master switch.  The motor starts turning and within 1 sec the cam switch takes over and continues to apply motor power for 59 seconds.  Then the 1 sec notch in the cam comes around and the motor stops until the next manual activation.  A 2nd cam would have the dozens of nibs for stepping.  A 3rd cam would have one long nib to turn the lights on and off....presumably leaving them on when the motor is stopped.

I suppose your method is the most straightforward.  If I were doing it I'd probably use a programmed controller chip or module (like the Arduino) or perhaps a discrete controller circuit using counter/timer chips.  In any case, I'd experiment with the ratcheting mechanism to see what kind of DC pulses would work since that would allow pulsing to be done with transistors rather than relays or triacs.  Likewise, I'd drive the lamps with DC which simplifies control from logic circuits.

Here's one way to map out the various cam timing patterns.  If designing an electronic controller, something like this would also be useful.  4 cams each drive one leaf/lever switch.  The switches emulate the buttons on the existing manual control box.  So presumably there are 4 control wires plus a 5th common wire to independently control/activate the various accessory functions.  A "start" button on the controller is wired in parallel with the motor cam switch and is pressed until the motor cam switch takes over to keep power applied for one animation cycle.

You and I are on the same page.

I did find a 1 RPM motor.

Called a friend of mine, and did some quick math over the phone.

I looks like a 4" to 5" disk may be the trick.

I thought about using a DVD but it may be hard to cut without cracking it.

I talked to the carpenter foreman today and he suggested a poly something.

He said he could 4 disks for me if need be.

I'll keep on it.... I wonder how hard it's going to be to find a plug connector...