Helping a Friend upgrade his diesel trains to ERR Cruise Commander

That cap obviously is associated with a DC power module, see the regulator bolted to the frame.  It's also on a small PCB.  What is it wired to?  It gets track power, but it's powering something.  It's probably something like lighting, so it really depends on what you're going to do with the lighting.

Thanks John, I told him to go and get a professional to do it, like yourself. I guess it's something to do on a snowy Northeast day.

It looks like they had done a nice job on this model. They tie all the engines blue wire together - Front and Back

They tie the yellow wire together as well Front and Back. They tie the AC common from the chase and trucks together and they tie the AC Hot together and all the 4 wires are going into a 4-connector plug.

The lights are tie to the AC Hot and AC Common and they have a connector that goes to the shell

Matt, one recommendation.  When you post pictures, make them decent resolution, the tiny ones are hard to see what you're trying to show.

Thanks John

Let me try and get him to send the pictures again. I took a break to dig out.

John one more picture

Looks like a candidate for the full upgrade, you basically start with motors and pickups and work from there.

Thanks John so do I use that Capacitor board or remove it ?

Well, I'd remove it, but I really don't know what it's powering.  You really have to trace the wires and see what it's doing.  When I do an upgrade of something like this, I start with a chassis with two motors sticking out of it.

John thanks appreciate it this a lot, I will pass it on to my friend.  He wants to learn, and he has time he just retired, and he has time. I have a little more time before retiring.  Maybe now that the snow is done, I will try to stop by and see if I can help

It helps to know what the base engine is too.  G

Hi G

The base unit is a Lionel H16-44 Conventional - I looked it up, it came out of the 2011 Lionel Catalog 6-38438. I have been helping a friend, he got the conventional and I got the Legacy train of the same road name.  

John

I took your advices and start with the motors and then wired it all up its running nicely. The question is for the lights are "LAMP / 14V 80MA / Clear" and the 2 of these PCB / REGULATOR / 5 v 1 amp (TO-220)

Can these lights be wired to the Cruise Commander?

Thanks Matt

Yes, the 14V bulbs can be wired directly to the Cruise Commander.

I have to believe that the PCB / REGULATOR / 5 v 1 amp (TO-220) is wired directly to track power, so I'd leave it there.

Thank John - Tomorrow I am going to stop by and see the progress, Zoom is tough to TS a train. BTW, I cannot see where14V bulbs is installed. I see the other two, one in the front light and the other back lights

Hi John

I tested everything for my friend on his layout and everything is working fine. One Question the front and back lights are on all the time. I was wondering if he was to replace the PCB / REGULATOR / 5 v 1 amp (TO-220) and have them go directly to the ERR Cruise Commander. What led would work with the board and where can you purchase it

If the lights are on all the time, and are not controlled using the AUX2 toggle key, then they're probably wired to that 5V supply.  You'd have to change the bulbs to 12-18V bulbs to wire them direct.  You can also use LED's with a 470 ohm resistor and a diode in series and have brighter and more directional lights.