LCS PDI cable connector

ToledoEd posted:

I was in the middle of installing a SensorTracks.  They were about 2' apart.  I have 1' and a 10'  PDI cables.  I really don't want to use the 10' cable to connect the two SensorTracks.  Is there a "connector" I can buy that would permit connecting 2 PDI cables? In my case, to make a 2' cable from 2 1' cables?  

I don't know of any union for that, but I use a number of 3 foot cables. Part # 6-81501

Also, I haven't cut into one, but you could splice two 1 foot wires together. The cable has 5 wires in it if they use all five positions of the connectors.

There is this.  While not listed in the catalog, not sure why, it does do what you want.

From the Fall 2016 Legacy Users Group Meeting...

We showed some “un-cataloged” items for Legacy PDI network (for some reason I keep calling it PID). The first being a PDI network “coupler”. This small passive device will allow 2 PDI cables to be joined without needing an LCS device. This will come in handy to extend a PDI cable or when a LCS device is removed the cable can be joined up. This is available through Lionel parts. The PN is 691JOINA00.

The LCS connectors are the Molex Pico-Spox 1.5mm connectors.  Molex 0874390400, the pins are Molex 0874210000.  I crimp them with the Engineer PA-09 Crimper, the same tool I use for most Lionel and MTH connectors.

Thanks for the info. 

Not sure how many people have used these connectors (I have the latest version with the power supply input) but out of 3 of these connectors that I have, 2 were bad.  In general, I'm doing whatever I can to avoid using these things if the quality control is this bad.

How were they bad you ask?  Literally using the same cables, I inserted all 3 to "join" the cables and only 1 had the power light come on as it should, and there was no active connection as a result.

Anyone else having trouble with these?