Hello All, I am struggling with a Lionel Super O wiring diagram. I am not sure how Track C and Track A are to be wired in this diagram below. Any help you can provide to help me understand this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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This is a great looking plan. In this image, capital letters with circles around them are trestle piers.
The capital letters with squares around them are center rail electrical connections to the track from the Hot side of a ZW transformer. V, X, Y, AND Z are switched connections from the ZW's D post. Posts A and D are each feeding through Lionel #91 circuit breakers.
One thing that's puzzling to me about this plan, is the left to right isolated track in the center doesn't have a notation (that I can see) about from where it's power is to be provided.
Mike,
This is undoubtedly the famous Lionel 1957 Catalog Layout. Let me check my Dealer Display Layout DVD and see if I can get a clearer version.
The connection circled in yellow is where I am getting hung up. Is this to be a DPDT switch? That connection looks to be going to post U (common) on the ZW Not sure how this would work but I am sure it has something to do with the fact the loop (Track D) has to use the outside loop (Track C and Track A) at times for power.
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@Mike Espy posted:The connection circled in yellow is where I am getting hung up. Is this to be a DPDT switch? That connection looks to be going to post U (common) on the ZW Not sure how this would work but I am sure it has something to do with the fact the loop (Track D) has to use the outside loop (Track C and Track A) at times for power.
That is a mistake. If connected as shown 'D' on the transformer is short-circuited to 'U' through the breaker. Disregard the dot inside your yellow circle.
Mike
But look at how Track C is now connected if we go that route . It has no ground connection. One side lands on ZW post D and the other lands on ZW post C.
something is still not correct about this drawing.
Good catch. The pixellation was making my eyes go crossed. This looks right to me now. Deleted incorrect previous image.
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@Mike Espy posted:Their has to be some way that this section of track highlighted can be controlled depending on if you are on the inside loop or the outside loop.
If John is able to post a clearer image for us, it should be easier to see the center rail insulators on the diagram.
Based on what I think I'm seeing, the section you have circled in yellow is on the A circuit and the 2 switches either side of it have center rail insulating pins on each of their Out routes (towards the inside loop).
That section of track is shared by (or common to) two loops. Therefore it has to be electrically switched back and forth between the two of them, depending on which loop the train entering it is coming from, and then which one it's going to. This can be done with a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch, thrown so that it connects the segment to to the same electrical feed as the loop the train is coming from, as it enters the section.
Where it gets tricky in operation is that this switch needs to be thrown to electrically connect the segment to the opposite loop while the locomotive is on top of the segment, if the train is transitioning from one loop to the other. If instead it's staying on the same loop, and going around one more time, the SPDT switch can be left in its existing position.
Mike
@johnstrains posted:Mike,
This is undoubtedly the famous Lionel 1957 Catalog Layout. Let me check my Dealer Display Layout DVD and see if I can get a clearer version.
It is, but it isn't. It's slightly different and the "wiring diagram" is very different.
Here's the 1957 Catalog layout, from this post by @CSXJOE:
This may help as it contains a wiring diagram | CSXJOE
Which of the two wiring diagrams should we go with?
Mike