Skip to main content

I converted an MTH single tier tail end car to LED strip lights. There is a board that distributes track power to the side marker lights and to the rear lighted NYC "drumhead?".

 

I made the rookie mistake of not diagramming the power input from the roller contacts and the ground wire locations after I unsoldered the spring contact wires to feed the LED strip.

 

The marker lights and rear drumhead lights do not illuminate at 12 volts that the LED power supply puts out so I'd like to rewire those lights to have track power so they'll illuminate properly. The LED as shown are powered by a separate 12 converter module.

 

Can anyone tell from the attached photos how I can remedy my error? More photos can be supplied if these are not clear enough.   Thanks,   Joe

 

 

MVC-006L

MVC-005L

MVC-004L

MVC-003L

MVC-002L

MVC-001L

MVC-006L

Attachments

Images (6)
  • MVC-006L
  • MVC-005L
  • MVC-004L
  • MVC-003L
  • MVC-002L
  • MVC-001L
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

ogr rig rookie error

Note white lettering which says ACG and AC? (? means I can't see any other letters but may be some).  I'm guessing you unsoldered 2 wires from the solder-side of the board to the roof-side of the 2 spring contacts.  That is, the 2 spring contacts originally transferred ACG (chassis/outer-rail) and AC? (roller/center-rail) up to the roof.  So to answer your specific question, you need to re-connect the roller to AC? and the chassis to ACG.

 

But let's say you don't mind some kibitzing from the peanut gallery.  The raison d'etre of those spring contacts is to separate roof from chassis without fussing with wires, connectors, etc..  From what I can tell you have co-opted the spring contacts to transfer the LED strip voltage rather than original AC?/ACG voltage.  So now, you need to install a connector to go to above board (or else live with a permanent tether between chassis and roof). 

 

How about this.  Regress to the original use of the spring contacts and transfer AC?/ACG.  I realize you have some kind of LED-strip circuit board that converts AC?/ACG to 12V or whatever to drive the strips.  Make that AC?/ACG connection on the roof side of the spring contacts; of course the LED+ and LED- outputs of your circuit board are also connected to the strip on the roof side.  If your circuit board is small enough you ought to be able to mount it on the roof.  Otherwise, if it is unwieldy and needs to sit on the chassis/floor, you can make a neat bundle of the 4 wires that runs a few inches.  The point is you can now separate the roof from chassis without having to fuss with "new" connector.

 

Sorry for the long-winded speech but I saw that empty soap-box...

Attachments

Images (1)
  • ogr rig rookie error

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×