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I just got a couple SC-1's to work some newly installed switches and the switches are older tubular 0-31.  The manual shows wiring the hot from transformer directly to the switch and specifically says "power all switches through fixed voltage terminals.  My question is - why and is this necessary?  If the switch is getting constant voltage through the track, what's the difference?

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You want to power you switches separately from the track for several reasons.  First the older lionel switch machines have a 'sweet spot' right around 14 volts where the operate the best, so you can set an accessory transformer there and leave it set.  which ties into number two, at lower voltages the switches do not throw very well, so if you have a slow moving train, chances are good your switches will not fully throw, and the anti-detailing feature will not work correctly.  Last, having a separate power source lets you throw switches even when there is no power on the track. On a command layout it was most likely originally advised not to use the 18V track voltage because many of the switches only have 14V light bulbs in them as well. 

Edit:  A bit of research into the SC-1 seems to show these are pretty finicky devices as well. heres some info on them from a thread a few years back.  

JGL

Last edited by JohnGaltLine

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