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Separate Power wiring for switches

JK Joe KOGR Forum Member

I want to power my fastrack switches from a separate power supply. This will require running power and ground wires to the switch, and removing the jumper. I have 2 questions:

 

1) can I use 4 wire solid copper phone wire (red, green, black, yellow) to do this? Do I need one wire for power and 1 wire for ground, so one 4-wire cable can power 2 switches. Or do I need to pair the wires, so 2 wires will be connected to the power terminal, and 2 wires connected to the ground, so one 4-wire cable powers one switch.

 

2) Can I use my existing auxillary power supply, which is powered by the aux terminals on a Lionel 3033 transformer?  I also have a second curcuit that I use to power my signals, which is from the track terminals of the 3033 transformer, set at 14 volts. My thinking that since the switches are only changed one at a time, the aux terminal power should be OK, but I only want to do this once, so help is appreciated.

 

thanks for any help or ideas for converting my switches from track power to aux power.

Joe K

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ADCX RobADCX RobOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

If your trains are running, you already have a ground to the switches.  Use that common ground.

 

For Fastrack switches, a 1033 will be fine.  Phase the 1033 with your train transformer keeping in mind that "A" is the designated common on the 1033.  Use "U" for a variable(5-16) voltage to the switches, or "C" for a fixed 16 volts.

 

You don't have to have home runs for switch power, especially with low current Fastrack switches.  Daisy chain the power leads from the "U" terminal to each switch.  Use 2 of the bell wire leads or one larger(maybe 16 gauge) to minimize any voltage drop.

JK Joe KOGR Forum Member

If your trains are running, you already have a ground to the switches. Use that common ground.

 

Does that mean I do not have to do anything with the ground connection, since the switch is already using it?

 

For Fastrack switches, a 1033 will be fine. Phase the 1033 with your train transformer keeping in mind that "A" is the designated common on the 1033. Use "U" for a variable(5-16) voltage to the switches, or "C" for a fixed 16 volts.

 

I have already phased the 1033. Should I connect the "A" post to the common of my Lionel powerhouse 180W bricks?

 

Does it matter if I use the "A-U" or A-C" power for the switches?

 

You don't have to have home runs for switch power, especially with low current Fastrack switches. Daisy chain the power leads from the "U" terminal to each switch. Use 2 of the bell wire leads or one larger(maybe 16 gauge) to minimize any voltage drop.

 

I believe you are saying that I can connect from my Aux "A-U" (that is currently run around my layout to local terminal strips) to one switch, then just run the next wire pair from one switch to the next switch.

 

thanks for your help; Joe K

ADCX RobADCX RobOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by Joe K:

Does that mean I do not have to do anything with the ground connection, since the switch is already using it?

 

I have already phased the 1033. Should I connect the "A" post to the common of my Lionel powerhouse 180W bricks?

If the 1033 is phased with the bricks, this should have already been done.  There is no reason to make a connection at "AUX GND" unless you are using a completely separate power supply not phased with the layout transformers.
 
 
Does it matter if I use the "A-U" or A-C" power for the switches?
Using the "A" as common, "U" to "AUX IN" will give you a variable 5-16 volts to power the switches.  If you have something else on that circuit(your signals, I believe) you can use "C" to "AUX IN" for a steady, fixed 16 volts.

I believe you are saying that I can connect from my Aux "A-U" (that is currently run around my layout to local terminal strips) to one switch, then just run the next wire pair from one switch to the next switch.

Almost, no "pairs" required, just "U" or "C" to "AUX IN". 
 
"A" is common, if the 1033 is phased properly, and is already at the switch(and at the "AUX GND" terminal) if "A" is connected to the PM-180 bricks' commons somewhere on the layout.  Running another would be redundant.
 
Then, you can run your switch "power" wire("U" or "C") around the layout making a connection at each "AUX IN" terminal of each switch with the jumper removed.  Only one wire needed with a common ground wiring scheme.
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