solid state e-unit conversion

Lionel is using the new ACMC reverse unit in conventional units having AC motors.  I don't know what other units are available. Someone else may come up with another suggestion.

Bill

With the above unit, you will also want to add a couple caps to the motor(s) and shunted brushes.

Bill

Dallee Electronics, Inc  makes great Electronic E-units with fast service.
4 Amp - all motors 44.95  #400
12 Amp - all motors 69.95  #1400

Can I use the 12 amp Dallee reverse unit with a pre war 224E or 249E? These engines were made around 1938 to 1941 and need a new E unit put into them. They are AC motors. From what I can see it don't seem to have enough room in the engine shell to mount the circuit board, so would it be possible to use some type of extension wires to the tender for electrical power?

Lee Fritz

Yes, the #1400 would work.  If you measure the amp load of your engine, you may find the #400 will work.  I don't know about space in your engines.  Cut a piece of foam the correct size and see if you can stuff it in somewhere.

If you call in your order, Dallee can tell you if they have a wiring harness/tether that would work from your engine to your tender.

I've used the #400 in several PW locomotives, worked fine.  You'll probably need a tether as Susan says for those locomotives.

Does that new ACMC offer any features over the older LCRU?

It has directional lighting outputs, which is a nice feature.

The 6 amp Williams reverse unit should work OK for 1-2 motors.  As John has stated before, the relays are rated at 8 amps.

While the Williams reverse unit is beefy enough, I don't think it would work with AC motors in postwar equipment. The Dallee would be the best bet. If I am wrong, I would be willing to use the Williams unit. It does offer the directional headlight feature, if I remember correctly. 

It does work with AC motors in postwar equipment.  You just need one more component - a full wave bridge rectifier(with optional cap @ DC output) to run either the field or the armature on single-direction DC.  The field and armature are still wired in series, and to the DC motor output from the reverse unit.

The problem with that approach is voltage drop and slower operation.  I have added DC reverse unit with rectifiers to Lionel AC motors and they work fine, but top end speed is much less.  G

I may be wrong, or Dallee may not make them any more, but I thought they made solid state E units the same size and shape as the old "buzzer" E units that use the same mounting.  If they are still available it ought to be an easy changeout.

The Dallee #400 doesn't directly support directional lighting, but they have some "work-around" solutions. 

Dallee Model 400 Instructions

Dick I believe you're thinking of the ACRU, which used to be made by QSI.  It was a drop-in replacement for Lionel's 3-position electromechanical E-unit.  Unfortunately it's been out of production for a while, and they're hard to find.

I have a couple of steam locos with balky E-units, and might experiment with the Williams / DC rectifier approach myself.  As far as I'm concerned, Postwar and MPC steam locos have too much speed, to the point of being self-destructive.  Just look at the number of battered veterans on train show tables with broken marker lights, pilot steps and bent cab roofs.  A reduced top speed might not be a bad thing!

Question for Williams: Is it possible to use your reverse unit in a '50s Lionel 027 gauge steam locomotive?  Is it small enough to fit?

Reply:

I talked to a tech and he said it may work but we never tried this and would not know for sure.

Regards Laura

I was surprised by that response.  Would have thought someone there would have known.  And it took three tries to get an answer.  No one ever asked this before?

Provided for information:

All modern engines except for some of Lionel's use DC Can motors.  The DC reverse unit only has 2 wires for motors and rectifies the AC Track power to DC.  A can motor has permanent magnets and only 2 motor leads.

The Reverse units for AC motors requires 3 wire leads to the motor (Field winding is the third), and doesn't rectify the AC to DC.

Lionel's AC motors can run on DC, but you need to power the Field winding too, and you need to reverse the polarity of the brush current but not the field windings to reverse direction.  That can't be done with out modification of the motor wiring and additional component.

So the simple solutions is to use AC Reverse units to replace Mechanical E-units.  Or go with a DC unit and modify the motor field winding.

I can provide AC reverse units and even have some older LCRU TMCC units available.

I also have a stand alone package with reverse unit, signal sounds, direction lighting and command upgradeable that would be great for conversion of older GPs and alco where it would fit.

E-mail in my profile.   G