I have acquired a Williams Scale GG1 recently, used. I opened it up to replace the lamps and noticed that there is a Lionel circuit board inside. The previous owner installed it as I don't believe it was there when the loco was new. There is a 9 volt battery connector but no battery. The sound operates well. It has the usual sounds of a GG1 plus horn and bell. So why is the system operating without a battery. Should I put one in ? Should I put in a BCR ?
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If it's conventional, I'd put the 9V battery in, it keeps the sound running when you change directions or drop the track power really low.
Thanks John. Yes, it is conventional.
One more question. There is a wire coming from the electronics that is soldered to a brass tape strip. The brass strip is about a quarter inch wide and about five inches long. It's adhered to the underside of the roof. Any clue as to what it is ?
All this sounds like a TMCC installation....the brass strip and wire is the antenna.
Bruce
Okay then. Would you explain what TMCC is ?
Lionel Trainmaster Command Control
How about a picture or two of the electronic package, we can tell you what you have.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Lionel Trainmaster Command Control
How about a picture or two of the electronic package, we can tell you what you have.
That would be a good idea John. I'll try to post one tomorrow. In the meantime, I took a photo of the pantographs today. There is a very thin piece of black wire at the bottom of the pantograph. It is connected to the very bottom part of the scissors frame. I can't figure out why it's there. It's on both pantographs. In the first picture, it's visible below the spring and above the words "High tension".
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I suspect it's just decorative, I don't have mine unpacked to look at the pantographs.
I'm not sure John. What's decorative about it ? To me it looks like something placed there to restrict the maximum movement of the pantograph. But it doesn't do that. It just floats there with no apparent purpose.
Anyway, as promised, some photos of the guts.
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As suspected, you have TMCC electronics there. That's a nice surprise. BTW, a simple 9V battery will work fine for this application. A BCR could be used but it won't protect anything, not like on PS1 and PS2
I believe the wire attached to the pantograph arms keeps them from deploying lop sided...a centering apparatus.
Bruce
You have the Train America Studios SAW board, that's TMCC and sound but without cruise control. It will also run in conventional mode.
"I'm not sure John. What's decorative about it ? To me it looks like something placed there to restrict the maximum movement of the pantograph. But it doesn't do that. It just floats there with no apparent purpose. "
I think you just answered your own question.
See Big Jim's answer.
brwebster posted:As suspected, you have TMCC electronics there. That's a nice surprise. BTW, a simple 9V battery will work fine for this application. A BCR could be used but it won't protect anything, not like on PS1 and PS2
I believe the wire attached to the pantograph arms keeps them from deploying lop sided...a centering apparatus.
Bruce
Thanks Bruce. What about a NiMH rechargeable ? Will the electronics charge the battery ?
Where is the second motor???
Marty
The TMCC electronics does NOT charge the battery, you use a plain alkaline battery.
To answer Marty's question, you appear not to have a scale GG-1 from the pictures. The scale GG-1 is over 20" long, and the TAS board would easily fit between the motors. It appears the second motor was removed as the board wouldn't fit. You appear to have the semi-scale GG-1.
Now for the rest of the story. Yes, the GG1 has two motors and is 20" long. But you are correct in saying that the circuit board is too big to fit between the motors. Here are some more photos.
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Thanks Dan, I had a totally wrong impression of what I was looking at!
You can, if it pleases, easily add a few extras to that GG1, Dan. Adding a rear headlight will make it possible to give them directional control. If you decide to go TMCC, the TAS electronics has outputs for 2 coil couplers. For the cost of a used remote and base it might be worth finding out how civilized command control truly is.
That blasphemous GG1 shell I painted up in Warbonnet garb is a Williams unit I purchased without the guts. I'm staring enviously at your running gear....exactly what I need!
Bruce
So, racking my brain trying to remember how I wired directional headlights on my MPC semi-scale GG1. It's been in storage for many years. This is something I did well over 30 years ago.
The 2 pin outs for the rear headlight should be easy to find marked on the bottom board. Note how the pin out for the rear coupler is marked RCP ( front right of board ) in this picture.
Bruce
Actually, though it would have made sense to label them, they are not labeled. The labels are under the connector, not very useful.
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Thanks John. The board is held in place with double sided foam tape by the previous owner. For the moment I have installed an LED in one of the headlights, wired directly to track power. I'll put your information on my "To do" list for the future.
Since I intend to use a catenary system, I would like to know if stronger springs can be had for the pantographs ? The springs on my MPC electric locos are more robust that the springs on this locomotive.
It's very easy to install the LED powered from the board when you decide to do that. Just remember, ground is positive for the lighting outputs when running in command mode.
I'd probably just find some compatible springs from a place like McMaster Carr, I doubt Williams has optional springs.
Ah yes, McMaster Carr. hadn't thought of them. Used them all the time when I was working.