Wiring Modern #313 Bascule Bridge

You know I seem to remember something funny about that. I think the instructions and the actual hookup under the bridge may have been off. I'll take a look at mine.

No just checked mine out and the instructions and under the bridge are right. I would start with hooking up the transformer to the u and a terminals on the bridge. Than hook a switch up to the switch terminals. Then check it out see if it is working. From there you could go with hooking up the block section to the other a and u terminals.

I too remember having problems. I took the time to re-read the instructions and all worked out well in the end.

I am totally having the same problem, even understandng how Lionel intended for it to work, with both a switch and an insulated track section. Anybody can explain this???

Since I use my modern bascule bridge on a flat tabletop (no chasm for the trains to fall into), I didn't bother to install insulated track sections to stop trains when the bridge is up.

To avoid accidents when you raise the bridge, you only have to remember to turn off the track power to stop your train first.

Also, I run the bascule bridge from a small, separate transformer (to better control the speed at which is raises and lowers). 

I had a weird problem with the newer 313 I never really understood. When hooked up as per the instructions, the bridge worked fine until I connected the bridge track to the layout track. Then the outside rails of the bridge would short with the outside rails of the layout. By powering the bridge with a small 40w transformer (like bayshore), wired independently from the layout's common U, all has been well for six years. Go figure. 

Anybody got a schematic wirng of the bridge and the pc board?

My bridge does not operate.

Al W.

I don't have the schematic, but I blew out the board in mine trying to wire it into an IR track controller. To my surprise, I went to the Lionel website and found that you can get a replacement board for about $50 including shipping, so I ordered one, and had it in less than 5 days. It was a bit tricky installing it, and requires some sodering skill, but I did it, and now, hooking it according to the wiring instructions that came with the bridge, it works fine again.

Thanks Doc for your reply. My bridge may have a mechanical problem of limit switch operation. Or it may be an electrical problem. As for rplacing the PC board (etc), " I"ll cross that bridge when I come to it" after determining that the problem is really the board.

I may have found a source for the schematic. It's too bad that the manufacturers

don't make this kind of info more readily available.

Al W.

I protect it with a DPDT switch. Flipped one way the switch allows power to the approach tracks and has the power cut off to the bridge motor. Flipped the other way the power is cut off to the tracks while voltage is supplied to the bridge.

Being a double pole switch I can use separate sources of power for the track and the bridge.

Doc Swisher:

Is your old bascule board burned?  Do you want to sell it and how much?

Al W.

AL W, below is a link to the manual for the 313 bascule bridge from lionels web site hope it helps.

$oo

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ents/71-2948-250.pdf

$oo :

Unfortunately the stuff on the Lionel site is not a schematic. At best it gives info on connecting the bridge to the layout.What I need is equivalent to the wiring of the parts inside your TV

Al W.

AL W, sorry I mis understood what you needed. as to a schematic for the PC board good luck as these usually are a custom board from supplier and unless you know who they are the latter is next to impossible.

I never knew they had a pc board in them learned something new!

hopefully the link with wiring will help Lar1944.

$oo

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally......the bugger is working like its' supposed too!  Turns out the wiring diagram is correct and I am just slow and stupid!  As far as a "schematic" for Al W.....I looked at the Lionel site again and went thru ALL the supplements.....and nothing was listed for ANY bascule bridge.  Hey Al.....email lionel and ask them to send you a schematic..  If one exists...they should send it to you. 

Thanks to everyone who posted on this question.  There's alot of great help out there in OGR land!!!!

To $ooline and Lar1944:

The pw and pre-war??? bridges were a very simple device. They had no active electronic components. There was a cam and switches to operate the bridge.

The bridges built after 1997 contained intergrated circuits, diodes, and transistors and a pinted circuit board that contained these active circuits as well as other components.

My LHS says that Lionel will not release the schematics for these boards. He may have a beef with Lionel so his statement may have to be taken with a grain of salt. But it can be noted that little in the way of schematics for Lionel equipment has appeared.

By the same token, Cam Bickel has has some hand in the availablities of schematics for the TMCC equipment. I will try to contact him to see what his opinion on the matter may be.

Al W 

I have an incomplete new-style bascule bridge.  Darn eBay bargains...  It needed a PCB board assembly which I bought, thinking that it was complete and that it was plug and play or at least obvious how it wired in.  The PCB comes without the insulator board and Fahnestock clips that are accessed from underneath, to connect the bridge.  I want to order that now, but I've only found parts lists on dealers' sites - nothing I could even save to my computer - and nothing that even showed that part.  I can make one if necessary, but I need some sort of schematic to know where the various wires from the bridge connect.  Even the plugs can go in two ways, and there's no labeling to indicate which way is which.  I don't want to smoke my $50 PCB assembly.  Can anyone tell me where to get a parts list and schematic for connecting the board??

Thanks!
Karl

   I bought the 313 bridge in 2001, ran it once and I couldn't believe anyone could design something that bad. If I recall correctly the speed of the motor changed with the flashing lamp on top.

   I determined that running the motor at 3.7VDC for going up and 3.5VDC for going down was very close to scale speed (45 seconds). A single pole double throw old ceramic knife switch controls the up or down movement. Voltage regulators and a latching relay for motor reverse were also necessary.

  A red led was use on top, it's flash rate set to 25 times per minute. The led also ramps up and down to simulate how an incandesent lamp works.

I talked to Lionel  service center in Ohio. They claim they don't have a schematic.

Eventually I solved the problem with my bridge. And I agree it is a lousy design.

Maybe  they should have stuck to the prewar desiign.

Al W.  

OK - then how about this?  Could someone please post me a color picture of the wires coming off the PC board and where they attach on the terminal board right below the PC board?  There are only 6-7 wires, plus a couple of green ones (grounds?) coming from the bridge itself.  Or just tell me where the yellow, red, black, etc. wires go (assuming the color code hasn't changed)?  And there are two small plugs and one larger one that go from the bridge to the PC board.  The large one is obvious because of its size, but the others aren't.  One plug is red and black, for the motor, and one has two grays, for the light on top of the bridge.  Which socket is which?

Thanks again!

Karl

I did try looking at the wiring for the current "Lift Bridge" which you'd think should be identical - same functionality, same era, but noooo - different colors used in different places.  Apparently even a different circuit board - which they call a motherboard on that bridge.

Karl

Karl

If we can discuss this over the phone, I can go over this wire by wire on Wednesday or later

Al  W. 

Absolutely - thank you!!

To exchange phone numbers, my email is KVacek at Ameritech dot net

Karl

I am still looking for a schematic.

I find it hard to believe Lionel doesn't have a schematic. Were these boards

designed or were born some way?

Al W.