Large Scale Central

Annie Wiring Problem

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

I bought a used Annie and found it didn’t operate. After some investigation into other causes I pulled the bottom plate and found the black wire from the track power pickups had broken somewhere inside. The connector to the pickup strips for both the red and black are there and connected. The black wire was broken off about 4 inches from the pickup connector. Loco works fine when I apply power to the two screw terminals under the middle driver.

Applying power to the red pickup and the screw terminal with black wires and I get no operation. Question is…where did the black wire go?

Thanks

Andre’

#2

Switch.

This one have the nmra/LS switch in the smokebox front?

Either broken there or the switch it bad.

Not the first time I’ve seen that, either.
Pop the front off and check.
If it was mine and I was still track-power, I would hard-wire it the direction I wanted it to run.

TOC

#3

TOC,

Yes this has the switch. That is where this wire goes then?

I’ll see what it takes to get in there when I get home. Thanks!!

Andre’

#4

TOC,

Your advice was spot on! Pulled the front and sure enough the broken wire went right to that switch! Did a repair and lube, buttoned it up and it runs like a top.

Thank you Sir!

Andre’

#5

Funny about that…

I have it on good authority that the service department can’t figure those out…

Seen this on 2-8-0’s also.

#6

an assembly error? Since it is common. I saw no pinch point but that doesn’t mean much.

Andre’

#7

Not sure if assembly or just poor soldering.

I always try to put a 1/2" chunk of shrink tubing over each wire on a switch, to give “strain relief”, and hot-glue the wires to their circuit boards when I am inside one.

The switches can leave something to be desired, too.
Which is why I decide on direction and gut out switch and wires…

#8

Good advice there , Dave , you must have worked on some military stuff .
We had the habit of putting a small loop in wires --like you see on fuel pipes in older diesel trucks --to relieve strain on them in aircraft looms ,and we also did a Dave and put strain relief tubing on . There was also a common trick of dip varnishing boards to stop vibration banging things loose . Sounds like the glue trick . You can bet your boots , if the military do it , it’s a good idea .
Mike

#9

And, if it will hold up to Russkie depth-charging in Murmansk hrbour…

#10

Yep , now , if they could only stop the paint flakes getting in your eyes…