powering up a dummy unit

[boxcar12]

I bought the kit to power up a W by b dummy A unit. Followed the instructions to the T. Tested it by itself and worked great. Put it together with the factory powered A unit and they pull against each other. Put it with another Powered A unit, Same thing. They fight each other. But again by itself it goes the correct direction. I am very frustrated to say the least. Any help is greatly appreciated. But please email Fred directly at [email protected]. Thank you.

[671]

Hi Boxcar12,

             671 here. Your description of the 'direction' of travel is a little vague.
1. It sounds like this is a F-3 or an Alco style dummy.
2. If you wired the dummy's motors to travel forward at start-up (Headlight/windshield=front) then the units will both start in that direction, thus pulling against eachother.
3. If you run the F style units Tail to trunk, then they will run in the same direction at start-up.
4. If you want  one unit to travel forward and the other backward at start-up, you will need to reverse the wire connections to the motors after the electronic E-unit. This will get one to travel in it's normal forward direction and the other to start in reverse direction during initial start-up.

                       Hope this is clear...671

[tomplatten]

These power units are NOT an effortless installation as depicted in the "adds". Williams should include a small DPDT switch in the circuit which the purchaser can set before installing the shell. That way the unit will be in sinc with existing units as required by the owner without having to unsolder the motors leads and switch them.

[Joe Satnik]

Dear BC,

Pin swap instructions here:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,24130.0.html

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

[3rail]

Boxcar,

You can also un-mount the motors and install the front motor on the rear truck and the rear motor on the front truck without rewiring anything.


If you installed in the dummy unit to start-up in forward when you put it on the opposite direction as the lead unit, it will still start up in forward this fighting the lead unit. It will not run in reverse just because it is on the track backwards.

If you installed to start in reverse as the start-up direction.  The only way they will get out of sync is if you power them up one at a time (i.e. put one on the track apply power, turn off power, put second on track and apply power within 10 seconds).

Once you get them working correctly, it is very important to use the direction button on your transformer.  Press and HOLD the direction button for 1 full second AFTER the train has come to a COMPLETE stop.  If you follow these directions it will always work.  If you don't  and they get out of sync, completely power off for 20-30 seconds and the boards will reset.

Regards,

3rail