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Electric Pick-Up Wires for 2-Rail O-Scale Loco
Oscaler Jack asks:
“I need to add electrical pickup for both rails on a 2-Rail O-Scale power truck (and non-powered truck) and can’t seem to find available sources. I have been using phosphor bronze wire that I’ve jury-rigged for this problem but want a better solution.”
3 Responses to Electric Pick-Up Wires for 2-Rail O-Scale Loco
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You could check out sbs4dcc.com for ideas and specialized parts.I have always recieved good service from them.
The was a program on the internet where someone put a copper tube on the axles of some trucks and soldered the pickup wire to the copper tube this eliminated the drag on the wheels caused by copper strip or brass wire rubbing on the inside of the wheels. the problem is you will need to remove one wheel from the axle and then replace it in the exact same position he used a wheel gauge to do this not sure if you can remove one wheel easily though you would have to try it. hope this helps Note the axle must be able to revolve on the copper or brass tube.and one wheel has to be insulated from the axle he had one set of these on each end of a coach and put the other set the opposite way round to complete the circuit.
Instead of having to remove a wheel, the copper tube could be split open, slipped over the axle, and then closed. Maybe even a 1/2 tube would work.
BUT, why would a copper tube rubbing on the axle cause less friction than a contact rubbing on the back of a wheel?