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Wiring of Engines
Jim models HO scale and asks readers:
“I Love the old ‘Blue Box’ Athearn engines. They are easy to work on. I have two questions relative to the wiring of those engines.
First off – If I hardwire the engine, where do I solder the ‘Negative’ wire to on the frame, or drill a hole for a screw.
Secondly – I would like to run an A – B – A consist correctly. what do I have to do to make the second ‘A’ unit run backward to the first unit?
I am HO and run on a DC layout
Thank You for any held or suggestions. And no, I am toooo old for DCC!!!”
4 Responses to Wiring of Engines
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If you are running DC then you shouldn’t have to do anything to the second “A” unit. The running direction is set by the polarity of the rails despite which direction your loco is facing provided the motor is wired the same way as your other units. Just try it.
Robert
Normal practice (all manufacturers as far as I know) is that locos run forwards when the right-hand rail is positive polarity. So when you have a power consist of several locos, they will all go in the same direction, whichever way round they are.
So Locos in multiple unit power consists should all go the same way without modification.
(If they have not been previously modified !-)
If you disassemble a loco, make sure the wires go back in the original places.
The only suggestion is also a question have you speed matched the locos Its easy to do with DCC but I have never done it to DC locos a lot of locos run at different speeds on the same speed setting on the controller
I would use engines of the same age from the same manufacture or place the faster engine at the rear of the consist so that would be pulling the cars and pushing the slower engine.