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Lionel Trains
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#Post#: 390--------------------------------------------------
Fastrack Activator Pack
By: VIP Date: November 27, 2013, 2:13 pm
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Hi, Newbie here. Hopefully someone can help with a general
wiring question. I've decided to expand my Fastrack layout this
year and added the Activator Pack connected to a Crossing Gate
accessory. When the Activator Pack is connected directly to the
Crossing Gate (variable track voltage) everything works fine.
I am now trying to connect the Activator track and crossing gate
to fixed voltage off of a CW-80. I'm following the directions in
the manual:
1.Separate and remove the wire with the RED quick connector
sleeve that is connected to the
underside of the Insulated Track section. I disconnected the RED
sleeve and separated the wires.
2.Slide the RED quick connector sleeve over a connector tab
underneath an outer rail,
outside of the break (on the isolated section). Connect it to
the Common/Ground/U
terminal on your separate accessory power supply. There are no
tabs on the underside of the Isolated Track sections. Make the
connection to a regular track section outside of the break. This
is where I have problems. I took the wire from above, attached
the sleeve to the ground rail on a track outside of the isolated
section and the other end to the 'U' connector of the Accessory
screw on the CW-80. If I power on the CW-80, the train moves
without any throttle.
3.Connect the other end of the Insulated Track section wire
(connected under the insulated
outside rail) to a power terminal on your accessory.
4.Attach a separate wire (included with the accessory) to the
remaining terminal on the
accessory. Connect it to the Power/A terminal on the separate
accessory power supply.
I'm sure I'm missing something obvious but don't want to damage
the train by connecting the wrong wires. Any help would be
appreciated.
#Post#: 391--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fastrack Activator Pack
By: Oscalerail Date: November 28, 2013, 9:51 am
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Let me know if my playlist helps...
(HTM) http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHsodksbJipOV60k29eRVLx4iHl2sRr_x
#Post#: 394--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fastrack Activator Pack
By: VIP Date: November 29, 2013, 8:43 am
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Thanks. Those videos helped a little but I still have a
question. The Crossing Gate is now wired correctly but still
seems to be activated by variable voltage. The faster I run the
train the better the gate moves, the slower the train the gate
hardly moves. I would have thought being connected to constant
voltage (on a CW-80) the gate would come completely down
regardless of the train speed.
Any ideas? Thanks, Val.
#Post#: 395--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fastrack Activator Pack
By: Oscalerail Date: November 29, 2013, 3:25 pm
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I believe that if you wire the activator pack itself for
constant voltage, then you may have better results. The
accessory gets its power from the track, like the engine. If it
has its own power source, but is still activated by the track,
then it should work. Let me know how it works for you.
Troy
#Post#: 396--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fastrack Activator Pack
By: VIP Date: November 29, 2013, 8:47 pm
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I'm not sure I understand. Does that mean I need to remove all
pins from both ends of the Activator Track ends, power the
Activator Track with the constant voltage of the CW-80 and then
wire the accessory crossing gate directory to the Activator
Track?
If I remove the Activator track sections from my layout, this
seems to work but when I put it back into the powered layout it
does not. I assuming I have to 'isolate' the Activator track
sections by removing the pins at the ends???
#Post#: 398--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fastrack Activator Pack
By: Oscalerail Date: November 30, 2013, 1:06 pm
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The track should already be isolated through small slits in the
track. By giving it it's own power source of constant voltage,
it should work better.
#Post#: 414--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fastrack Activator Pack
By: VIP Date: December 1, 2013, 5:17 pm
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I tried every which way possible and could not get it to work.
When the Activator track is removed from my layout and powered
from constant voltage, it worked great. As soon as I put it back
into the layout with the variable voltage powered track, it
would not work.
I finally phased a second transformer and it's working great
now. Don't know why it wouldn't work directly off the fixed
voltage of the CW-80. Anyway, thanks for the help.
#Post#: 489--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fastrack Activator Pack
By: NYC20 Date: December 31, 2013, 3:17 am
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Hello, I had exactly the same experience with a CW-80. On
another forum I found the "solution": You must reverse the
polarities so that the transformer's track red connector goes to
the track outer rail, and the black goes to the center rail.
Then (1) The transformer's accessory black connector is the
"hot" connection to the accessory. (2) The wire from the "dead"
outer rail of the insulated track section connects to the
activation terminal on the accessory. (3) If the accessory has
a light which is constantly on (e.g. the 145 gate man), this
connects to the transformer's accessory red connector (which is
electrical "ground"). ((3) Does not apply to the crossing gate
which has only 2 terminals.)
The only catch is that the bell & whistle buttons are reversed,
i.e. pressing "bell" blows the whistle or horn, and pressing
"whistle" activates the bell.
If you try this and it doesn't work, you may have a defective
CW-80 as some were manufactured defectively. Lionel will
replace those (according to the forum I read). Good luck!
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