North Shore Line 409 - Part 14 Electrical Diagram and To Power or Not to Power is the Question!

Shortly after the last post was published, I realized an important topic had been overlooked! What was not included in the prior post and/or never covered is the potential electrical diagram of the model 409.

Taken for granted was the idea the model would be a non-powered model of a powered prototype car.

The model of the 409 can be made as a powered car - true to the prototype. If this is to be done, a post covering the powering Sunsets Silverliner models in this blog should be read. This post was published January 21, 2012 "Sunset NSL Silverliners #2 - Parts & Trucks".

The primary brass floor supplied with the Sunset 415 is the same as the floors in the powered coaches.

Given the chance, I'd power my model of the 409. Unfortunately, there is not a suitable power truck in my parts bin. How to match-up the operational speed of power trucks is beyond the scope of this post. My 409 is to be operated with a model having a Wagner DC-60 for its power truck. It is best, from an operational/mechanical standpoint, for all the power trucks in a train of model cars to run at the same speed. I do not desire to install a DC-60 power truck in the 409.

I've been known to alter existing Wagner, Q-Car and other manufacturers' power trucks. I've also made my own power trucks in the past. I have no inclination to do any of this now!

However, another modeler may desire to power his model of the 409. When the electrical needs and diagram of a model is drawn, the possibility of powering a model in the future should be taken into consideration. By doing this, the potential for installing and wiring-up a power truck is easy.

If the power connection to source of power (trolley pole or pantograph) is not already built into the model, additional wiring has to be done. This is the same as in your home. 

Getting back to my 409 - the electrical diagram for the 409 is -

I like using the Miniatronics 2-pin or 4-pin connectors. A friend of mine buys micro connectors and makes his own miniature connectors like the Miniatronics products.

Miniatronics has a warning on the connector packages saying their connectors should not be used for power connections. Can motors use little electrical current. I've found the 2-pin connector can be used in this type of application.

For older motors 4-pin connectors are used. Two of the 4 wires are used for one polarity while the other 2 wires are used for the other polarity. Which ever connector is used, the black wire with the white stripe is trolley (red wire) current.

Now back to finishing the interior of the model in the next post.

Cheers,
Ed