03-25-2009, 07:54 PM
TCS has a new decoder. The Z2. it is rated at 1 amp. VERY SMALL!
You might want to do a amp draw test on your loco's first.
You can get by with just using 5 wires between the tender and loco. (1) red - right rail pick up (2) black- left rail pick up < you will need this if you make the loco pick up on both rails> other wise you could just pick up the left rail using the tender only, then you could delete the black wire between them. In this case you would only need 4. (3) white wire- headlight function (4) orange + motor lead (5) gray - motor lead. You can get power for your front light by using the red wire . It would provide the power and the white would complete the connection. DON'T FORGET TO USE RESISTORS. Not sure what your lamps are, 1.5 volt- 12 to 14 volt ? The 1.5 volts will need them or some type of voltage control. Same story for LED's
You might want to do a amp draw test on your loco's first.
You can get by with just using 5 wires between the tender and loco. (1) red - right rail pick up (2) black- left rail pick up < you will need this if you make the loco pick up on both rails> other wise you could just pick up the left rail using the tender only, then you could delete the black wire between them. In this case you would only need 4. (3) white wire- headlight function (4) orange + motor lead (5) gray - motor lead. You can get power for your front light by using the red wire . It would provide the power and the white would complete the connection. DON'T FORGET TO USE RESISTORS. Not sure what your lamps are, 1.5 volt- 12 to 14 volt ? The 1.5 volts will need them or some type of voltage control. Same story for LED's