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Slater's plunger pickups

Focalplane

Entry posted by Focalplane

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blog-0448198001444163696.jpgI do find some things more difficult than others and my patience can run thin at such times. I had been convinced that Slater's plunger pickups are the "way to go" with 0 gauge kits and the logic is certainly compelling. Jim McGeown has his own comments and guidance on the subject which I have followed to a T.

 

But what I found difficult is adding the wiring to the pickups. I pre-soldered the wires to the tag, no problem, then placed the tag on the screw thread, again not too difficult. But getting the second lock nut on in a confined space took much time, concentration and the occasional blue language! But all six did eventually get placed on and tightened (though I think I should add some CA adhesive as a final warranty of success).

 

So here are three photos:

 

The first is the standard view:

 

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The next, a view from below:

 

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And another view from above:

 

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I have colour coded the left and right wires and used shrink wrap to minimize shorting out. The red cabling does not show with the body fitted, which is a relief. The strip of printed circuit board was added so that I can easily wire in the DCC sound chip which has been ordered from Digitrains.

 

Next I need to fit the coupling rods.

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Western Star

You can fit the wiring tag / cable to a pick-up and then insert that assembly into a frame plate provided that the soldering is neat /tidy and that the heat shrink / cable are not too bulky.

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Northroader
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I have used their ones without the tag and nut, where you just soldered the wire to the end of the plunger. (Were these an older type?) these were simple to do, the only thing to watch was to get the wire tinned and the plunger end tinned and smooth enough to go through the bush. Then a very rapid dab with the soldering iron to join the two, and out quickly. If you lingered at all the heat kept flowing down the plunger and spring, which melted into the bush. Not what you wanted at all! Done properly they work very well.

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Focalplane

Yes, Jim McGeown (Connoisseur) warns of the risk of soldering directly onto the plunger.  I have done this of necessity with the 4mm Alan Gibson pickups and the failure rate was too high.

 

The tag seems to be an upgrade to attempt to avoid the problem.  For me, at least, it has worked, and if I had thought of Western Star's idea then it would have been a lot less stressful.  Next time will be better.

 

And next time will be the Connoisseur 4F in which case I might just put the plunger pickups on the tender wheels as well!

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Stringfingerling

Hi Focalplane,
I'd be interested to know how the Slaters plungers have worked over time as I'm considering using them; any problems?  

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Focalplane

Generally I think the plungers work well if you follow Jim McGeown's recommendations.  I also think it is a good idea to drill and ream the holes in the frames before commencing assembly, testing the fit.  But don't fit the plungers until much later!  My 14XX has one plunger on the front driver, two on the rear driver and none on the trailing axle.  It works well but this may also be due to the beam suspension keeping the wheels on the rails.

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