robbostrains Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hi,does any one know how to fit lights to this type of chassis?There are no visible wires to fix to.Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted February 6, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 6, 2011 The chassis (SD40-2?) itself is live, so tapping a screw into it will give you one pole, and the strip joining the truck (bogie) pickups on top of the motor wiill give you the other. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted February 6, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 6, 2011 There arent any wires its all done through the chassis and metal strips. The contact points are top and bottom of the motor. You'll find brass contacts underneath by pushing the four white plastic spigots if you look at the bottom of the fuel tank. This isnt essential but for better contact many replace the steel strip on the top too that connects the motor to the bogies. Solder wire from each bogies steel contacts directly to the motor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigZ Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 http://www.euram-online.co.uk/railways/canadian/f3a/f3alge02.jpg shows you the original configuration...your chassis is missing the bracket and bronze strip assembly. If you look in the front of your chassis you should see where that bracket used to be. These did indeed provide light, but it looked like a nuclear reactor in the cab. As Ian notes, find a spot that clears the shell when the screw is installed - I typically would go under the drive coupling between the flywheel and truck. Drill and tap in for a brass screw and solder to that; take the other side from the straps protruding from the top of the trucks/bogies. While you're there, do replace that strap with wire...makes for a more reliable runner. And a trick I used when I was still running DC at low speeds - I used 6 volt bulbs. Much brighter...but they'd blow if you went heavy on the voltage... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Williams Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Coming more up to date with Athearn, I note that their Genesis locos come fitted with microbulbs. Are these 12v and do they need to be changed for DCC running in case they get too hot? If not 12v bulbs but a lower voltage, are they fitted with resistors for DCC running? Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbostrains Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 http://www.euram-online.co.uk/railways/canadian/f3a/f3alge02.jpg shows you the original configuration...your chassis is missing the bracket and bronze strip assembly. If you look in the front of your chassis you should see where that bracket used to be. These did indeed provide light, but it looked like a nuclear reactor in the cab. As Ian notes, find a spot that clears the shell when the screw is installed - I typically would go under the drive coupling between the flywheel and truck. Drill and tap in for a brass screw and solder to that; take the other side from the straps protruding from the top of the trucks/bogies. While you're there, do replace that strap with wire...makes for a more reliable runner. And a trick I used when I was still running DC at low speeds - I used 6 volt bulbs. Much brighter...but they'd blow if you went heavy on the voltage... That picture is how my chassis looks.Must admit not got a clue as to what to do.If some kind person can put an X on the picture where the wires go I might just get it!!Thanks . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigZ Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Coming more up to date with Athearn, I note that their Genesis locos come fitted with microbulbs. Are these 12v and do they need to be changed for DCC running in case they get too hot? If not 12v bulbs but a lower voltage, are they fitted with resistors for DCC running? Steve They're 1.5v bulbs...everything they've done in the past 3-4 years should have a chip socket on the board, and the board will have the appropriate resistors or diodes to drop the voltage... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gwinnett Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 They're 1.5v bulbs...everything they've done in the past 3-4 years should have a chip socket on the board, and the board will have the appropriate resistors or diodes to drop the voltage... What he said. AFAIK, only early Genesis SD70's suffered from bulbs blowing if you DCC'd them, everything since I believe is fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Williams Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Thanks Craig / John. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ref44 Posted February 14, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 14, 2011 Here is an old GP7 that I've just added lights to. The lights are a cut down board from an N gauge loco that was DCC fitted. They are temporarily fitted to the chassis with Blue Tac whilst the body is repainted. As can be seen the loco is being run in on a rolling road Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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