RailPro > Finished RailPro Installation Examples

Athearn SW1500 Install

<< < (3/4) > >>

LVRR1856:
Thanks for the info - totally understand the warmer weather thing - boating season for us.

I like the copper tape thing also - very slick.

sieggs1:
Hey Espeelark,

Did you ever finish this install?

I spent many hours on installing a LM-3S-21 and later, a LM-3S in my BN SW1500. It's still not right.

I am trying to shoehorn a PBM-2 in there as well. I keep having to shorten the wires, file the chassis and reconsider other ways to do it. Probably NOT a good candidate for my first install. Then my HC-3 failed and I had to return it to RE.

Now that I have done some other installs in larger locomotives (Two GP35's and a GP38), I am going to revisit the SW1500 and try again.

I think I might replace all the Athearn bulbs for LEDs and that might simplify the wiring a bit.

Let us know your status, if you would. Thanks.

Rob S. "sieggs"

Espeelark:
Howdy Rob - thanks for asking!
Nope. It's still sitting on my workbench waiting for the weather to turn. I've been very busy with outdoor activities: travel, yardwork, deck stripping and re-staining, exterior house painting, golf, yada, yada, yada....
When I get back to it, I will definitely post updates.
Yeah - starting out with an SW1500 as your first install was probably not the best choice. Good luck trying to shoehorn a PBM in there as well! I want to see how you accomplish that!
Paul Mac

Espeelark:
Update time!
The first thing I did was decide to abandon the idea of installing fwd and rear gyralights. Trying to stuff two additional wiring harnesses and micro-connectors into what is already a tight spot made me decide that I shouldn't make my first switcher (SW1500) install any harder than necessary. I figured that I could learn from this first SW1500 install and attempt to install gyralights on any second SW1500 I attempt to do down the road. This turned out to be prescient - more on that later.

Here's what the everything looks like after being wired up.


Here's another view with the pigtails connected to the shell.

Espeelark:
So then I made my first attempt to place the shell onto the chassis.
I quickly found out that the micro-connectors are too thick to fit between the shell and the LM-3S, or the shell and the SSS speaker.
Luckily the pigtails were long enough which allowed me to tuck them back into the tunnel that goes into the cab. Here's what that looks like.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page