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I have the MTH 20-2307-1   PS 2 F3 set, ABA. I sometimes like to run just the AB only. Because the B unit has dummy couplers, one had to your the "BIG HAND HOOK" to uncouple a set of cars.

 

Has anyone changed out the dummy on an F3 B unit with an electromagnetic coupler? If so, how did you do it, wire it? I know that Electric Railroad (Lionel) makes an accessory board that will activate couplers, but don't know if that would work.

 

I know that if I do make a conversion, that if and when I run the second A unit, and I activate a rear coupler, that both the B unit and the rear facing A unit will activate, I think. However, there is a way to get around this. Simply run the engine in reverse order and this will not be an issue.

 

Thanks

RAY

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One issue you'll have is the trailing A unit will be farther from the B unit.  If that's not an issue for you, it's simple.

 

The rear coupler is fed directly from the tether, so if you tap off  the two wires for the B unit coupler and add a switch to enable it only when the trailing A unit isn't connected, that will do the trick.  The coupler is connected between PV on tether pin 2 and the coupler output on tether pin 7.  You can get the wire colors from the rear connector on the B unit, on the replacement cable I have they're purple for PV and red for the coupler.

 

Since this is an ABA set it won't matter.  The simplest method is as John stated to open up the B unit and tap into the harness to get a PV and coupler wires.  Trace them to make sure you have the proper ones.  Take the control wire for the trail A coupler and via a switch connect it to the middle post.  The end post go to B unit coupler and Trail A coupler harness connection.  This is wired similar to how AUX steam tenders are wired.  Your selection via the switch controls which coupler fires.  G

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