Banana jacks for KW?

radio shack or build your own

check ebay, I just ordered some from there last week

Yep, plenty of options on eBay for banana jacks, including some that look like they'd work with a ZW or KW pretty easily.

John H,

    Some place in the OGR Archives all the information you want for installing the female Banana plugs on to the ZW & KW is explained in

detail, as to where I puchased the Banana female parts and exactly how I installed them on the ZW & KW transformers, unfortunately all my exacting information is now in storage, and I can not get to it.  I sure wish you would have spoken up when the everything was still in our game room.   I do not know how to reference

the building project on the OGR or if Rich kept this kind of information, after so many years.

PCRR/Dave

The Lionel ZW & KW Transformers reworked with Banana plugs

Here are some suitable banana jacks: C:US:3160" target="_blank">http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-pair...me=ADME:LC:US:3160

You can just remove the existing binding posts and screw these in place over the existing wire eyelets inside the transformer.

gunrunnerjohn,

    Those will work just fine, I happened to like the smoother ones but these are almost identical.

John H,

   Just so you understand what needs to be done, the post going into the back of the female Banana plug must be removed by unscrewing it, be careful not to damage the threads, then the female Banana plug screws on to the Lionel Transformer post.

Simply remove the nut from the Lionel post and screw the Banana plug on.  I used slightly different female Banana Plugs that had flats on the end, to make screwing the Panana plugs on a little easier, the posts John recommended will work however.

PCRR/Dave

 Note the flats on each side of the post, that post must be removed.  I use these flats to hold the Panana Plug securely in my mini vise, for removing the post and also for screwing the female Banana Plugs on the Lionel posts, more than just finger tight.

I had thought you would just remove the posts from the transformer entirely and replace it with these.  I didn't realize you were leaving the Lionel posts.  Interesting mod, never considered that.

John,

   I engineered in that manner so the Banana plugs would stick out further, for easy access.  I did not want them up flush with either the KW or ZW, these particular Banana plug females, also have the ability to unscrew to accept other electrical type fittings, (Spades or Circle connectors) or even straight wires.  I just wanted the space if I needed it.  Also in this manner if I wanted to remove the female Banana Plugs and return the Lionel Transformers to there original state, say for resale, I simply remove the female Banana Plugs by unscrewing them, and screw the original Lionel caps back on to the post.

PCRR/Dave

The ones I posted unscrew to accept spade lugs as well.  It's a good idea to leave the Lionel posts, I just never thought of it!

does "banana jack" live in the bahamas???

No, he's in Jamaica.

Popi,

   Be careful or I will have to break out "my Jack"  Besides that everyone knows he's in Jacmaca.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks for the help. That is exactly what I was looking for. After the initial replies I found some adapters with spade ends on ebay that I am trying, but the screw ons will work much better.

          John

John H,

   Glad we could help, post some pictures of how it turned out after you rework your KW.

PCRR/Dave

John H,

    One more thing that I do when setting up a transformer with banana Plugs is

that I use the Gold male Banana plugs from Radio Shack on my lines, these plugs are a little more expensive but last a life time.  You can see them better on the ZW pictured below before the ZW was fully reworked with the females, the connections these plugs set up are just outstanding for my DCS.  Simply split one of the male banana plugs apart from the double holder, and use them seperately on the females, that you mount on your KW Transformers.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks for all the help. I have some adapters coming and my KW is getting a cord put on. I'll post when I get them installed.

          John