Does anyone know what size Banana plug I need for the signal plug on the 990 Base? I'ts a little larger than the MTH plug.
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I don't know the MTH, but I just used a common standard size banana plug. The plug is about .175 dia across the expanded banana spring part.
Standard Banana Plug. That is how mine is hooked up.
Originally Posted by Gene H:
Does anyone know what size Banana plug I need for the signal plug on the 990 Base? I'ts a little larger than the MTH plug.
Thank you
Gene H,
I use the standard one also, but I like the Gold plated version, I have numerous wires and the hole is nice and large in the side of them, for multi wiring.
PCRR/Dave
Where do you use a banana on a 990?
Ken M
The U terminal.
Thank You, I only have one wire on the U terminial. the rest of my return are on my ZW.
Ken M
Hey, I really like that idea. I did not know it would accept a banana plug. This would make it a lot easier to disconnect and connect when programming.
Loose-Caboose,
Jim remember if you are running DCS also to run one wire from the Legacy Base to the opposite outside rail, then run Legacy wires to each of the Black out channels on the TIU. This increases the Legacy signal thru out your layout, for all your different tracks, and Legacy Engines run great in this manner, this was Marty F's idea and it really works well. I will let you know how Dale's Legacy Signal enhancer works, on the next Christmas layout.
PCRR/Dave
Dales signal enhancer is not for the track signal and will not help track signal issues other than providing an earth ground from the base. It is for the serial signal out of the 9 pin To feed multiple serial devices.
Dave
I do not use DCS. However I do use Dales' cable. I use it to give myself an extra serial port that I use to connect my computer that runs LSU. I may be retiring it since I have two SER2's and a WiFi card to hook my computer, TPC's and TMCC boxes to Legacy Controller. BTW I also walk in the way of the Lord, Happy Easter.
MartyE,
Well in that case I do not need Dale's particular enhancer, I misunderstood its capability and usage.
Loose-Caboose,
Brother I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and thanks for helping me to understand what this particular signal enhancer is actually used for.
PCRR/Dave
Originally Posted by MartyE:
Dales signal enhancer is not for the track signal and will not help track signal issues other than providing an earth ground from the base. It is for the serial signal out of the 9 pin To feed multiple serial devices.
Marty, is there no inherent ground for the base without the Manco? Seems like NOT having ground would be a significant source of noise. is that the only way you know to provide a ground for the base? I've been battling what I can only describe as noise signals that result in occasional bizarre behavior.
There is an earth ground. On pin 5 of the serial port. Dale's booster makes it easily accessible if I understand it correctly for creating the ground side of the signal Fir trouble spots.
Gentlemen,
A little more about using Banana plugs, for the older power supplies used for the Legacy & DCS set ups, allowing quick and stable connections, without the terminal post nuts.
In the past I posted how to upgrade the older Lionel ZW & KW transformers with female Banana plugs. The upgrade works very well and helps secure all the power lines for Legacy and DCS running. Recently however the manufacturer of the Banana plugs, used to upgrade the ZW & KW transformer changed how they constructed their multi piece Banana plugs, making them unless for upgrading the ZW & KW transformers. This forced me to re-engineer how I upgraded the Banana Plug addition for the ZW & KW Transformers. I now use the Radio Shack Single Gold Stackable Banana Plugs, that can be separated in the middle. I rework them, re-tapping the female end of the stackable radio shack Banana plugs, to fit the screw type terminal posts of the ZW & KW Transformers, I then use the original Red & Black ident covering on the installed female Banana plugs, on the ZW & KW transformers.
None of this is hard just a little tedious and time consuming.
This upgrade works really well and the wires never come loose from the older type transformers, because the post nuts have been eliminated completely with the new
female Banana Plugs. The upgraded ZW Transformer appears in the Picture below.
PCRR/Dave
The upgraded ZW with the new Raido Shack Gold Stackable Female Banana Plugs with there Red & Black terminal coverings.
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Could you do a close up of one terminal? Do you replace the original post in the case or add to the screw post that's still mounted to the case?
Jack,
The re-tapped female Banana plugs simply screw right over the original ZW posts, the ZW posts are not altered in any way, in case somebody wants to return the Transformers to it's original state.
PCRR/Dave
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Looks good. Thanks for the pic.
Chuck,
The old ZW transformers really do operate perfectly with the female Banana plugs,
especially on all 4 ZW channels. I use the Gold Male Banana plugs with their large wire hole, plugged into the female end of the RS 278-307's, for running lots of different wires, for both the DCS & Legacy units.
PCRR/Dave
Originally Posted by Pine Creek Railroad:
Chuck,
The old ZW transformers really do operate perfectly with the female Banana plugs,
especially on all 4 ZW channels. I use the Gold male Banana plugs with their large wire hole, for running lots of different wires, for both the DCS & Legacy units.
PCRR/Dave
Wonder if these are the same insides of what you are using...
Chuck,
Actually I looked at those and decided they would not work, they are slightly to large to re-thread for screwing on to the ZW posts, for this reason I found the Radio Shack stackable Single Gold Banana plugs that separate, and re-threaded them. You simply unscrew the spike mid section & re-thread the hole to fit the ZW posts. The problem now is the RS cost for these Stackable Gold Banana Plugs, & $10.00 a set that's $60.00 to upgrade the old ZW transformers. Chuck if you can find a place that supplies RS with these Banana plugs, please let me know, I definitely want to drop the upgrade cost.
PCRR/Dave
Ok, thanks. Don't want to be a pest but it's difficult to tell in pictures and Radio Shack, being in short supply of most items does not bring up many banana plugs.
I found these...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/26pcs-...;hash=item2a3249aea9
And
Chuck,
You are never a pest, I enjoy the conversations. The RS stackable Gold Banana plugs I use are not available on line except directly at Radio Shack.com. I need to go back and purchase one more set of them, for one of my KW's. I will post pictures of them for you to see, your you can punch up Radio Shack.com for a closer look. These RS Banana Plugs are listed on the RS sight, as 12 Gauge Locking Style Banana Plugs 278-307.
PCRR/Dave
RS 278-307 Banana Plugs
In the 2nd picture you see the female end of the Banana Plug, with the spike adapter, beside the black cover, the spike tip screws into the male portion of the Banana Plug, this needs to be unscrewed from the female portion of the plug, and the threads on that end of the female, need to be tapped slightly larger, to exactly fit the ZW Posts. You then simply screw the female end of the Banana plug, on to the ZW Posts, works like a charm.
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Ok. I went to the store and saw those. Thanks for the info.
