I need electrical help with an RCS-C22 97C-22 controller. Each time the unload button is pushed the circuit to the track is broken, like the direction button is pushed, and the locomotive starts moving. I have tried changing the controller, same thing. I am using a Lionel UCS track. What can be done to correct this? Thanks for any advise.
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What is your power source for the track?
Being that the UCS magnetic coil can require some significant current, this sounds more like your track supply is just kicking out under load.
You probably need separate power for the UCS track.
What transformer are you using?
The track is powered by a Lionel LW transformer
Have you determined if the operating car you are unloading has an excessive current draw? Does it happen with all the cars that can be unloaded, or just one? Here's some steps to take to trouble-shoot:
1. Remove all trains from all track.
2. Attach voltmeter leads to center and outer rails, near the UCS.
3. Set the track voltage to 12 volts.
3. Then please report to us the voltage readings that you get without the UNLOAD button pressed and with it pressed.
(Question for Vernon: Is the electro-magnet designed to be energized as well as the UNLOAD rails in a UCS when the UNLOAD button is pressed? It's been a while since I looked at the circuit diagram of a UCS. ISTR that the opposite is true -- that because historically, there were two types of couplers: magnetic and electromagnetic, both the coil and the rails of the UCS were energized simultaneously when pressing the UNCOUPLE button, to accommodate both types of couplers, but I don't recall what happens when the UNLOAD button is pressed.)
I am using a Lionel 3665 missile car and a Lionel 356250 barrel car.
The track voltage drops from 12v to 1.6v when the unload button is pushed and stays at 12.2v when the uncouple is pushed.
Either button will work the barrel car, but the missile car does not work with either button. Both cars worked until this past weekend.
I do not know how to check the voltage draw of the cars.
I have switched the wires from the controller to the track same result.
I would say that there is a short circuit within the track section, causing the voltage drop when you press the button. I suggest trying to replace the track section, if you have another one. Alternatively, you will need to check the contacts inside the controller and look inside the track section to see if there is a visible fault.
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