I am running an O gauge tubular layout. I want to use some of the Lionel Plug-Expand-Play accessories, which of course the tubular track doesn’t directly support.
I DON’T want to:
cut the plug (want to preserve these accessories for resale some day)
by a piece of accessory Fastrack to put under the layout (they don’t support enough connections, and I consider this an space-expensive, inelegant solution).
I would rather buy a handful of jacks and wire them myself if I knew exactly what to order from an electronics supply house. I have gotten conflicting information so far on the type of plugs and jacks that Lionel is using. I do know that some are 2-conductor and some are 3-conductor, based on any “additional” activities that the accessory may support.
If anyone has good information on this, I would greatly appreciate it.
Actually, I found “Lionel 6-82038 Plug-Expand-Play(R) Female Pigtail Power Cable – 8” 20.3cm O Scale" which appears (according to the Lionel site) to be a 2-conductor. Is there a 3-conductor version, or are all the plugs 3-conductor plugs with some accessories just wired for 2?
This image shows 3:
Also shows as three conductors / 3 contacts in connector.mm
All the jacks I see on line, without exception, are three-contact, with springs like those in telephone modular connectors. Those springs appear to be extraordinarily sensitive to external damage, if an image from TrainWorld is any guide…
Yes, they are all 3-conductor. I reached out to Lionel and they actually responded quickly. These pigtails are all 3-wire, even though the picture on Lionel’s site clearly lacks the white wire. It’s up to the device to use 2 or 3 as needed. Trainworld seems to have the best price.
I too have been asking this to no avail. I’ll try again, Does anyone know the generic name for the plug that Lionel is using for PnP? I would like to source these myself and make my own cords and not have to pay $12-15 apiece to buy pigtails.
Edit: Looks like the best solution out there is to buy a Lionel Pigtail and cut it in half so at least you get 2 for 1.
I decided to give this another go using ChatGPT. here is the result,
*## Lionel’s Connector Is Proprietary
Lionel uses a proprietary 3-pin Plug-Expand-Play connector on their accessories and cables — it isn’t a common standardized connector like IEC mains plugs or automotive connectors. Lionel sells these connectors only as part of pre-wired pigtails and extension cables (e.g., Lionel’s 3-pin male/female power pigtails and cable extensions). Lionel Support+1
So there’s no direct off-the-shelf standardized plug (like JST, Molex KK, XH, etc.) that will mate with it without modification. Hobbyists note that Lionel’s connector housing isn’t a standard modular telecom plug or other common plug — it was designed specifically for the Plug-Expand-Play system.
While I can’t disagree with any of the rest of the post (if it was available someone would have found a source by now), what item do you purchase to get 2 for 1?
I can see how buying a longer extension and lopping off the unneeded end is a better solution than the really short pigtail, saving the need to immediately solder extensions to the bare ends of the pigtail, depending on how far away you need to go with the wiring run.
I realize if you buy an extension (m-f) you can get one of each, but I think most of us are just looking for the connector to mate to an unmodified Plug-N-Play accessory.
Having additional connectors that match what is delivered with the accessory is not something I would find useful (I’m definitely not looking to make any of my older accessories Plug-N-Play by adding that connector to the Fahnestock clips! )
I hear you. Cutting the extension in half delivers 1 each male and female. Alas, Lionel does not make a multi headed female cord, or do they? I’m wondering what’s inside this? 36" Power Tap Cable
I admit I had not considered that item. It might be worth investigating (IF the black box containing the 3 female sockets can be disassembled without destroying it). Not having ever examined one, I don’t know how they are constructed (small screws, or more likely glued casing, since it’s not meant to be taken apart and is not really meant to be a “repair-able” item).
It could end up being do-able, but a lot of effort to save minimally in $. (which I am sure Lionel is counting on)
With Lionel going to the trouble to create this new proprietary connector in the first place, it would not shock me if the 3 female sockets are actually a different version of the connector mounted to a circuit board and have no leads to solder to if disassembled. (It seems quite likely this would be the same scenario/part as the piece of FasTrack that has the 3 Female connectors integrated in the roadbed - I’ve not examined one of those either). That scenario/part would certainly be more work than it’s worth to harvest the connectors in order to make our own pigtails.
I might have to take a look at one of these power tap cables if my LHS has one in stock the next time I am there.
The expense and tooling to create a plug set like this is so high I’m skeptical Lionel would invest the $$s to create their own proprietary connector. I’m guessing it’s something proprietary in China and commonly available there.
I may actually have one of these 3 splitters lying around. I’ll rummage through my storage as it’s time to take down the Polar Express set and pack away. If I find one I’ll try and open it and take pictures.
)