Bachmann Spectrum HO Scale 2-8-0 Consolidation light

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Need help.

About 1 month ago I accidently broke the one of the wires from the 4 pin connector that connects to the tender.

I ordered the replacement part from Bachmann, took apart the Loco and rewired the unit.

Eveything works, sound , bell, horn except the light.

Any thoughts or advise?

Thanks

2

Is the headlight incandescent or LED? If LED, you most likely have the common (+) and cathode (-) wires reversed.

3

The light is incandescent.

4

2nd question: Are you operating on DC or DCC? I would first confirm that the incandescent is still working.

Another question: When the wire broke, did the light stop working? Or, was it only after you replaced the 4-pin connector?

Tom

5

The PC boards are labeled. I have some Bachmann steamers. Check with an ohm meter.

I remember reading in the Bachmann forums some years ago the 2-8-0 has light bulbs as mentioned. I have to assume that has not changed.

Edit. I just looked at the Bachmann Parts page. It looks like it now comes with an LED. Is your loco a new on board Sound version?

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68_86

DCC on board and DCC ready had light bulbs. Your loco might have a burnt out bulb.

Rich

6

I had to replace the wiring harness on my BS 4-4-0 and took pics of how it was soldered to the board. I soldered everything and quintupled checked it and the thing just about went up in smoke when I put it on the track. The problem was that the new harness Bachmann sent me had two of the coloured wires different than the original plug. Live and make your way along the learning curve.

7

It’s DCC, when I received the 4pin replacement unit, I checked before installing it and the light worked.

I took the loco apart, making sure that each wire on the motor would line up with each wire on the 4 pin unit.

After installation, I put it on the test track, sound works great, train moves forward and reverse, but no light.

8

Yes, Bachmann has never used proper colored wires. That has been mentioned here and the Bachmann forums a number of times before.

My colors were all black some years ago. I used my meter to trace the circuits.

Rich

9

This is the 4 pin unit I bought from Bachmann.

Light & Connector #1 (HO 2-8-0) - Click Image to Close

10

With the tender cover off, can you check with a volt meter right at the two pins on the eight pin socket? Look for about twelve volts from the decoder.

The light bulb should be under a hundred ohms resistance.

The motor will be also.

Those two pins feed the two wires going to the four pin connector. Or at the point the two wires are soldered at the PC board. The two pins are labeled.

I have been able to do that.

I have never trusted Bachmann wire colors after belonging to the Bachmann forums for some years and owning Bachmann DCC locos.

Bachmann reps have said to trace the wires.

Rich

11

I had my Father in-law double check that the wire colours in the new harness were not the same and he agreed. He designed and oversaw the building of the largest pager network in Canada and said that if a supplier ever did that kind of slop to his company that would be the last thing they ever bought from them.

12

So the incandescent bulb comes with the 4-pin connector…?

Tom

13

This tender has a 4 pin connector and a two pin connector for the Locomotive wheels.

I will try checking with a volt meter.

Tender Plug (HO 2-8-0/Universal) - Click Image to Close

14

Hi Tom,

Yes, the incandescent bulb comes with the 4 pin connector

15

Totally understand. I retired as a machine mechanic from a paper company that colorized paper in 2006.

Rich