I have a set of HO scale flashing crossbucks by NJ International leftover from my old layout. I no longer have the wiring diagram that came with them, and I’m afraid I might have torn out the ground [or “common”] wires on both of them. Unlike most manufacturers, NJ International does not publish any manuals or technical info on their web site. And google searches came up empty.
So I’m hoping some of you might either have the diagrams electronically, or be able to answer some basic questions about the crossbucks.
Could I simply solder another wire to the brass post to restore my common (+) connection?
Do I need to connect dropping resistors or can they be connected directly to a 12-14VDC power source (for testing the LEDs only - I know I’ll need to get a flasher module for operation).
I can’t answer the question about soldering a wire to the brass post for the positive lead, but believe this will not work because one leg of the LEDs is probably not soldered to the post; otherwise, NJ International would not have had a wire within the tube for the positive lead.
Another problem will be heat from the soldering iron melting the insulation off the other wires within the tube and possibly causing a short circuit.
I do know that you will definitely need dropping resistors because there are none connected to the LEDs.
You may have to just toss those old ones out and buy new.
I see what you’re saying, except I can’t remember whether there was a 3rd wire coming out of the tube - or just soldered to the base plate. [The wiring diagram would probably tell me this. [banghead] ]
At this point I suppose I might as well just try soldering a lead to the base plate, that should be far enough away to avoid melting the other wires’ insulation - as long as I do it fast enough. I’ll assume that lead is the positive end, since that is how my NJ Int’l block signals are configured. I found the flasher module that they were connected to, so I’ll try hooking them to that since it already has the dropping resistors built-in.
If that doesn’t work, then I guess it’s time to buy a replacement pair…
Thats a good question - probably because it was ~10:30pm when I discovered the problem and they would have been closed. I’ll try calling them after I get out of my 2:00 meeting.