Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

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Benjamin Maggi
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Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

Post by Benjamin Maggi »

This is a question for someone who owns one of their Generic Electric engines. I bought mine last fall and tried to wire in a headlight (Cannonball 12v) but did it wrong. The G.E. manual doesn't cover headlights though their controller is set up to operate it if you know where to connect the wires. I thought I did but all I managed to do was get the headlight to turn on when I held down a button.

The engine has two 12v batteries wired in parallel for 24v total.

The headlight has two leads... (+) and (-). I assume one goes to the battery, and another goes to the terminal strip with the numbers. Can someone confirm which lead goes where, and to which number?

Thanks!
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
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8thscale
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Re: Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

Post by 8thscale »

two 12v batteries wired in parallel for 24v total
Make sure you check that information again!
What you stated is not true, PARALLEL gets you +12V (but more current) SERIES gets you +24V (same current).

Is it a incandescent bulb or LED?
LED polarity matters, bulb does not. (I have 20-yr old Cannonball headlight and its a bulb.)
Good luck!
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Benjamin Maggi
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Re: Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

Post by Benjamin Maggi »

Oops, you are correct. They are wired in series! Thanks.

And they are incandescent bulbs.
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
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NP317
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Re: Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

Post by NP317 »

Is impossible that the series 24 V is only for the motor, and the lighting uses just one battery (12V)?
Then lighting can be readily available automotive 12V bulbs.
Just a thought.
RussN
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Erskine Tramway
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Re: Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

Post by Erskine Tramway »

NP317 wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:14 am Is impossible that the series 24 V is only for the motor, and the lighting uses just one battery (12V)?
Then lighting can be readily available automotive 12V bulbs.
Just a thought.
RussN
That's the way I did 'Sparky'. I tapped one of the batteries for the headlights and markers. I used a 'puck' light from Menards for the headlights, and a red LED from a hot-rod shop for the marker. I use a 'two outlet' battery conditioner to charge the batteries, and it doesn't seem to bother them. The switch is wired so that, when the lights are on, one end is white, and the other is red.
9-15-14 end panel.jpg
The speaker card in the picture is out of a greeting card, and has an SD40 bell recorded on it, but it quit working. I've changed the batteries, but it's still dead.

Mike
Former Locomotive Engineer and Designer, Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works, Inc. and Riverside & Great Northern Railway 1962-77
BN RR Locomotive Engineer 1977-2014, Retired
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NP317
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Re: Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

Post by NP317 »

Glad you correctly interpreted my "auto-corrected" note.
It should have started: "Is it possible..."
Technology and software and fat fingers...
RussN
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Benjamin Maggi
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Re: Plum Cove "Generic Electric" - wiring headlight

Post by Benjamin Maggi »

Well, thank you for all of your comments.

I finally got in contact with Paul Poole who said to take one headlight wire and run it to space #6 of the electrical panel (that is the spot for the latching switch), and run the other wire to the positive (+) terminal on the battery that puts out 12 volts.
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
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