On page 32 of Tom Barker's book he shows a diagram for how to wire your own 314AW whistle activator. There are a few things, however, not clear to me. The original activator has a wire from the 15V fixed voltage post leading to it. Tom's diagram shows only a base wire and 7-15V wire. No need for the fixed 15V with this homemade unit? Would you run the 314AW normally with the toggle set to the NC position, and move the toggle to the NO position to activate the whistle? Tom mentions that the 500uf cap allows a small flow of AC to keep the engine running without slowing down. How's that? If only a small flow then wouldn't the engine by definition slow down? Is this diagram complete? Is it the best way to make a 314AW activator? I am due to receive a 314AW tender to repair, but no ACG activator to test it with. Thanks.

I can't answer all your questions, but as I recall, a standard Lionel pre- or post-war transformer whistle control should blow the 314AW whistle. Also, I don't have the original controller for my 314AW, but its toggle switch is sprung to return to the normally open position.

Thanks. So maybe the Lionel transformer that I have socked away somewhere (#2031?) with the orange horn actuator lever next to the black throttle lever might work?

quote:

Originally posted by Sgaugian:
...maybe the Lionel transformer that I have socked away somewhere (#2031?) with the orange horn actuator lever next to the black throttle lever might work?

It's been a few years, but I think I was able to trigger my 314 whistle with a Lionel LW transformer.

I have a lionel ZW and a lionel TW and no luck activating the whistle. I believe the DC pulse is a different wave form. These post war AF button activators cost almost as much as a 314aw itself.

quote:

Originally posted by J Daddy:
I have a lionel ZW and a lionel TW and no luck activating the whistle. I believe the DC pulse is a different wave form. These post war AF button activators cost almost as much as a 314aw itself.

OK, you have the 314 controller, and it works the whistle fine, correct?

You can use any Post War Lionel transformer with a whistle control. Its the exact same design and theory, hence why Lionel sued Gilbert and won making the 314AW obsolete.

PRRDave

I have never seen a citation regarding a law suit be Lionel, after searching for such. Nor nor correspondence by either company on this issue, as there was on the dump car operating mechanism where Gilbert in a cordial exchange of correspondence with Lionel, agreed to discontinue the particular design if they could sell off their remaining inventory. Lionel agreed, and Gilbert changed the design.
At that time Gilbert was still producing DC locos. Using that particular design would make the whistle blow continuously. The whistle was also extremely difficult to service because of their being much less room in the smaller Flyer
tenders.
Herb W

The following Portlines clinic post gives an excellent description:

www.portlines.com/portlinesclinic3.htm

So a Lionel Sound Activation button will work the same as the metal oval-shaped tranformer-like unit with the toggle switch on top? Hopefully so. I have several LTI sound buttons around and the 314AW I am to work on should arrive tomorrow. Much thanks for the tip.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgaugian:
So a Lionel Sound Activation button will work the same as the metal oval-shaped tranformer-like unit with the toggle switch on top?...

The clinic talks only of triggering Railsounds. I'm a little concerned that the 314 whistle, with it's wound field motor, may draw more current through the control button than it can handle. So, after checking the whistle motor by closing the relay contacts by hand, I'd try the relay using your old Lionel whistle transformer.

quote:

Originally posted by herbw2:
I have never seen a citation regarding a law suit be Lionel, after searching for such.
Herb W

Oh well then I suppose it just didn't happen then did it? Its not only in the A C Gilberts Heritage book, and Greenbergs who misses a lot, but you can read about it in this article.

Article mentioning Lionel vs Gilbert lawsuit

PRRDave

See post number 44210 (not mine) regarding this. If I read in a book that the earth was flat, I would be skeptical.

Herb W

Should be post number 44210 on the Yahoo S Train board. Sorry

Back to my original question, more or less, can anyone provide a wiring diagram for how to make your own AF 314AW whistle activator? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgaugian:
...can anyone provide a wiring diagram for how to make your own AF 314AW whistle activator?...

OK, a second archeological dig of my trains turned up the 314 engine ane tender shells, but not the tender chassis, so I'm afraid I can't test my ideas first. Assuming the Lionel whistle transformer works with your 314 whistle, there may be another Lionel solution for you. There were at least two different freestanding whistle controllers made. One, the #147, simply connected a "D" battery into the track circuit. It tended to slow the train when the button was pushed. Another, more elegant solution, was the #167C. No battery, and it solved the slowdown problem by switching from a choke coil to the rectifier when the button was pushed, thereby keeping the impedance about the same. The circuits for both of these, and more information about their workings, is in the postwar Lionel Repair and Operating Manual.

What if I have the tender on a piece of track connected to an AC transformer (e.g. AF 1-1/2B), set the AC transformer to say 9VAC, and apply DC to the rails using a DC transformer (e.g. MRC Tech4 200) set to 9VDC? Am I going to mess up either transformer, cause a shower of sparks, activate the whistle, or achieve nothing but a web of wires lying on my workbench? Thanks.

The DC component it takes to activate the relay is actually very small.

Lionel used to make a activation button that used a 1.5 volt battery. I don't have the diagram though.

So if you were to home brew one I would start with a "D" battery and SPST switch that puts it in series with the track when the horm blows.

Somebody out there may have more details.

Carl

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Tuveson:
...Lionel used to make a activation button that used a 1.5 volt battery. I don't have the diagram though.

So if you were to home brew one I would start with a "D" battery and SPST switch that puts it in series with the track when the horm blows...

That is the circuit diagram, for the Lionel #147 whistle controller using a "D" battery!

So SGaugian, try the battery, but NOT the two transformers.

Thanks. But just so I have this straight, put the D cell in series with the AC going to the tracks. So the AC in effect passes through the D cell?

quote:

Originally posted by Sgaugian:
Thanks. But just so I have this straight, put the D cell in series with the AC going to the tracks. So the AC in effect passes through the D cell?

Yes. In the Lionel controller, a "snap" switch is used, which very quickly makes and breaks the connection.

SGaugian,
Did your Lionel transformer activate the 314 whistle?

I haven't started to repair the 314AW. There are three other engines ahead of it, but I am trying to think through how to have an activator ready by the time I get to it rather than waiting until then to figure one out. I think I will try the Lionel 1033 transformer and a D-cell in series with the 7-15VAC output from the AF 1-1/2B at my workbench. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for all the ideas and help.