Anyone have a schematic of Atlas 220 Controller?

[dbogot]

I am very curious about the internal wiring of the Atlas #220 controller. I saw a page from a book (page 55 of "Easy Model Railroad Wiring" by Andy Sperandeo, 1999) that showed an internal schematic, but about 10 seconds of testing proved that diagram was WRONG!

I have come up with what I think is the correct internal wiring diagram, but I don't feel like taking my controller apart to verify it...

Can someone post a picture or a link? Thanks.

 

[dbogot]

Must be a tough question...

Wow, still no replies!

I actually contacted Andy Sperandeo, the author of the book with the wrong schematic (who happens to be the editor of Model Railroader...), and sent him my schematic which was reverse-engineered based on continuity tests.

I am hoping he contacts Atlas and gets the absolute correct answer, but I'm willing to bet that I am right...

I've attached my version, if anyone cares to comment...

 

[MasonJar]

I think maybe you're not getting a response, because no one has anything other than the "official" schematic...?

Andrew

 

[dbogot]

Rocket Surgery, Eh? That's a good one!

Andrew, you mentioned an "official" schematic - may I ask what are you referring to? I have never seen any schematic of the internals of a Controller, except the incorrect one from Sperandeo's book, and my own.

Am I missing something? (it certainly wouldn't be the first time!) Sperandeo had mentioned that there was a schematic published in Atlas' "The Complete Atlas Wiring Book", but I have been unable to find that book to purchase - everyone is out of stock (including Atlas). Please let me know if you have any other schematic, I'm just dying to know! Thanks very much.

 

[MasonJar]

By "official", I was referring to the one in Andy's book... It makes sense that Atlas would have one too, now that I think about it hamr.

My point was basically that maybe you are not getting a response because no one has gone to the trouble you have in creating a new version. Therefore all that is available is what is published. I assume (rightly or wrongly) that the one used by Andy would have been supplied by Atlas, and therefore also be incorrect...?

Sorry for the confusion.

Andrew

 

[MasonJar]

Note - Walthers has it...

Walthers Model Railroad Mall -- product information page for 150-12

Andrew

 

[dbogot]

Can't wait to buy Atlas book

Sperandeo did not say if his schematic came directly from Atlas' book, but I find it hard to believe they would be wrong about their own product...

Anyway, I greatly appreciate you sending the link - I am going to order Atlas' wiring book right now.

BTW I see you're from Ottawa - are you a Senators fan? I'd like nothing more than to see the Blackhawks play the Sens in the Stanley Cup Finals!! (of course, I'd settle for a playoff appearance at this point)...

 

[MasonJar]

Sperandeo did not say if his schematic came directly from Atlas' book, but I find it hard to believe they would be wrong about their own product...

Stranger things have happened...!

BTW I see you're from Ottawa - are you a Senators fan? I'd like nothing more than to see the Blackhawks play the Sens in the Stanley Cup Finals!! (of course, I'd settle for a playoff appearance at this point)...

At the risk of having something (virtually) thrown at me, I'll say I am not a fan, and don't really follow any professional sport-ertainment of any kind...

Anyway, I greatly appreciate you sending the link - I am going to order Atlas' wiring book right now.

Glad to help - good luck with the project and the schematic!

Andrew

 

[dbogot]

Got It!!

As it turns out, the Walthers site referred me to a local hobby shop that was out of stock on the book, and they said it would take a few weeks to get if I ordered direct.

By pure chance, I was driving somewhere and passed another hobby shop - I stopped in, AND GOT THEIR LAST COPY!!!

The book did have the schematic, which is in fact functionally identical to the one I created, but the mainline direction switches are configured slightly differently (theirs are custom made, of course; one probably would not be able to find a separate component slide switch available that works the same way - if you wanted to build your own Controller from separate parts, you'd probably have to follow my schematic, or use 2-pole 3-position ROTARY switches in place of the mainline direction slide switches).

In any event, I got the answer and my curiousity is satisfied!!

Thanks very much for your help!

BTW, I have attached the "official" Atlas schematic. Credit to "The Complete Atlas Wiring Book".

 

[MasonJar]

Glad you got the answer you wanted!

Andrew