Plate 105:  Installing a Hornby Point Motor: where the wires go, Part 1
(This plate added OCT 2003)

The Hornby R8014 Mark 2 Point Motor must be properly wired before it can electrically operate a remote-control point. This view shows three of the devices required for wiring the point motor. (1)    The transformer The black box in the left background, with the two brass blades sticking up, is a Scalextric C977 13-volt transformer. Hornby provided a similar transformer in the "Flying Scotsman" train set, but it was a British-style unit that operates upon 230 volts of house current. --more--

Although American households sometimes use 230 volts (for clothes dryers, for example), most American house wiring is at 115 volts. The layout builder obtained the C977 unit after having sent an e-mail message to Hornby, requesting information regarding the availability of a suitable 115-volt transformer. Hornby replied promptly with a courteous postal-mail response, which stated that the Scalextric C-977 would suit the builder's requirements. (Note: Scalextric specializes in 1/32 scale slot-car racing; Scalextric is a registered trademark of Hornby Hobbies, Ltd.) The response from Hornby also contained a list of dealers in the United States that sold the C977. However, as it finally worked out, the layout builder purchased a C977 transformer from Udisco, Ltd., located in Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. The C977 unit can be seen in its operating position in Plate 85. (2)   The controller The large black box in the foreground, with the red knob, is the Hornby R965 Standard Train Controller, which was shown in Plate 79. The C977 transformer from Udisco plugs directly into the R965 unit in exactly the same way as the 230-volt transformer that was shipped with the "Flying Scotsman". (The small C977 13-volt plug can be seen connected to the left of the R965.) The thin black cable coiled up at the right of the R965 controller carries the 12-volt DC variable current to the train tracks through a Hornby power-connecting clip (see Plate 59). The two silver knobs on the right of the controller are AC constant-voltage binding posts. (3)    The lever switch The black fan-shaped object on the right is a Hornby R044 Passing Contact Lever Switch. This lever switch is not connected to anything in this view. The R044 is sold with four color-coded wires; these colored wires will be discussed in detail throughout the following series of plates. Go to top of page