9V train track contacts 5306c01

[brickie]

Like most of my 9V cords, the rubber coating has perished on the contacts to the track.

I am going to replace the old wires with new.

It was easy to open the two contact points and disassemble the insides.

It was a little harder to open the black cylinder next to the contacts.

Inside the cylinder, I found that the wire was looped once around a metal tube; not connected in any way.

What is the purpose of this device?

Is it necessary to be refitted onto the new wire?

Many thanks.

[peterab]

I've always assumed that the cylinders were a suppressor to avoid radio interference.

My electronics background doesn't really extend to antenna design or radio frequency suppression, but it's at least within the realm of possibility that what you describe might attenuate it by acting as a crude capacitor.

If you run your trains while others are looking at TV or listening to the radio close by you might cause problems, but otherwise it's probably OK to leave it out. Adding a smoothing capacitor to the circuit to replace it would also work.

Perhaps LT is able to add more real world advice, and even a simple circuit diagram and suggested cap value and type.

[jonwil]

They are most definatly EMU suppressors.

[JopieK]

It is indeed just a coil to reduce interference with radio's etc. Here is an article about it: http://www.vishay.com/docs/26529/gentecin.pdf

[hoeij]

Is it necessary to be refitted onto the new wire?

I've cut some of my 9V cables, to make them longer by inserting more wire. The item you mentioned I usually just throw it away, you're not going to notice the difference.

[brickie]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

As I seldom have a TV going in the house, I think that bit will be recycled.