Richmond Controls has a wide variety of electrical
contacts for acquiring electrical power from the track via metal wheels
and locomotive trucks. The main applications are (1) acquiring power
for track-powered car lighting modules, and (2) improving the power pickups
for some locomotives that benefit from improved electrical pickups.
AXLE WIPERS (current collectors) are
available for several applications in Z, Nn3, N, and HO Scale, as follows:
| SCALE | APPLICATION | WIPER KIT | NOTES | PRICE / set |
| Z & Nn3 | Micro-Trains Freight Trucks | EZ10-WPRS | Use with metal wheels | $4.00 |
| Z & Nn3 | Marklin Passenger Trucks | EZ53-WPRS | Use with metal wheels | $4.00 |
| N | Freight Car Trucks | EZ41-WPRS | Includes two 00-90 screws | $4.00 |
| N | 4-Wheel Passenger Trucks | EZ51-WPRS | Includes two 00-90 screws | $4.00 |
| N | 6-Wheel Passenger Trucks | EZ51-WPRS-6 | For Con-Cor/Rivarosi/Atlas | $4.00 |
| HO | All Trucks | EZ61-WPRS | (Freight & Passenger)
includes two 2-56 screws |
$4.00 |
All of these axle wipers are designed for use with metal wheel sets that have one wheel electrically connected to the axle and the other wheel insulated. Replacement wheels are available from Northwest Shortlines, Intermountain, Jay-Bee, Kadee, Reboxx, and others.
All of the wipers listed above resemble an “H” with
a hole in the crossbar, and a “set” consists of a pair of wipers, enough
for one car. In some cases (as noted), sets also include some hardware.
Each wiper has two metal fingers wiping on each axle. Typically,
a screw is inserted through the hole in the crossbar, through the pivot
portion of the truck, and into the car interior to conduct current from
the wheel set through the wiper and screw to the car interior. The
material is either thin stainless steel, thin nickel-plated spring brass,
or thin nickel-plated beryllium copper.
ELECTRICAL CONTACT IMPROVEMENT KITS are presently available for several N Scale locomotives. Each can be combined with Richmond Controls lighting kits or can be used alone.
Presently-available kits include:
| APPLICATION | WIPER KIT | NOTES | PRICE / set |
| Con-Cor Challenger & Big Boy Tender | EZWPRS-CHAL | Includes two-pin connector set | $20.00 |
| Bachmann Northern Tender | EZWPRS-BNOR | Includes hardware, connector set | $20.00 |
| Bachmann N&W “J” Tender | EZWPRS-N&WJ | Includes hardware, connector set | $20.00 |
| Samhongsa 4-Axle Brass Diesel * | EZWPRS-SAM4 | Contacts all 8 wheels | $10.00 |
| Samhongsa 6-Axle Brass Diesel * | EZWPRS-SAM6 | Contacts all 12 wheels | $10.00 |
| Overland Brass P42 | EZWPRS-OP42 | Contacts all 8 wheels | $10.00 |
| Kato Material Handling Car | EZWPRS-KMHC | Contacts all 4 power tips | $10.00 |
* Similar Samhongsa diesels have small differences. Please specify WHICH diesel is being fitted.
The two-pin connector sets are very tiny and include
6” of highly flexible wire attached to the connector plug and the connector
socket. Typically the connectors are used to route current from the
wipers on the tender to the motor in the locomotive. The Samhongsa,
Overland and Kato sets have no connector sets.