Also Hamo locos can easily be converted to AC operation. You often get them for a cheap price, for digitalists they are a helpful alternative, because he doesn't get parts like a reversing unit which he doesn't need at all. And most of that locos have a Hamo magnet instead of a field coil. So the motor is already a DC motor which is necessary for many of the newer decoder like the Esu LokPilot.

I want to turn my attention especially on this part of the conversion, the wiring is nearly the same like in the Fleischmann locos - an electronic reversing unit for analogue operation, a decoder for operation on digital layouts.

The wheelsets of Hamo locos are isolated on one side. However for AC operation we need mass contact on both sides. Exchanging the wheelset requires a lot of experience, but there's a simpler way - by using the Hamo wheel contact.

First we screw off the wheel contact and remove its pertinax base plate. Later on the pickup show will be mounted above the wheel contact. If we would keep the wheel contact's pertinax base plate there wouldn't be enough room for a pickup shoe on turnouts, and original screw wouldn't be long enough. The wheel contact is mounted on the non-driven bogie with help of a plastic part which also serves as a isolation

My lcoo had additional wheel contacts on the axles, which I connected with the other wheel contact over a short cable. If your loco doesn't have that second wheel contact, connect the wheel contact to the mass via a soldering lug at one of the two screws holding the motor shield.

Mounting the wheel contact, please pay attention to the right side! Then we put some insulation tape on the upper side of the wheel contact. Only the hole for the screw should be remain free of tape! Then we solder a connection wire to the pickup shoe an screw it above the wheel contact.

Please check out if there really isn't any contact between the pickup shoe and the wheel contact, before you start with the wiring!

Picture 1	Picture 2

Wiring is done as usual. Red or brown cables of the reversing unit are connected with the two motor connections. One of the black cables is connected with the pickup shoe, the other one with the mass. Lamps are connected via diodes with the motor connection, so that there will be a automatic light change. I don't want to convert a loco without any light change, like 40 years before.

If the motor is equipped with a field coil, you need a reversing unit or a decoder for that motor type. Or simply exchange it with a Hamo magnet.

A simple conversion, which can also be done by beginners!

Disclaimer. I can NOT be held responsible for any damage you cause by following my instructions, on modifying your model railway equipment. Everything you are doing, you are doing it at your own risk!