I left my RW transformer on with the overload light on for at least a half hour (accidently of course). Any ideas on whether I should continue to use it or buy another.
[#welcome] wm734.
First things first. Does you transformer still work?
Jack
I don’t know yet, but I know that the circuit breaker was fried. It smelled like burnt rubber in there. And just so you know, I’m not new to the hobby by any means.
Simply not worth the risk of a fire in my book. Safety first.
Some on this forum are expert enough to service their own transformers while others pay to have it done. You may want to sit tight for an answer because the experienced theoretical and practical electrical knowledge, and specifically as it pertains to transformers, is resident on this forum.
Someone will surely advise you and will also probably come up with a recommended stop gap measure to prevent a repeat performance.
Your situation is not as uncommon as you may think. My granddaughter has managed to derail the Christmas train in the living room while I ran out to the kitchen to fetch a brewskie. After getting distracted by my wife with something far less important than the beverage, playing with my granddaughter, or running trains, a light bulb went off when I realized I could not hear the train running. Not 30 minutes worth of interruption, but…
Jack
So I shouldn’t continue to use it? Honestly I think I’ll just get the circuit breaker repaired or replaced. If possible…
I agree with just replacing the circuit breaker, but I would take a good look inside the transformer to find the source of the burning smell. Once the circuit breaker trips, the load on the transformer drops to near zero. The only load would be the red light that shows the circuit breaker tripped. Some circuit breakers take a long time to reset and 1/2 hour may well be a normal resetting time for that circuit breaker. If the overload is still present, the circuit breaker will just trip again and continue the cycle.
Earl
After the half hour, and I finally turned it off, it was extremely hot. Was that a result of the breaker, or the actual transformer. Also, I could actually hear something inside the transformer as the light was flashing.
UPDATE: Since that last post, I tested the transformer and so far it’s working good. I even tested the circuit breaker, and it still works. So hopefully I solved my own problem…
If the transformer was “extremely hot”, I would replace the circuit breaker. It should trip well before the transformer heats up much.
Earl
If the transformer is properly designed, the circuit breaker should trip when the windings and wiring inside are not quite as hot as they can stand to be without damage, which might be rather hot. But the fact that you smelled something that suggested burning is a hint that it might have come too close to the edge, either because the internal wiring was too light or the circuit breaker set to too high a trip current. So you might just look inside to see whether anything is crispy in there.
As a minimum, you need to open up the transformer and inspect the windings. If they are not their usually bright shiny color, and look or smell burned, the transformer should not be used. You are risking a fire if you get a prolonged overload. As Bob Nelson say, the breaker should have protected the winding, but should have and did are not the same. It should be easy enough to open the transformer and inspect the windings. Then you are not guessing anymore.
Bruce Baker
I haven’t had an RW apart, but I believe it is very easy to open it up. Four screws in the bottom should do it. Takie the control handle off first using a couple of screwdrivers to gently pry it off.
Bruce Baker
Dorian,
The advice that Bruce posted is spot on. I’d replace the circuit breaker even if it appears to be working because these breakers tend to lose their calibration when they overheat. The breaker can be replaced with a Buss 10 amp self-resetting breaker found at most auto parts stores. Get a fuse holder as well to make installation easier. I’ve restored two RWs, and I replaced the circuit breaker in one of them using the Buss breaker, and it works great.
On to the windings. Except for the bare portion where the contact arm rides, the windings in an RW should be a maroon color. An electrical smell is normal as well. If there is a strong sour odor, that is a sign that the insulating varnish has been compromised. I doubt that your RW reached that point though. It is normal for the case to heat up as well if the transformer remains shorted for an extended period. In the RW and others like it, there is very little room inside the metal case, so the heat builds as the breaker cycles.
Thank you guys, for all the help and support. Honestly, I’m just gonna buy a new transformer.