Being electrically impaired I am trying to understand this setup . When a short circuit happens on the tracks won’t it come back from the track to the TIU before it gets to the fuse ?
HI Rozy,
Yes it will but the heat is being generated and coming from the transformer.
tom
rozy, you good at soldering? If so, order the OGR video on making a fast acting circuit breaker box. Build it and then put it between the transformer and the TIU. The circuit breakers trip, you clear source of short and reset. If you need help, send me an email.
CE
I just searched the video listings on the OGR video store page.
Which OGR video no. has the circuit breaker?
thanks
Alan
Jim Barrett in the BAckshop Volume 8. Build a Fast Acting Circuit Breaker Box/ Repairing the Gears on the New Lionel ZW Transformer/ Modify Your TMCC Cable to Use With The MTH DCS System/ Add More Pwoer Pick Ups to the K-Line B6 Steam Loco I checked the other day for an older one. I wonder if they start numbring over. Got this one during the spring of 04.
Alan, answered your email and it came back undeliverable. Must have changed email address since you updated your profile.
CE
forgot that .attbi.com is no longer working with comcast
it is changed now
thanks again
Alan
You can order the breaker and box from Scott’s odd-n-ends, but you still have to do the wiring to it.
http://www.scottsodds-n-ends.com/circuit_breakers.htm
tom
Thanks for the replies on this topic, I am still not sure if I understand the concept but I am definetly a believer. I had short circuit & it blew the fuse and the TIU is fine. Is there much to wiring a circuit breaker box like you guys are recommending ?
Not really, the breaker is in a neat looking box and takes the place of the fuse.
Tom, if it comes with the banana plug inlets, it may be cheaper to order the box from Scott. Neat looking thing. I may get one of each of my bigger Post War transformers. Building the one I have was not hard but this one looks really neat.
Ok help me out here. I have a postwar zw and a tpc300. Do I wire scotts surge protecter and breaker between the zw and the tpc or between the tpc and the track?
I have mine [as instructions show] between the transformer [heat source] and the TIU [for DCS]. Mine works so great for derailments, I think I want one for all transformers as a safety precaution for all uses.
The recommendation is between the Transformer and the TUI or TCP, as Chief has stated
tom
Hi all,
Maybe this has been discussed ad nauseum before, but I’m new to DCS (3 weeks) so I’ll ask: if protecting the TIU is so critical, why doesn’t MTH put a fast-acting breaker or fuse holder right inside and save us this trouble? It wouldn’t add much to the cost. It can’t be because MTH thinks no one will use a vintage power source - this thread shows clearly that some of us (probably many, myself included) do.
Just wondering…
Joel
Hi Joel,
This is a very good point. I would have to say, its cost. This item is only need if you are using an older power supply, like a post war ZW. A new Z4000 or the like does not need it.
Also it might be nice if MTH or someone else would sell one already wired – ready to go.
tom
Spankybird & Chiefeagles thanks for the info on the breaker boxes. I checked Scotts web site. They are showing a single and a double. I am using the A side of the KW now & will be using the B side shortly, probably should order the double ?
Yes. I have a box that has 4 [guess I could power all 4 channels of my TIU through that one box]. OH, on the other two soft keys. One is crew talk and the other is tower talk. Just ma***hem and listen.
Chief Eagles thanks again, I’m glad you mentioned the 4-way box. I think thats the way to go & I’ll be covered for expansion.