From: bednarek@picard.med.ge.com (Dennis Bednarek Mfg 4-6971)
Subject: Re: Help with a Lionel Transformer
Organization: GE Medical Systems, Magnetic Resonance
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 92 10:48:10 GMT

Peter Calinski (calinski@calspan.com) wrote:
: I have an old (1950's) Lionel transformer model "TW".  It seems to have 
: developed two problems.
: 
: 1 The current limit doesn't seem to work.  If you short something (eg a wheel
:   goes off the track), it delivers full current and over heats.

Pretty typical in that age.  As long as it can pump out the power it will
there probably isn't any real working over current protection just an
overtemp warning light bulb.
: 
: 2 The speed control won't reduce the voltage to zero.  It only goes down to
:   5.5 Vac or so. The transformer wiper goes all the way to the end so it isn't
:   a mechanical problem. There seems to be another wire off from the wiper that
:   is delivering the 5.5 Vac.
i
That was common on American Fliers also.  They figure thats enough to
light up the cars and still not activate the relay in the engine.
: 
: If someone has the whole answer, that would be great but in the meantime, if
: anyone can answer some of the following questions, I can start thinking about
: a solution. (A full description of the Transformer follows the questions.)
: 
: a) How do they do current limiting?  There appears to be circuit breaker type
:    devices that are temp. activated but they don't seem to work.  They stay
:    engaged even under a direct short.  There are 2 of them but neither seems
:    to be in the speed control circuit. (I can't trace the circuit without
:    drilling out some rivits. I would like to avoid that if possible.)

They were not great electronic engineers in those days.  Most units I
saw were simlpe heat activated warning lights that did nothing to the
power except light up the smoke sometimes comming out of the transformer.

: 
: b) There is an odd device. It consists of a copper colored disk held against
:    a bracket.  The bracket has a wire on it and the center of the disk is 
:    connected to the whistle switch.  What is it/What does it do?
: 
: c) What is the principle used for the whistle?  The whistle switch seems to 
:    increase the output voltage by 7 or 8 Vac. 
: 
: d) Is there anywhere I can get info on this transformer?
: 
: Thanks in advance.
: 
: DESCRIPTION OF TRANSFORMER FOLLOWS
: 
: It is labeled TYPE TW,  175 watts
: 
: It has 2 controls. One labeled "OFF 7 10 13 15 18".  The other DIRECTION to 
: the left and WHISTLE to the right.
: 
: It has a light that used to go dim if there was a short on the track.  In this
: mode, there was still a small current delivered to the load. As soon as the 
: short was removed the light went to full brightness and full power was 
: restored.
: 
: The terminals are labeled:
: 
: 
:     C   U   A    A    D    E    F
:     |       |    | 14V      14V |
:     |__18V__|    |_____25V______|
:             COMMON 
: 
: The speed voltage is between U and A.
: 
: There are 2 transformers inside.  The first has the speed control wiper on it.
: It seems to have one secondary.  One side goes through the breaker to the left
: A terminal, the other side is a bare winding that the wiper rubs on.  The top
: (highest voltage end) goes to terminal C.
: 
: The other transformer appears to provide the A,D,E,F terminals but there could
: be some connections between the two transformers. The second breaker could be 
: in this circuit.
: 
: 
: The light and DIRECTION/WHISTLE switch are tough to trace.  Three or four wires
: go down under the transformers and to that disk device.
: 
: Well that's all I can think of for now.  I haven't used this train in 5 or 6
: years.  My son is 9 now and is starting to show an interest. I would like to
: promot it.  I got this train when I was about his age.
: 
: Thanks again
: 
: calinski@calspan.com

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