AF # 30B Transformer

Bill,
We had one of those on our AF set when we were kids it was just as loud then.
It's still up at my moms in a box. I don't think there was much concern about "Quiet" technology back then . It was more "Get er done" technology LOL.

David

Buzzing can mean it is a transformer that was abused in the past and has been overheated OR it can simply be caused by the vibration of an internal component. They are easy to disassemble. Does it seem to run "hotter" than it should? Also the AF #22090 was actually the largest at 350 watts.

Many transformers hum, some a lot louder than others.  Unless it's overheating, I suspect it's simply normal.

 

You can, at times, quiet them by shimming either the mount or the coil on the core if it's loose.

Like Lionel transformers the 30B has several designs with at least 2 different cores. The older core has wood wedges driven in to tighten up the layers. Open it up and see if anything is loose. I would direct you to my 30B repair page but my site is down while I transfer to a new host.

Check my site tomorrow at www.tranz4mr.com

It's simple .They Hum because they don't know the words to the song just like me.

David

FlyerRich: you are right - mine is the 22090 at 350 watts.  My memory ain't what it used to be.  The hum is so loud I never used it on the layout, so don't know if it gets hot or not.  All I did was test voltage output, which was within specs.  I wanted to use this for my Flyer layout, but used a ZW in stead.  The ZW also hums, but at least one can carry on a conversation with it on and not have train sound drowned out.

 

Bill

I'd open it up and make sure it's not getting hot first.  If, as I suspect, it's just a loose core/lamination, you can use the wooden wedges mentioned above to kill the hum.

My website is back up after much frustration .....
www.tranz4mr.com

To repeat, my transformer is the 22090, NOT the 30B as I mistakenly posted earlier.  I took the bottom off and found two fairly large coils with little else visible, except something that looks like contact points under the coils.  Also, could not find anything that seemed loose.  And there is nothing that looks like wedges in there.

 

I was surprised to find the inside quite clean and very few visible parts.

 

So, if wedges are still recommended, please advise just where to put them.

 

Thanks

 

Bill

The wedges go between the coil and the core.  Perhaps some pictures would help us.

The wedges go on the bottom between the metal core and the coil. One from the front and 1 from the back. below are 3 photos from 2 different coils. These are original from the factory

 

 

And now we have pictures!

If you can localize the buzzing to loose laminations, you can apply some Crazy Glue that will wick into the gap.

these flyer transformers with the dead man handle and volt meters have a very serious cool factor to them.

 

steve

I can see the factory instructions. 

 

"Remove a correctly sized wooden wedge and pound it into the transformer".

Steve, my model does not have dead man handles.  There are simply two dial-type red pointers used to vary the track voltage.

 

Bill

Kent, I was going to take some pictures of the inside of my model, but have decided to sell the unit via consignment at my local hobby shop today.  The inside of my model looks nothing like your pictures.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Bill