I have a Lionel 180W power brick powering my inside loop of track. And a Z4000 powering the yard. When I bring a train out of the yard or into the yard the breaker on the 180W trips. The other engines start up by them selves but only the steam engines that are in the yard.
Any idea?
It wasnt doing this the last time I ran the layout.
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All is run with a DCS SYSTEM and the center rail is gapped.
Maybe the "brick" is out of phase with the Z4000.
Search on YouTube for the Lionel phasing video. Easy, entertaining, and applies to any ac transformers used together.
"It wasnt doing this the last time I ran the layout. "
The last time you ran the layout, did you have the power cords of the the two supplies plugged into the receptacles the same way?
Take all the trains off the tracks. Take your voltmeter and set both track sections at the same voltage. Then use the voltmeter to measure the voltage between the two third (power) rails. If your reading is close to zero, the transformers are in phase. If the reading is twice the individual voltage, then the transformers are out of phase.
If out of phase, reverse the power cord on one supply. Take another measurement between the third rails. Let us know your results.
He's right, its that simple. But if you watch the Lionel video, you may understand what your doing too. Even changing an outlet can change the phase.
And near zero isn't always what you see. An AF and a Marx I have give 8 volts in phase at around a 15v setting. Out of phase its about 22v.
Fyi, Some transformers were assembled by Lionel out of phase to the cords plug's fat side. I think a brick and a CW80.
On yours the breaker tripping should be nearly instant as the breaker is electronic vs thermal.
Could you clear up how the engines in the yard are reacting in case phase isn't at fault. Something might be triggering a reset into conventional mode too, but so far the approach is old school.
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