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Fuses, circuit breakers, ...etc.

StrummerStrummerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

When I think of "fuses", I think of a little glass cylinder with metal end caps. When it fails, you can usually see the "filament" has parted or the glass is discolored or both. Remove, pop in a new one and you're good to go. However...

I've got a vintage ( pre-zip code) MRC unit that has something a little different. Still a small cylinder, but it appears to be all metal. Is this still a fuse? Or is it more like a circuit breaker that needs to be re-set? I should add here that there is no "re-set" button, just this metal thing.

Any of the more modern power packs I have (or had) typically have simply an "overload" light; you turn it off and it resets itself.

So what's the difference between the glass and the metal thingies?

Thanks!

Mark in Oregon

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illinoiscentralillinoiscentralOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

Those direction switches look like three position center off switches, which is something you would use on DC-operated model trains. One dumb Christmas break day, my brother and I figured out you could hook a DC train transformer to slot car track, and then if you spun out out the car on a curve, and hit the direction switch at just the right time, you get the car to go the other way. The direction switch was two position, and at least one was some MRC HO train transformer.

StrummerStrummerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
@illinoiscentral posted:

Those direction switches look like three position center off switches, which is something you would use on DC-operated model trains.

Well yes, that's what this is for. DC.

I suspect later the "center off" position was eliminated, as I haven't seen many/any newer power packs that have this: most directional switches are just 2 way.

FWIW, this older unit seems to have more power capacity than my newer ones; for example, this is capable of running American Flyer engines with their "universal" motors, whereas my other, newer DC packs tend to overload...

Mark in Oregon

StrummerStrummerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
@gunrunnerjohn posted:

That's definitely an oldie!   Clearly, with the labeling, it's a circuit breaker.

Indeed.  🙂

FWIW, the (probably equally old) Marold unit I posted about has this same type of protection...

With all the modern ways available nowadays to run trains (which can be intimidating), I find comfort in this old stuff. And very much like the post- war items we all love, these old units, if in good condition, seem to be just as reliable. 👍

Mark in Oregon

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