I am considering a Legacy Powermaster for my layout. If I use this with a Post War transformer will the breakers built in be fast enough?
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Anyone?
Fast enough for what?
Faster than postwar transformers, yes.
Fast enough to protect sensitive electronic components? No. But neither is any other circuit breaker. The breakers are to protect the power supplies and wiring to the track.
I'd have some decent circuit protection between the PW transformer and the Legacy PowerMaster, but the Legacy PM breaker is sufficient to protect the output circuit. As Rob says, nothing can totally protect all the electronics, because it's not just excessive current that causes issues, it's voltage spikes, overloaded components, etc.
Circuit protection is just trying to do the best job you can in protecting the circuits and train components, nothing is absolute.
The new Legacy Powermasters have advanced electronics that also employ a foldback circuit to protect electronics. My experience with my Legacy Powermasters is that the protection circuitry is lightning fast, and much much faster than the circuit breakers on transformers.
If your running modern trains, dump the postwar transformer for something with better protection. If your running command Lionels bricks will pop the breaker faster than anything on the planet.
I don't now how the powermaster breaker compares with a TPC unit breaker. My TPC unit has never popped the breaker but my brick always does.
I think all too often folks are frying things by powering their layout with postwar transformers. I'd be wiiling to bet a good number of "fried board" posts here are for this very reason.
I get the popularity and reliability for that matter but these are best saved for accessories, not $1000 locomotives.
I think a postwar transformer signifigantly raises the risk of serious damage.
