Lionel Transformer " BOOSTERS "

I'll let a lot of stuff slide. I figure hey, your layout, your trains, your risk.

Hands down, what the heck is this nonsense? At some point, no, just flat out no.

Let me count the ways this is really bad!  First off, you're paralleling all the outputs of a ZW, that's a giant NO NO!  Unless the handles are all EXACTLY on the same winding of the transformer, huge currents can flow and quickly destroy the transformer core!  The same caution exists for the KW next to it.  There is no circuit protection for paralleling two or more outputs of a PW transformer!

If you really want to keep the voltage close to 18 volts, consider using a better wiring scheme and using heavier bus wire.  Also, break the 300 foot loop into power districts and locate transformers closer to the track it powers.

I most CERTAINLY would not leave that kludge in there, that's got disaster written all over it!

Been doing this for YEARS !! All of "power-districts" are wired back to a Fuse-Block with 10amp Fast-Blow fuse. Even if a paper clip were to fall on the rails, the fuse will blow. Complete Protection !!

When either my Train Bldg burns down, or my Locomotives, Melt-down to the rails, then I'll AGREE with you guys ! Until then, I have a 16 x 36 ft Layout that measures 18v. EVERYWHERE !!

Sniff, Sniff.. I smell plastic Burning, or is that my Train Bldg !! Haa, Haa

@Joe Cassiday Jr posted:

Been doing this for YEARS !! All of "power-districts" are wired back to a Fuse-Block with 10amp Fast-Blow fuse. Even if a paper clip were to fall on the rails, the fuse will blow. Complete Protection !!

I know people that have driven for years and never wear a seatbelt, that doesn't mean it's a good idea.  I'm here today because I was wearing a seatbelt many years ago!

Let's discuss the situation at hand.  Here's a ZW internal wiring.  Look in the little yellow box.  If you connect any of the A,B,C,D terminals together with no fusing at the transformer, unlimited current can flow between the two terminals through the transformer secondary.  That's not conjecture, that's fact!  If either the roller at #8 or #12 aren't on the exact came position on the coil, you have a directly shorted secondary coil.  There is NO circuit protection that you describe that is going to change that fact unless you fuse the A,B,C,D terminals BEFORE you parallel them.

This will be my last word on the topic since you seem hard-over on the fact that you couldn't possibly be wrong.

Oh, I could be WRONG ! Didn't say anything about it being right. Just saying, IT WORKS !!  Sometimes I " PAY " for " Flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants " But, MOST of the time... No ! I don't care about being right, I care about making it WORK !!

How do you explain , that what I've done here, has been working for YEARS ?

Might Add a couple more Transformers.

Gee, when I turn-on my layout, I notice that the neighbors lights, " Flicker." Could it be all those Transformers I have ? Maybe I need to call Ohio Edison, to install a BIGGER Transformer, on the Pole !!

Nice Schematic !! Too bad, I don't understand it !

@Joe Cassiday Jr posted:

Oh, I could be WRONG ! Didn't say anything about it being right. Just saying, IT WORKS !!  Sometimes I " PAY " for " Flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants " But, MOST of the time... No ! I don't care about being right, I care about making it WORK !!

I will backup what John said, the way you have those transformers wired is super scary.  That's a meltdown awaiting to happen.  Almost as bad as sticking a penny in a fuse socket.  May work for a little bit but the house will burn down sooner or later.

The Hindenburg worked great, too ...... until it didn't.

Joe,

when gunrunnerjohn, a man with years of electrical/electronic experience, tells you that the way you have your transformers wired is wrong - listen to him!

Side Rod

@Joe Cassiday Jr posted:

Might Add a couple more Transformers.

Gee, I'm breaking my own word here, I wasn't going to comment again.

What you fail to grasp is you can put a dozen transformers paralleled in that one location, but unless you change the wiring to the tracks, the voltage drops will still be there.  If you have three hundred feet of track, my guess is you have some fairly long runs of wire to the track drops.

Let's use an example.

If  you have 18 volts at the transformers, and 40 foot of #14 wire to the power drop at the track, and 10 amps of current in the circuit.

This line voltage drop will not vary no matter how many transformers you parallel.  There is some additional voltage drop within the transformer with higher currents.

Change that 40 foot of wire to #10 wire and the picture changes, now the drop is only 40% of the previous value.

Note that change is JUST because of voltage drop in the wiring, this calculation has NOTHING to do with what's happening inside the transformer.

WOW!….

Pat

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Gee, I'm breaking my own word here, I wasn't going to comment again.

What you fail to grasp is you can put a dozen transformers paralleled in that one location, but unless you change the wiring to the tracks, the voltage drops will still be there.  If you have three hundred feet of track, my guess is you have some fairly long runs of wire to the track drops.

Let's use an example.

If  you have 18 volts at the transformers, and 40 foot of #14 wire to the power drop at the track, and 10 amps of current in the circuit.

This line voltage drop will not vary no matter how many transformers you parallel.  There is some additional voltage drop within the transformer with higher currents.

Change that 40 foot of wire to #10 wire and the picture changes, now the drop is only 40% of the previous value.

Note that change is JUST because of voltage drop in the wiring, this calculation has NOTHING to do with what's happening inside the transformer.

You have a lot more patience than me………..lol

Joe, as I tried to tell you yesterday (you were in a hurry for me to hang the phone up) you need to be posting these topics about your layout in the layout thread you established days ago.  I am closing this one as several members that are electrical experts have given you some good advice.  Please post your layout topics in your layout thread from this point.  Thanks.