Post war ZW question?

The red bulb will not illuninate unless a short occurs. Power up the right hand throttle, with screw driver, nail, etc, short accross the "A" and a "U" binding post and see if the red light works. If so you are okay.

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The red bulb will not illuninate unless a short occurs. Power up the right hand throttle, with screw driver, nail, etc, short accross the "A" and a "U" binding post and see if the red light works. If so you are okay.

The circuit breaker has to open and a load has to be present for the bulb to light. That takes lots of amperage. If you use a nail, be certain to hold it with a pair of pliers because it will get HOT
You also want to hold it firmly against the posts, otherwise there will be lots of sparks, and burn marks on your terminal posts.

Unless you are trying out for the Darwin Awards or "1000 Ways to Die" may I respectfully suggest that the method for checking a device designed to save your life from a short circuit is NOT to place a short circuit across it?

While the low voltage and current in a ZW may not exactly qualify you for those honors, it is always best NOT to use a method on low voltage that you wouldn't ask your Momma to do with high voltage. It's just too easy to get into a bad habit.

Even at 20 volts and 10 amps, things can get hot and start flying around the room. We would be distressed to hear that you lost an eyeball, or worse (some other kind of ball) doing something foolish.

Arthur,I wont be doing anything foolish,I have been there and done that.Aint no fun.So the red light doesn't light up if there isn't any short,Dewey?That would explain it.Thought maybe I knocked a wire off.

Thank everyone
Bryan

Good man, Bryan. We all like you, and would hate to have to travel all the way to Texas to help you find your eyes or balls.

Try this link

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=671

ZW has plenty of current available to kill you. It is the voltage that is low.

Deadly voltage is 30V and above at 100mamps. I believe for a second. It is capable of stopping your heart if the path is through your arms across your chest and out another path (usually the other arm/hand).

Higher voltage, higher frequency, and even low voltage high Current DC can have an impact. The voltage actually required would be based on your body resistance and path of current flow through your body at the time of the error in judgement G

Okay Bryan,use a screwdriver to short the posts and just "power up", you don't need 20 volts to short-test a breaker. Please, so Arthur will be able to sleep nights and hold off on the fearful lectures .

I have a bunch of 8 ohm 75 watt resistors. I've build a bus with #10 wire that connects them using slip-on connectors. I just connect as many as I need to provide the desired load and fire up the transformer. I can measure the current using a clamp-on ammeter to see the current. Crank up the transformer until you get the trip current, that will tell you if the breaker is good or bad.

Thanks everyone for the help.

I sure do appreciate it.

Bryan