postwar zw needs help

trainfeverOGR Forum Member

So ive spent all month setting up my Christmas layout and all this week wiring 20 some plasticville buildings. I have three independant loops. All lights are controlled by a 1033, one loop is controlled by a 1034 and the final two loops are controlled by the A and D throttles on my ZW. Everything is using a common ground and all transformers are phased. Tested everything on Christmas eve and everything ran fine but when I woke up christmas morning the ZWs red light would come on as soon as I opened up either A or d throttle. I disconnected the ZW and jumped the terminals and the red light came on immediately. I took the cover off to inspect the circuit breaker and I can see a gap in the contacts. Is the normal position for the breaker to be open or closed? I thought the normal position is open and when it is closed its copletes the circuit to light the red lamp? Do I have my thoughts backwards? If this CB is bad, what is the best replacement? thanks in advance

12/26/124:55 PM

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YardmasterOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I disconnected the ZW and jumped the terminals and the red light came on immediately.

What terminals did you jump out?

Does the red light come on when you have nothing connected to any of the posts?

12/26/125:15 PM

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trainfeverOGR Forum Member

I jumped all 4 terminals with the "U" terminal. The red light is not on until I jump the terminals with the throttle opened up.

12/26/125:27 PM

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YardmasterOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

The red light will only come on when there is a short and the circuit breaker is tripped.

Are you able to check voltage with a voltmeter and see if you have proper voltage on all 4 separate posts.

If the voltages check out you may have a weak breaker and these will trip out with very little amp draw on them. You can replace it with a 15 amp circuit breaker found at the auto stores. Just make sure you attach it some where that it does move and the wires don't short out.

12/26/125:43 PM

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C W BurfleOGR Forum Member

There should not be any gap between the circuit breaker's contacts when it is "at rest". The red light is wired across those contacts so it lights when they are open.

Were the transformer mine, I'd buy a replacement from one of the parts dealers.

Since you can see the contacts, I am guessing you have a model "R", and will need a circuit breaker #ZW-232. Older ZW transformers had the circuit breaker inclosed in a plastic case.

12/26/125:54 PM

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