PowerHouse Question

Switch it's position on the ZW and see if you can duplicate the problem.

Rob -

 

Great idea, thanks -- will try shortly -- I'm embarrassed I didn't think of it!

 

I believe the brick connected to the "A" side of the ZW also controls the electronics. If that one goes it will shut down all the outputs. Rob has a good suggeston. Try switching the powerhouses between the ZW's and see if the problem moves, that should help you determine if the trouble is the powerhouse or the ZW. While you are at it, disconnect the output of the ZW to make sure there is no short you don't know about on the layout.

 

That button you press to reset the circuit breaker is only a pushbutton. The actual breaker is a small circuit buried inside the power house. I have seen these go bad in that they will trip at a lower current than they should and do not want to reset.

 

Al

Thank you, Al - this is very helpful.  I hope it's just the brick, but we'll soon see.

 

Hey Al, I too would like know about the circuit as I have a powerhouse that the circuit breaker is tripping too soon. I have it already apart so I just some guidance. Look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks.

Lionel offers no replacement parts such as the breaker for the bricks and will not supply a schematic. Pretty pathetic,they consider the brick as a unit costing $95. I had 2 breakers go bad and drilled a hole in the housing and replaced the stock breaker with a thermal one for about $2. Much slower but it protects the wire in the event of an overload.

 

Dale H

I think Cam Bickle posted a schematic of the newer (180W) brick a few years ago.

Thanks Dale

 

Lionel sure would not send me one. Lionel service has never been much help to me. Anyway they said they had no replacement parts. I could not reference the relay anywhere and I tried. Any idea what D3 and D4 are for?

 

Dale H

D3 and D4 limit the maximum voltage going into that LM324 op-amp.

That relay is a member of the Millionspot H200 family.  It appears that the company is out of business, so you'd have to come up with a replacement.  I'm guessing it's a 15A relay, and the coil would be in the 6-12 volt range since It's being fed by half-wave rectified power from the 18V winding.

Thank you John

 

Dale H

I've since determined that my problem with the PowerHouses tripping is not the bricks at all, but rather the modern ZW (vintage 2005).  

 

Inputs C and D caused 2 otherwise sound PowerHouses to trip as well, and when I put the original bricks that were tripping into inputs A and B, they worked fine.

 

I've heard that the modern ZWs had a number of early failures with circuit boards, so is it possible to replace the board (or have it replaced) to fix the problem?

 

Thanks -

 

 

I found one a couple months back at one of the on-line parts guys, don't recall which one.  It is possible to replace the board, and you might also be able to get that board repaired.

Dale Manquen repairs the modern ZW circuit boards. He is a forum member and here is his website http://www.trainfacts.com/ .

Ron

John and Ron -

 

Thank you for the information.