OK, . . .  but I don't understand what you are doing or why you are doing it.  :-)

And, you have placed this box outside, right next to your hose and faucet.  :-)

Stand in a shallow puddle and fool with live electrical lines and plugs?  Not me!

Mannyrock

@Mannyrock posted:

OK, . . .  but I don't understand what you are doing or why you are doing it.  :-)

And, you have placed this box outside, right next to your hose and faucet.  :-)

Stand in a shallow puddle and fool with live electrical lines and plugs?  Not me!

Mannyrock

Uh, I explained what it’s doing in my post. Uh, what makes you think I would stand barefoot in a puddle of water and stick a fork into a receptacle?  Because that’s the only way someone could be shocked there. Have you ever heard of GFCI protected receptacles, because by code any receptacle outside or in your garage for that matter have to be Ground Fault circuit Interrupting.

@obxtrainman posted:

Uh, I explained what it’s doing in my post. Uh, what makes you think I would stand barefoot in a puddle of water and stick a fork into a receptacle?  Because that’s the only way someone could be shocked there. Have you ever heard of GFCI protected receptacles, because by code any receptacle outside or in your garage for that matter have to be Ground Fault circuit Interrupting.

Shocking! Well said, I use a military PureDC adjustable power supply I purchased years ago at supply house in Freeport LI, for control an aristo-craft remote system for LGB. Used it is still available:

Aristo-Craft 5473 Walk-Around 10 Channel DC Train Engineer Remote Control

To each his own.  I am fully familiar with GFI receptacles, and after about 4 or 5 years, many of them no longer work.

You can of course install a GFI breaker in your breaker box, but those are really sensitive and flip off a lot for no apparent reason, including just a mild surge from a power tool.

Barefoot? Nope, you don't have to be barefoot.  (Who told you that?)  I'm willing to bet that the overwhelming number of people who are electrocuted to death are fully shod.

Just some things to watch out for.

Mannyrock

I think what he was asking is why do your buildings and signal bridge need to be put on a timer ?

Just curious - wouldn't a simple layout mounted toggle switch or something similar work ?

@Richie C. posted:

I think what he was asking is why do your buildings and signal bridge need to be put on a timer ?

Just curious - wouldn't a simple layout mounted toggle switch or something similar work ?

I put them on a timer so that they come on at dusk and go off after a couple of hours. The accessories are on a dedicated transformer. Why, because it’s cool😜. I only run the trains when I’m out there to watch them. This way my accessories can come on every night and maybe bring joy to passers by.

Got it - thanks for clarifying.

Bringing joy to passers-by is always cool .

I thought everyone had a timer on their transformers.  I had to install one on my layout plugins to keep from leaving the layout on, over night or even days, even though I have small pilot indicator lights to indicate they were powered up.  The layout is upstairs, out of the way,

It was easier to add a plug in Christmas tree light timer I already had than to change the pilot lights out to bigger, brighter ones.  My timer gives a choice of 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours or ON.

Charlie

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

I thought everyone had a timer on their transformers.  I had to install one on my layout plugins to keep from leaving the layout on, even though I have pilot indicator lights to indicate they were powered up.  My timer gives a choice of 2 hours, 4 hours or ON.

Charlie

Nope... those "pilot indicator lights" are there for a reason, and are enough for me.

Mark in Oregon

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

I thought everyone had a timer on their transformers.  I had to install one on my layout plugins to keep from leaving the layout on, even though I have pilot indicator lights to indicate they were powered up.  My timer gives a choice of 2 hours, 4 hours or ON.

I have a big "pilot light" that tells me the master switch is still on for the layout.  If that is off, everything is off.

I use home automation so yes, I have a timer however, I also use voice control when I leave the room.

@obxtrainman posted:

I put them on a timer so that they come on at dusk and go off after a couple of hours. The accessories are on a dedicated transformer. Why, because it’s cool😜. I only run the trains when I’m out there to watch them. This way my accessories can come on every night and maybe bring joy to passers by.

I think that's such a cool outdoor layout obxtrainman.

Brad

I don't have a timer.  The last thing I do when I leave the layout is to turn off the basement lights.  If all of the lanterns on my switches are still glowing red or green, I know that I left the power on.  Only happened once.  :-)

Mannyrock

@Mannyrock posted:

I don't have a timer.  The last thing I do when I leave the layout is to turn off the basement lights.  If all of the lanterns on my switches are still glowing red or green, I know that I left the power on.  Only happened once.  :-)

Mannyrock

Manny, I appreciate your concern for my safety with your initial reply. I’m starting to think that you are not aware that this particular layout is a Garden Railroad that is outside. It’s basically a big yard ornament. The tiny grain of wheat bulbs  illuminating my buildings cannot be seen during daylight hours. As tiny as they are, they can been seen by the neighbors from the street as they drive by at night. Approximately 75 feet from layout to street. There are several small children that live on the street, as well as several “older children” such as myself😜 that might take joy in seeing the lights shining through the small building windows as they pass down the street, of which is a cull de sac. Not sure how to spell that. I’ve been a licensed electrical contractor in one of the hardest states there is to get a license for over over 20 years. Trust me, no one will get electrocuted with my setup.
OBX

@Mannyrock posted:

I don't have a timer.  The last thing I do when I leave the layout is to turn off the basement lights.  If all of the lanterns on my switches are still glowing red or green, I know that I left the power on.  Only happened once.  :-)

Mannyrock

Same here ... when the playroom lights go off, if anything's glowing besides the Legacy base, then I've forgotten to turn something off - hasn't happened yet, but when I get to the point where I start forgetting to turn the layout off, it may be time to call Stout.  

My Christmas tree light timer did not cost as I already had it and it might be used for two weeks a year for Christmas lights.  Installation was just plugging it in.  It has solved the problem I had with my layout and location allowing me to accidentally leaving the layout on a time or two.  Peace of mind is priceless.

Charlie

My layout is controlled by the room's light switch.  If the lights are out then all power to the layout is off.

If lights are on,  then the layout can be switched on via fused outlets controlled by the room light switch.

OBXTrainman.....great idea and fun entertainment for the neighbors. Joe

Have a kobalt power strip 5 outlet plus usb outlet attached to layout above transformers and Tiu no more crawling under table to plug in cords.

Just flip switch on to power everything then adjust Main ZW handle to volts needed for running the trains and other ZW is preset for the lights bubbling towers and such.

When done having fun main ZW is powered down and power strip is turned off

Here are the specs for anyone interested this is used on small 4x8 2 loop dcs layout.

• 5 Amp-125 Volt-1875W

• 2100 Joules for surge protection

• 8ft.-14-gauge black and blue kink-free indoor cord provides maximum flexibility and durability

• 3.1A-Watt USB power to fast-charge a tablet and smart phone at the same time

• Lighted on/off switch with re-settable circuit breaker protects against overloads

• Heavy duty rubber jacket and engineered polycarbonate body for impact resistance

• Hinged outlet covers with easy open grips

• Protected and grounded indicator lights

• 300,000 Dollars equipment warranty and lifetime warranty.

• Cost was about 31.00 when purchased new.