Transformer Phasing again?

Forget about the ZW for a moment. You only want to power the the signal system with your 1033. It makes no difference to the the signal which of your transformer posts are attached to common as long as you have a complete circuit. So either way will work. You can wire either A or U post to your layout common.

Phasing is an issue when an engine can receive power from 2 different transformers simultaneously. In this case your engine can only get power from your ZW. It can't get power from your 1033 because the 1033 is only using one leg of the circuit i.e. the layout common. In the same vein, your signal can't receive power from your ZW because it's not a complete circuit.

Dan, if you would like the phasing information, this article with photos may be helpful.

http://www.slsprr.net/technical/phasing.htm

Diesel Dan,

Ms. Deats is right on the money. To save yourself time later on, print out the article.

Hi Susan, I have been phasing transformers for more years then I would like to mention but that procedure you linked us to is probably the best I have seen. Simple  and to the point and the Lionel transformer value chart is a pluss for a number of things.

Thank You Susan and thank you SSPRR, good stuff.

Another thing to consider is to be sure that all transformers are plugged into the same phase 120 volt power. One way to do this is to plug all of the transformers into a power strip. Most houses have two phase power into the house. Generaly one half of the house is wired to one phase and the other half is wired to the other phase. I have run into cases where two electric outlets in the same room are not the same phase. This happens more often when additions are made and additional electric outlets are installed.

If 2 or more transformers just share a common phasing is not an issue,as Dennis said. If they are in parallel there are more issues than just the phasing issue. If they are set at different potentials,damage could occur to the lower set one which is not breaker protected.

David,

If a house is properly wired the outlets in a given room should not have opposite phased outlets if up to code in most places. However your point is well taken.

Dale H

I had one transformer out-of-phase with the other two so I made a "phase-reverser" which basically X-ed the two wires (not the ground) for the one which was out of phase, which then put the out-of-phase transformer in phase with the other two.  Been working great for a couple of years now.

Thanks to all for the information and links.

I have linked the ZW "U" post and the 1033 "A" post together as this is the path the signal system gets it ground.

The signal system itself is powered by the 1033 "B" and "U" terminal up to 11 volts.

It is all woking nicely.

Dan