rookie question again.i see people wire switches seperatly.i only have 1 transformer that is safe for legacy proto engines.wouldn't it damage engines if I wired switches with an old transformers.
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No, not necessarily. As long as old transformers are in good condition, refurbished or repaired and have updated and adequate electronic protection such as fast blow fuses, circuit breakers and TVS suppressors, they should be fine.
I've owned 3 styles of switches and my experience shows that if you wire them for separate, external power that power does NOT reach the track itself.
Many transformers provide separate output terminals for 14v, which is well suited as a power source dedicated to switches on a layout. I dedicate the 14v output of a MTH Z1000 as the exclusive power source for the 11 K-Line switches on my O-gauge layout, plus several action accessories and some lighted buildings. It works for me!
BTW, I use one Lionel 135w "brick" exclusively for track power connected through a TMCC COMMAND BASE and a POWERMASTER to a trackside Direct Lockon device (for fast-acting circuit protection) and then routed to four traditional lock-ons as a buss circuit around my-shaped layout.
Mike M.
@kranky posted:i only have 1 transformer that is safe for legacy proto engines.
There is no transformer safe for "legacy proto engines", but running with a TIU is the closest you can get w/o adding your own TVS diodes as it has them on-board.
