Circuit Protection for Toy Trains - page 2
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Shock and
Fire Hazards with Toy Train Transformer Power The 110 V from the wall plug to the attachment inside a transformer can kill a person or a pet. (Have a bad cord replaced. Unplug cord before opening transformer. Transformer repairs should be made by an experienced technician.) Overheating due to faulty wiring or contact rollers inside a transformer with a bad interior circuit breaker can burn down your house or building. |
Test a Transformer's Circuit Protection
Test Examples
MTH Z4000 built 1999 to 2001
The Z4000 has four separate circuits
that should be tested. There are two variable voltage
circuits protected with fault sensing and a 12 amp breaker for
each circuit. There is a 10V and 14V fixed voltage circuit
with each protected by a 4 amp breaker.
Turn on the Transformer. Test each fixed voltage circuit
by shorting across the red and black contact pair. The
breaker should pop within one second. When fault is
cleared the breaker can be reset.
Test the variable voltage terminals. Turn on the
Transformer. Advance a handle to 14V. Hold the short
across the corresponding black and red contacts. The red
light will blink for 8 seconds then the interior fault sensing
will shut the voltage off. The 12 amp breaker may only
trip under overload. Shorting across the terminals does
not trip the 12 amp breakers.
| Test the Lionel 1033 breaker by shorting across the U and A terminals. Advance orange knob to full voltage. Plug in power and stand by to pull plug. The breaker should trip within 5 seconds. | Test the Lionel 1025 breaker by shorting across the two terminals. Advance knob to full voltage. Plug in power and stand by to pull plug. The breaker should trip within 5 seconds. This transformer has a bad breaker. After 5 seconds it just clicks and does not trip the breaker. |
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Test the Lionel ZW on the left and
the Lionel Z on the right.
All of the top terminals are tied to a common strip internally.
There is one 15A breaker in each transformer
Short across any good U terminal and an A, B, C, or D terminal.
Advance the corresponding A, B, C, or D knob to 14V. Plug
in power and stand by to pull plug. Breaker should trip
within 1 to 3 seconds.
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Replacement Circuit Breakers for Lionel
Postwar Transformers
Thermal Electromechanical
Momentary shorts will not trip these breakers.
Breaker Stash from
Parts Box
These were purchased from reliable toy train parts dealers in
about 2001.
Z Breaker with Spade Lugs Attached
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CA-15 9438 for Z and some ZWs with Thermostatic Material
ZW Modern Substitute
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MAXI 19115-05P 12V
F17 15A
This is a stock breaker in a custom bracket for side mounting.
Alternate ZW Modern Substitute - Bottom Mount
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Buss 22210-000 14VDC 10 A M39
This is a stock breaker in a custom bracket for bottom mounting.
Modern part numbers and sources for replacement postwar
breakers vary from month to month. Surplus sites
occasionally have breakers that will meet Lionel's postwar
requirements. An internet search may
yield breakers closer to the ratings and requirements listed
below.
The best replacement breakers are probably at Toy Train Parts
Dealers. Check with you favorite dealer or do a web search
for "Lionel Z transformer breaker" to find the Toy Train Parts
suppliers with replacements.
Ratings and Requirements for Replacement
Lionel Postwar Transformer Breakers
Breakers should be rated at a minimum of 30 Volts AC.
and a maximum of:
15 Amps for Model Z
5 Amps for Model 1033
14 Amps for Model ZW
4.5 Amps for Model 1042
8 Amps for Model VW
4 Amps for Model 1032
Breakers should be automatically operating, normally closed,
open when overheated, Type 1 (auto reset when fault is cleared), and fail
in the open position.
Note the last breakers in the above photos are rated for 10 V and 14 VDC respectively. If a replacement breaker is rated less than 30V AC it should at least be rated Heavy Duty. The amp ratings must be rated at or below Lionel's postwar requirements.
See in depth transformer information on this website - Tranz4mr’s Home Page