TMCC Powermaster Need Help finding a fuse.

If it is glass with metal ends, about one inch long, any auto parts store should have them.

I have tried 2 autoparts stores, home depot and Lowes. I thought I found them at Lowes but they were 2 long and big. Thanks for your response.

David

What I did with that was cut out that fuse holder. Buy a inline fuse holder and a 8 amp. fuse from the auto part store and put that into the line. That way you can buy regular fuses at the auto parts store. Been using this setup for many years no problem.

Automotive fuses are 32 volt fuses. When/if they blow, they can fracture in the holder and it is not guaranteed that they will completely open the circuit when used at higher voltages. David needs a 250 volt fuse that will withstand the voltage if it blows. It also sounds like it is a slo-blow fuse. Automotive fuses are generally all fast-blow. An electronics store would be the place to get it or Digikey or Mouser on line. Maybe All Electronics too.

Also wondering why it blew.

Well, I searched it and found this: MDL-8

 

Also wondering why it blew...

 

Edit: here's DigiKey a lot cheaper

http://www.digikey.com/product...R/283-2755-ND/954335

 

is it 1 1/4" long or shorter?

Thanks for your replies.  I not sure why it blew but when i took out the old fuse and put in another fuse from my second pm it worked fine. I will try the company's you were talking about. It is a small fuse. Thanks, David

That works. Digikey has 1st class postage option so shipping would only be a couple dollars. Where's Radio Shack when you need them?

Ah good to know about the auto part's fuse. I was going to say Radio Shack boy I miss them already.

Before you drive yourself crazy, North Lima Train Works has them in stock under the original Lionel part number: 6SP-2893-095. They're $1 apiece.

 

TRW

 

Since the PowerMaster is running on 18 volts input power, why does he need a 250 volt fuse?

I didn't remember if it was on the output or input and he said he blew the 250 fuse, so I figured 250 would be safer to recommend as a replacement...

The PowerMaster never sees anything but 18 volts or less, the PowerHouse transformer is the one that would see power line voltage.

 

I wish Lionel had not made those names so confusing.

 

Also wondering why it blew...

 

I had several of these Powermasters and sold them with a Command set. They were all working when I took them out. One fellow who bought a set emailed me that I sent him one with a blown fuse, I think these can be damaged in handling of the unit. imho

Ray

Sometimes.... I wish that Lionel hadn't made any of this TMCC equipment.. I sometimes wonder by these posts ( and by personal experience),if we don't spend more time diagnosing what's wrong rather than enjoying running.....

Boy I could not disagree more with you on this, I, we high railers and toy train guys in the Badgerland club never had more fun than we have now using TMCC and Legacy. We have had some glitches but for the most part, after a learning curve, the systems are pretty much trouble free. If you consider the number of people out there using TMCC/ Legacy the problems become a small part of the total picture. I am going to add a link to this post, you would never do this with only transformer operated trains. Yes there are some drawbacks but the fun far outweighs the bad.

Ray

 

https://youtu.be/K1nEZ4ALW5Q

I guess it's just me then. Their smoke units leave a lot to be desired, and yes, I'm one that believes in using the smoke unit. If they're not going to smoke, then don't put them on.  AND if they're going to put them on, then they need to work as advertised... Not smoke for a few days and then quit. I understand that you have to add fluid and that sort of thing, but it seems to me that they are not very dependable.

 

 

I don't have any more issues with smoke from Lionel than from MTH, other than the run of bad smoke motors Lionel had recently.  Being the designer of the Super-Chuffer, it should be obvious that I'm a smoke fan.  MTH smoke units have traditionally had better smoke output, but most of the newer Legacy stuff generates plenty of smoke.

 

Well, must be time for me to buy newer stuff then. I'm stuck on these early 98-99 units that are upgradable in terms of TMCC & R.S , although I did buy a newer Mikado Jr. that was TMCC equipped that did really well for a few days and then... Poof, just quit smoking. I mean, the little starter 4-4-2's put out "boo-koo"'s,(sl) of smoke. I'm not even concerned with the amount , just the dependability of them.

I think if you look at newer Legacy stuff, smoke output will not be a factor.  I have to say, any locomotive will potentially need maintenance of the smoke unit on a regular basis if you use it, nature of the beast.

 

I don't know about this statement.  To many even recent Lionel engines flashing code or requiring a fan motor change.

 

That is rare for MTH.  I have seen PS-1 engines still smoking on original parts.

 

The MTH fan only needs to be chanced after it is submerged in smoke fluid, or really really used.  G

Like I said, the run of bad motors is the exception.

Considering how many times the smoke fans have gone out of stock, I think we are beyond one bad run.  G

I thought it was more the somewhat higher current due to rotor alignment...or maybe bearing friction. Seems like some (or most would) get fixed by causing them to"run in".

A major difference is the MTH boards don't attempt to sense the current drawn by the smoke motor, so if the motor was drawing excessive current, the first clue is something stops working.  I took a motor out of an MTH locomotive recently that was drawing almost 200ma, the clue was it started making noise.  The locomotive was still running and smoking, it didn't seem to mind the bad motor.  With the Legacy sensing circuit, that motor would have been flagged bad long before this time.

 

A number of the motors that were flagged bad by the Legacy seemed to be fine on the bench when I tested them.  There were also a couple that drew excessive current, so clearly bad.  It's possible the Legacy circuit is being a bit too critical of what a bad motor looks like.

 

As Jon has stated the over current can damage the board and require replacement.  Since MTH could be repaired at component level it wasn't as critical.

When MTH fans go south bad, the engine will start acting erratic.  The FET is still ok, but it plays havoc with the 5V DC and the board lets you know. 

 

It still seems interesting to me since these motors can't be that different in manufacturing, but Lionel units are still sensitive to the over current/noise.  G

It may be that they're just being more critical of what "bad" means.  I have 14 Legacy locomotives, I've replaced the motors in two of them.  The motors in the U-Boats actually quieted down and have never flashed an error, so I never bothered them.