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Reply to "Power supply question"

The ZW should be looked at inside, but is very usable most likely. Tons of folks use the exact combo here.

You just want to use a TVS here and there, and maybe fuse the lines or use a better breaker to help protect your modern trains better. (tvs and fuses are very cheap insurance, breakers more convenient than fuses, possibly cheaper long term. A tvs is mainly what saves boards (transient voltage suppression) by diverting volt spikes. Overvoltage from carpet static has the potential to wipe out electronics, but we worry mostly about derailments and high volt( even if low amp) surges that can happen.

Unplug the ZW. Now you are safe from shock. Remove the four screws on top. Lift top. Inspect the two arms for heat discoloration. At the end of each arm is a roller that ROLLS, it shouldn't slide at at all. Now look at the windings the rollers sit on. They are slightly flat, but look close for wear or sawing if the roller is broke.  Most parts are fairly easy to swap.

Every knick or loss of metal from any wire decreases it's amp ability.  Slight sawing/wear is ok, but your output is diminished some and should have a smaller breaker/fuse installed if bad or if you just like overkill.

Look for wire fray, cooked insulation, bad solder, etc.  

Once done do a breaker check by wiring U to ABC or D giving it power and counting to see how long it takes to trip the breaker. (a warm unit trips sooner than a warm one)  If it takes more than 12seconds , replace the breaker.

You can speed how fast a good ZW breaker trips by wrapping the feed wire to it around the breaker body once or twice. This will warm it faster when a short occurs. (done by Lionel for VW/KW using the same part # on lower watt units)

Clean up in there

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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