Regarding a Lionel KW. When replacing the power cord with a modern lamp cord with polarized plugs, does it matter which core lead the wide blade of the plug is connected to? I doubt I'll ever have to worry about phasing this pack with another by the way.
Same me, different spelling!
PS I've watched several YouTube videos concerning disassembly, servicing and cord replacement, but none of them say anything about polarized plugs.
It's not widely known that zip cord (which I assume you're planning to use) is itself polarized. It has a little ridge that is easier to feel than to see, cast into the insulation over the "identified" conductor. That is the conductor that would be grounded and would be white in a cable with distinct black and white wires. So I would connect that wire to the wide plug blade.
That being said, it won't matter to the functioning of the transformer which wire is which at the transformer end. Nevertheless, you might help some future repairman not to get confused by wiring the plug the way I described. (In my experience, that repairman is likely to be me, not remembering how I did something years ago!)
Bob Nelson
Generic "Hyper Tough" 8 foot replacement lamp cord I bought at Walmart. 18 gauge, "for use with bulbs not exceeding 300W" is all the packaging says. The conductor with the flanged prong is ribbed.
Since the KW predates polarized plugs by several years I figured I was OK. But considering how much effort it's going to take just to get inside the unit I figured I should check first. And to tell the truth I was hoping you would respond!
Getting inside a KW's not as hard as you might think. First, get a firm grip on the control handles one at a time and lift straight up to remove them. Then remove the screws on the top of the KW to lift off the cover.
Years back I had to replace the cord on a KW, I used a good-quality extension cord to do so. It ain't blown up yet.
Just so everyone knows, I've never wired it (phased it?) in series with another KW and have no intention to.
Thanks guys! It was getting to the point where my cord could turn 90 degrees away from center at the top of the plug! Time for a replacement!
Here's the video I found: https://youtu.be/FXeRDRTI2w0
It goes further than I suspect I need but it could be very useful in the future.
There's a lot of garbled electrical jargon in that video. I watched it up to the point where he reports that his diagnosis of the power cord involves not getting any reading on current with the voltimeter. He should have left well enough alone when he observed that the cord was gummy.
Yeah. I can see copper and that's all I needed to know. I watched mainly for the disassembly demo.
pennytrainsHere's the video I found: https://youtu.be/FXeRDRTI2w0
lionelsoniThere's a lot of garbled electrical jargon in that video
Rob
I wasn't going to bother watching it but curiosity struck. It is useful to see how it comes apart, but that's about it. Becky, the title of the original post amuses me greatly. Me and my siblings watched those Schoolhouse Rock music videos quite a bit, my parents had fond memories of them and got a DVD for us. A certain mentioned video was always a favorite -Ellie
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
pennytrainsE - Lek - Tricity, E - Lek - Tricity
https://youtu.be/7yRGvMgieEU?t=41
Becky, I sent some scans of a KW manual to you. If you see an inbound message from "jerseynuke" that's me.
Wayne
Ellie, I knew somebody would get it! And if we're going down that tangent...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4AyjKgz9tKg
Fun fact: The word "E-Lek-Tricity" comes from the Greek word "elektron", which means "amber".
Another fun fact: Since May 20, 2019, the electrical charge of an electron is exactly -.0000000000000000001602176634 coulomb.
Cool!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zGM-wSKFBpo
And the live in Copenhagen version:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nz_-KNNl-no
I meant this one
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AcS3NOQnsQM
Success!
https://link.shutterfly.com/EHNfQsjOkpb
Here's the old cord that I was worried about:
https://link.shutterfly.com/e7nygzuOkpb
Thanks for all your help!
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