Lionel V & Z Trainmaster Transformers

[HankS]

Hello,

Does anyone know what size AWG wire is used for the A, B , C, & D post leads?

Seems like 16 AWG, but may be 14 AWG. Thans much, Hank S

 

[rrlineman]

Are you talking inside wire for repair or from the post to the track ?? If its for the outside, 16 gage is fine for a small layout. if you have a bigger layout then a 4x8 board with lots of track then I would use 14 gage as the main feeders and then 16 gage tapped off the 14 gage for the extra lockons on the layout. Inside is a different story.

[lionelsoni]

The overriding consideration should be safety.  The V's overcurrent protection (an internal circuit breaker) is intended for 8 amperes, so the minimum external wire gauge should be 18 AWG, which has about that ampacity.  The Z can put out 14 amperes; so 14 AWG, whose ampacity is 15 amperes, should be used as a minimum with it.

If you don't need a transformer's full output for any one load, you can put lower-rated circuit breakers between the transformer and smaller, subdivided loads to reduce the wire ampacity needed for safety downstream of the transformer.

[HankS]

For Inside repair or replacement.

  Thanks You for your response!

[HankS]

Thanks for your reply, I was planning on using 16 AWG Silicon in V's ans 14 AWG Silicone in Z's. I have added an 8 amp breaker in V and 15 amp breaker in Z. Does this sound reasonable?

  Thanks again for you information!!

 

[HankS]

I re read your reply; I am refering to the internal wire of transformer. The short 5" or so runs inside.

Thanks again

[pennytrains]

I always go for a surplus of capacity.

[lionelsoni]

There should be no need to "add" 8-ampere and 15-ampere circuit breakers.  These are already present inside the transformer cases.  

Bob Nelson

[HankS]

Thanks again; I am replaceing original breakers with modern breakers.

 I still need an answer to the INTERNAL wire gauge sizes, ie: connections from copper disc's to output posts for V and Z. Is 16 AWG good in the V and 14 AWG good in the Z, OR is 16 AWG good inside of both? I am going to use Silicone wire as I already have it.

    Thanks for your help

[lionelsoni]

With an ampacity of about 10 amperes, 16 AWG is a little too small for the Z, which can deliver 14 amperes.  On the other hand, it is a little larger than needed for the V, which can deliver 8 amperes.

I would select the "inside" and "outside" wire gauges by the same principles, whether or not that matched Lionel's wiring practices.