American Flyer 8B Transformer

[richhotrain]

I was pleasantly surprised to find that my 60 year old transformer, not run in 35 years, still works just fine.  But, for the life of me, I cannot recall certain features about the transformer. 

When it is plugged in, the green light comes on and remains on.  The red light is not lit.  Does the red light only go on in case of a short? 

What is the reset button for?  Is it to reverse directions, or to reset a short circuit condition?

To wire the transformer to the rails, I have used the "base" terminal and the middle terminal.  Is that correct?  When would you use the third terminal ?

Lastly, I don' t ever remember a manual that explains the operation of the transformer.  Does one exist?

Thanks,

Rich

[lionelsoni]

You guessed right about the lights.  The reset button is to reset the circuit breaker.  "Base" is Flyer's non-standard term for "common".  You should get a variable 7 to 15 volts between the base and the middle terminal and a fixed 15 volts between the base and the third terminal.  I am consulting a manual reprinted in a book; but you now know about all there is to know about your transformer.

[Texas Pete]

 You got it right.  From what I can remember about my 8B (so long ago), when a short occurs the circuit breaker trips and the red light comes on.  The red button resets the circuit breaker. The third terminal is for accessory power.  You might should take a look here:

http://www.geocities.com/theupstairstrain/infrastructure_Transformers2.html

Scroll down the page to the 8B.  In one of the pics there is a manual. Scroll to the bottom for links to plenty of good Flyer infos. and pics.

My 8B had a silver button at the top center to interrupt the track power and activate the reverse unit.  The pictures at the upstairs train don't show an 8B with that particular feature.  My 8B was substituted for the No. 2 specified in the 5103WT passenger set that I got for Christmas ~1951.

http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/1951Catalog/AF_1951_catalog_page20.htm

Have fun.

Pete

 

 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

As you are looking at the nuts, the left is the base, normally connected to the outside rail, the middle nut is the vairaiable for the train and the right nut is for accesories.  The reset button resets the circuit breaker but is also handy to use to reverse the direction on the trains.

Jim

[SleeperN06]

Texas Pete

 You got it right.  From what I can remember about my 8B (so long ago), when a short occurs the circuit breaker trips and the red light comes on.  The red button resets the circuit breaker. The third terminal is for accessory power.  You might should take a look here:

http://www.geocities.com/theupstairstrain/infrastructure_Transformers2.html

Scroll down the page to the 8B.  In one of the pics there is a manual. Scroll to the bottom for links to plenty of good Flyer infos. and pics.

My 8B had a silver button at the top center to interrupt the track power and activate the reverse unit.  The pictures at the upstairs train don't show an 8B with that particular feature.  My 8B was substituted for the No. 2 specified in the 5103WT passenger set that I got for Christmas ~1951.

http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/1951Catalog/AF_1951_catalog_page20.htm

Have fun.

Pete

That is just too cool! I did not know that these sites existed.

[richhotrain]

Texas Pete

 You got it right.  From what I can remember about my 8B (so long ago), when a short occurs the circuit breaker trips and the red light comes on.  The red button resets the circuit breaker. The third terminal is for accessory power.  You might should take a look here:

http://www.geocities.com/theupstairstrain/infrastructure_Transformers2.html

Scroll down the page to the 8B.  In one of the pics there is a manual. Scroll to the bottom for links to plenty of good Flyer infos. and pics.

My 8B had a silver button at the top center to interrupt the track power and activate the reverse unit.  The pictures at the upstairs train don't show an 8B with that particular feature.  My 8B was substituted for the No. 2 specified in the 5103WT passenger set that I got for Christmas ~1951.

http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/1951Catalog/AF_1951_catalog_page20.htm

Have fun.

Pete

 

 

Pete,

Thanks so much for providing those links.

The catalogs are incredible.  The 1948 catalog has my #312 steamer and the 1957 catalog has my #355 diesel.  Wow, the power of the Internet. My 2009 Christmas season is right up there with my 1948 Christmas season and my 1957 Christmas season.

Thanks again.

Rich