Old School wiring and modern era locomotives

[Monsieur]

Hello out there,

I have been following the forum for some time and finally signed up a few weeks ago.  The last time I had a Lionel layout was in the early seventies. It took up most of a double garage and was wired old school. Each of the main line loops were wired to one of the outputs on a ZW, as the yard was wired to one output of a SW and the engine terminal to the other SW output. The transformers were all in phase. (the light bulb across the center rail check at the insulator pin positions). To move a train from one track to another all you needed to do was match the transformer outputs.

Now I finally have the time and place to build another layout. An apartment in Hawaii means a lot smaller layout. Besides the prewar and post war equipment we have, I have collected some modern era locomotives. These locomotives have can motors and electronic e-units. Can I use the same old school wiring? I am using TVS units on the connections to the track at all connection points. I don't really want to have to do block wiring such as I have used on HO layouts in the eighties. My wife is interested in the trains and has gotten caught up with the whole project. She won't be interested in flipping a lot of toggle switches to run trains.

I have read several other threads on similar questions and am now thoroughly confused. Can the modern era locomotives handle this style of wiring without damage?

Thanks for any and all help.

Patrick

[nickaix]

I can only speak with regard to Lionel locomotives, because that is all I have, but...

We got our first truly "modern" engine (with Command Control) about 10 or so years ago, and have since been running TMCC equipped engines, non-TMCC modern engines with can motors and electronic e-units, postwar and prewar locos, on our layout, all powered by a postwar ZW, and have never had any problems whatever.

[willpick]

It's a good idea to use the TVS's, as this will kill any voltage spikes that could damage the modern engines electronics. The only other thing that you should do is to put fuses in line for each output of your transformers. The circuit breakers of your PW transformers will act slowly, if at all after all the years. For the ZW, a 5 or 7.5A will work. for the SW, i'd use a 5A fuse, nothing higher. 

Hope this helps-- 

[lionelsoni]

The transformer's circuit breaker does not protect against fault currents that flow when two outputs are connected together, as when you cross a gap between blocks powered by those two different outputs.  Unless the voltages, waveforms, and phases are matched, current will flow.  If you accidentally stop or stall a train across a gap without doing a very good matching job, you can easily burn up the transformer and your layout wiring.

Even with proper block switching, you should add circuit breakers in series with the individual transformer outputs.  Fancy fast circuit breakers and fuses are harmless but pointless and a nuisance to reset or replace.  If an overcurrent occurs because something failed in your locomotive electronics, it is already too late.  I recommend automatic-resetting automotive circuit breakers, which are very similar to the originals in the transformers and easy to find at parts stores.

The TVSs should protect you from the voltage spikes that running across gaps will produce.

[Monsieur]

Thanks for the replies. I think I've got it clear now.  I'll add the necessary circuit breakers to the wiring. I noticed in a previous post that adding TVS diodes to the locomotives wiring was a good idea. Is this overkill with the TVS diodes wired at the track power connections?

 

Thanks

Patrick

[lionelsoni]

You can put the TVSs (in parallel with the track voltsge) at the transformer, in the locomotives, at the lockons, or anywhere in-between.

Even with TVSs and individual circuit breakers, you are still vulnerable to arcing and burning out the internal wiring in cars with double pickups.  I urge you to embrace the toggle switch.