? For bob Nelson or someone with electrical knowledge

[Dobson]

I am building a layout and I a, using a pw zw (250 watt) for conventional power.  I want to hook it up through a power distribution block that is rated for 15 amps. I am powering two trains - one on each handle of the zw and the reason I am using a distribution block is bc I will have multiple power feeds to the track and I would prefer not to solder. 

 

Will the zw put too much power trough the distribution block?    It is a mediatronics power dist block pdb-1. 

 

 I am using 14 gauge wire. 

[TrainLarry]

  The distribution block is rated at 15 amps but at what voltage? The power going through the block will only be whatever your layout is drawing, not the total capacity of the transformer, unless there is a direct short. Feel the temperature of the terminals on the block as you operate your trains. They should stay cool. If they get hot to the touch, either you have exceeded its' capacity, or you have loose/bad connections on it.

Larry

[KRM]

TrainLarry

  They should stay cool. If they get hot to the touch, either you have exceeded its' capacity, or you have loose/bad connections on it.

 

 

 I agree with Larry, Just touch it.

Not to act like I am an expert on anything but………….Opinions are all over the place on gauge of wire but 14 is plenty big, if not toooo big, 16 is fine, and 18 will work I am sure. 20 and 22 is what a lot of Lionel came with. Sure someone will tell me I am wrong.

I think you will be fine. I looked at the block you say you are using and unless you try to run 2 or 3 dual motor engines I think your good.

Just my opinion.

Kev.

[gunrunnerjohn]

You have plenty of current capacity with the #14 wire, all is well.

[lionelsoni]

Air breaks down at an electric field strength of about 3 megavolts per meter.  So, if we're dealing with a simple terminal block, toy-train voltages are not a concern.  The only specification that matters is the current rating.  The ZW's circuit breaker trips at 15 amperes; so a terminal block rated at 15 amperes and 14 AWG wire, which can carry up to 15 amperes safely, can both be used with the output circuits of the ZW.

I hope you're running those trains on separate tracks and not trying to cross over from one track to the other, that is, from a track powered by one ZW output to a track powered by the other ZW output.  In that case, the circuit breaker is not involved and you can draw much more than 15 amperes, possibly destroying terminal block, wire, and transformer.

[webenda]

The Miniatronics PDB-1 makes it easy to distribute wiring to your layout, but it is rather sparse in specifications. For example: Larry is worried about the voltage specification. None given. (I know Bob, model railroad voltages are not a concern here.)

Reference: miniatronics

For us rivet counters using more conventional barrier blocks, Cinch offers more complete specifications.

Reference: digikey

[servoguy]

Let me second what Bob Nelson and webenda have said.  Let me say further that the light gauge wire that Lionel furnished with sets should not be used with a KW or ZW or Type V or Type Z transformer.  The circuit breaker in the transformer is there to protect the transformer, not the wire.  What Bob has said many times is that you should use wire that is heavy enough that the circuit breaker will protect it, also.  There are other reasons to use 14 gauge wire, but I am not going into them now.

[A&Y Ry]

Maxium output of the pw ZW is 180 watts or approximately 10amps. The rating published as either 250 or 275 watts depending on the model is input to the ZW.  About 65% efficiency.

As Bob points out, and without regard to whatever type to tranformer you are using, the power districts or blocks should be insulated from one another by a fibre pin or just cut a gap in the center rail.

I f you have your power districts metered with Volt and Amp Meters and, if operating Conventionally,you can make a good effort to equalize the power and current when crossing between districts. If on  Command Control for both districts the Voltage will be fixed.